Your Favorite Other Eras Singer

[Thelemech]

So who kept the Sabbath name strong and relevant out of these other era singers?

[Pink Led Rush]

I love all of it, but for me it was definitely Tony Martin. Dude did an amazing job and made some classic stuff and is still one of the best voices out there

[Billy Underdog]

As i've stated before; the only true non-Ozzy Sabbath-album for me is Born Again, so ofcourse i went with Gillan.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Glenn Hughes is the best singer, but Tony Martin recorded the best albums ... if that makes sense.

[Josef_K]

So who kept the Sabbath name strong and relevant out of these other era singers?

If I would answer this question, and not which singer is technically/emotionally superior or whatever the answer is without a doubt Tony Martin. He made it possible for Tony Iommi to continue to write amazing music whenever his "better picks" were busy, despite being treated as a nobody for more or less his whole career in the band. In addition to that, he was more stable than any of the others lyric-wise, at least from the perspective I got he produced more and better lyrics with less help from others such as Nicholls. However, the others had their moments, "Born Again" and "Seventh Star" are two of Sabbath's centre-pieces for me lyric-wise (musically as well actually). Tony was the only one out of these who felt that he was committed to the band though, again from my personal perspective. So the question is easy to answer from that viewpoint.

[Ala]

1. Tony Martin
2. Ian Gillan
3. Ray Gillen
4. Glenn Hughes

[Ochlocracy]

Never heard any Ray Gillen so:
1. Ian Gillan.
2. Glenn Hughes.
3. Tony Martin.

[MH1986]

The only answer can be Tony Martin as he recorded 5 albums with Black Sabbath while Glenn and Ian both did one and Ray none (at least that was released). Glenn Hughes would be my favorite vocalist of the bunch but Tony Martin deserves the respect for how much time and effort he put into the band even if Iommi was trying to replace him every chance he got.

[Die Young]

Altough I consider Ian Gillian to be one ot the top 10 best singers all time, I'm voting for Martin simply becasue of all the efford and time he put in the band yet got little in return and also making a dozen of awesome songs.

[KazolOrajia]

Who kept the Sabbath spirit alive? Tony Martin. He was an excellent frontman, a very talented singer, an underrated lyricist-overall a great vocalist for Sabbath. In terms of pure singing ability, my vote goes towards Ray Gillen, but he wasn't in Sabbath long enough to really make an impact, and from the lives I've heard, he didn't have stage presence like the others, and I don't think he was a comfortable fit for Sabbath (the Gillen mix of The Eternal Idol is amazing nonetheless). You could say that Ian wasn't a member much longer than Ray, but he inarguably made a bigger impact, and was a much better fit. And I don't consider Hughes to have ever been a Sabbath member personally, but neither does Iommi.

[Van Sabbath]

I gotta go with Tony Martin as well. Like others mentioned, everyone other than Tony had a short stint and didn't get to make as much of an impact like Tony did. And it's a shame that Tony was so dedicated to the band and he had all that stuff happen to him. That's just not right. And honestly I listen to Tony Martin's stuff more than Ian's stuff, Glenn's stuff and Ray's stuff. Headless Cross was actually one of the earliest Sabbath songs I listened to, so I've always had a real liking for the Tony Martin stuff.

[Charger]

Tony Martin without a doubt. He was the best fit in the band. He had/has a fantastic voice and even more than that he's a damn good lyricist. Some of his lyrics are better than Geezer's!

Ian was probably the best singer (ability wise) but he wasn't really a good fit for Sabbath. That being said Born Again is a great album though.

Ray Gillen would be the next one. He was a great singer as well, but lacked personality and obviously writing skills as mentioned in Tony's book as well...

Everyone knows that I'm not a big fan of Glenn Hughes so obviously he'll be my least favourite.

[Soul Sucker]

Tony Martin by far.

[Ochlocracy]

Wait, I tough Martin wasn't Other Eras.

[Van Sabbath]

Wait, I tough Martin wasn't Other Eras.

Yeah Tony has his own section on the forums probably because of his large stint with Sabbath and his many contributions. But Thelemech posted it here probably because this would probably be the best fitting section for the poll. I mean it wouldn't work in the Tony Martin section. So he is probably just classifying him as an other era just for this poll.

[Thelemech]

Yeah Tony has his own section on the forums probably because of his large stint with Sabbath and his many contributions. But Thelemech posted it here probably because this would probably be the best fitting section for the poll. I mean it wouldn't work in the Tony Martin section. So he is probably just classifying him as an other era just for this poll.

Very true, I included Tony Martin as other eras singer simply for this poll. I am pleasantly pleased that both Ian and Tony scored so high- truly worthy of the Sabbath name!

[OzzyIsDio]

Though he only recorded one album, I say Ian Gillan.

[Dante_Doomsday]

No contest....Tony Martin. Ian and Glenn only lasted 1 album each.

[rajeshkumar1]

Glenn Hughes.
Tony Martin.
these are my two favorite singers here......

[A Sabbath Historian]

It could be argued that Ray Gillen did a better job with the Dio era songs than Tony Martin. I've heard some audio clips of Ray performing songs like 'Children Of The Sea' and 'Die Young' and they sound INCREDIBLE! Frankly, I think Ronnie himself would have been proud. Just my two cents. Interesting comments everybody. Thanks BSO.

[Now in Darkness]

Undoubtedly, Tony Martin. A truly stunning vocalist who stuck it out for 5 albums during some very rocky times. He certainly deserves his due, despite the fact that he has essentially been forgotten.