A confused Nigel Tufnel mistakenly gave dimensions for inches rather than feet. Rather than oversize props, the opposite problem arose. In a strange turn of art imitating life, the film This Is Spinal Tap poked fun at Sabbath’s misadventure. For those precarious first moments, the Sabbath show had devolved into a comedy act. More often than not, the display brought laughter from the audience. Strategically placed on top of Stonehenge, the dwarf, donned in red clothing, crawled along the edge before falling onto a pile of mattresses below. At the start of each show, the sounds of a screeching infant came blasting through the PA. Unbeknownst to the band, manager Don Arden had hired a dwarf to dress as the demonic Born Again baby. ![]() Even with only a quarter of the set in use, arena stages were cramped as the musicians stood wedged between monitors and over-sized props. With the exception of a few outdoor festivals, only a fraction of the actual props were used on tour. Heavy and cumbersome, transportation and setup was not only a burden but often impossible. Naturally the mistake was a logistical nightmare. Misreading centimeters as inches, a larger than life Stonehenge was created as a backdrop. It all went horribly wrong when the production company misinterpreted Geezer’s instructions. When time came to build a stage-set for the coming tour, Geezer Butler presented the idea of replicating the actual Stonehenge. No track has added to the Born Again legend more than “Stonehenge.” The short instrumental has given rise to one of the most notorious goofs in rock and roll. One wonders how many would-be fans rejected the new pairing based solely on the comically bad promotional video. Although Born Again was a commercial success, some found Gillan’s voice to be an odd pairing for riff-heavy Black Sabbath. Not only does “Trashed” open the record but the song was also chosen as a single. “Trashed” was the first exposure many had to the new Sabbath line-up. Gillan simply walked away from the flaming wreck, presumably in search of more tequila. Ian climbed out unscathed, moments before the demolished sports car burst into flames. Yielding to the laws of physics, Ward’s car flipped, landing upside down. “Borrowing” Bill Ward’s car, Gillan lived out the lyrics to “Trashed” as he navigated turns at impossible speeds. Racetracks and alcohol are never a good combination. Amenities like a swimming pool and racetrack made their stay comfortable while ensuring that assorted hijinks would ensue. “The Manor” was a recording studio in the English countryside where Sabbath had settled to record Born Again. Ian Gillan’s tale of drunken escapades behind the wheel is no work of fiction. Leadoff track “Trashed” is the first of many songs steeped in legend. Still, the nine tracks that comprise Born Again proudly stand as the last studio LP to feature the trinity of Iommi, Butler and Ward. Bev Bevan of ELO would be recruited as the touring drummer. After a year of sobriety, Ward had started drinking again to his own detriment. Others were thrilled to have the core reunited and curious as to what this unlikely match-up had to offer. Certainly some fans refused to accept anyone other than Ozzy in this capacity. The original trio behind the music of classic Sabbath lived again. ![]() Born Again remains among the most memorable album covers in metal. But it’s fucking great!” Gillan’s guttural reaction aside, many are inclined to agree with Butler. A demon baby with razor sharp claws slashed his way into life against a jarring color scheme. Iommi and Butler both agreed it was horrible but oddly redeeming in its over-the-top awfulness. Ian Gillan famously declared that he puked the first time he saw it. Not only does the record capture a creative peak the assorted tales that have crept up around the album lend an aura of mystique. As older fans listen with fresh ears and younger ones retroactively explore Deep Sabbath, Born Again has earned a cult following. Born Again has since become a half-forgotten gem in the vast Sabbath canon. Gillan soon returned to Deep Purple while Iommi began work on the Seventh Star record. The only album to feature vocalist Ian Gillan, the lineup faced the unfair burden of competing with preconceptions of what Black Sabbath should be. Born Again has enjoyed renewed interest in recent years.
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