Black Sabbath changed the hard rock and metal genres forever more than half a century ago when they broke out with their signature sound.
In the decades since, the group has remained an influential name in those fields, and their fan base remains dedicated to them, listening and buying to their work without pause.
This week, Black Sabbath is back on the charts in the U.K., where they got their start. The band doesn’t have a new album out, though. Instead, their fans have pushed one of their earliest collections to one tally yet again.
Black Sabbath’s sophomore project Paranoid returns to the U.K. albums chart this week. The set reappears at No. 79 on the ranking of the most-consumed full-lengths and EPs in the nation.
It’s been well over a decade since Paranoid last found space on the list of the most popular albums in the U.K. According to the Official Charts Company, the last time the set landed on this roster was back in 2012.
Paranoid debuted on the U.K albums chart in 1970. It only required three weeks for the title to climb to No. 1, becoming Black Sabbath’s first leader on the tally.
Black Sabbath has accrued just two champions in the U.K., with Paranoid helping them become one of the top names in the metal genre–which was still brand new when they got started. The group has pushed 10 different projects into the top 10 in that country.
There have been quite a few rock and metal singers who left their respective bands, and then came back years later for another round (or two).
Sometimes the grass seems greener on the other side, but isn’t. These singers were either curious about what would happen if they took another direction in their careers, or they were furious with how things were going in the bands they were part of.
Left the Band, Not Fired
We rounded up a list of rock and metal singers who left bands and then came back. The key word here is “left,” so singers who were fired don’t count.
Unfortunately, that means Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar and a handful of others aren’t included.
Some reports state that Hagar left Van Halen, but in 2023, he told Rolling Stone, “Oh, I was fired. I was told that I quit by Eddie.”
READ MORE: The 10 Biggest Rock + Metal Bands With the Most Lineup Changes
Band Breakups + Reunions Don’t Count Either
Additionally, full band breakups don’t count either — the vocalist had to have left on their own. There’s only one exception to this rule, which you’ll see in the gallery.
Scroll below to see rock and metal singers that left bands and then came back.
Portraits Of Gillan is a photographic celebration of Ian Gillan’s post Deep Purple career, published as a brand-new coffee-table book tracing his career with a mixture of well-known, rare and unseen photographs from some of rock’s greatest photographers.
The book includes an 8,000 word essay from rock journalist and writer John Tucker, tracking Gillan’s career through this period.
This unofficial book is 230mm square, case-bound, 240 pages, printed on luxury 170gsm matt-coated paper. The book comes with a fold out poster and is presented in a black slipcase with a gold foil logo. The main edition comes in 500 numbered copies and sells for £55 plus shipping.
In addition to this, a much larger, ultra-limited Black Leather and Metal Edition measuring 375mm square and presented in recycled leather and a hand welded aluminium metal slipcase with a screen printed logo in a run of 50 numbered copies. This edition also comes with a unique lenticular for framing and will sell for £350.
The books will go on sale on Wednesday, April 24 at 3 PM, UK time and will feature a 10% pre-order discount if ordered before November 30.
The first 200 orders will also come with a free Gillan enamel badge worth £6.95. The books will ship worldwide at the end of June 2024.
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