Ozzy vs Dio

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better singer: Ozzy or Dio?

Ozzy
40
60%
Dio
27
40%
 
Total votes: 67
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Ozzy vs Dio

Post by DangerZone »

Which do you prefer?

I’m going with Ozzy.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by FreddyFender »

Love Dio, but his run both with Sabbath and solo pales to Ozzy's output.

Dio: 3 great Sabbath albums, two great solo albums. Some good stuff after, but its really for fans only.

Ozzy: Every Sabbath album from self titled through Sabotage and solo album up to NMT is essential. Some solo albums people like more than others, but he didn't release anything truly throwaway until Ozzmosis.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by risingfarce »

Dio. Not even close.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Tommy2Tone84 »

Ozzy and it’s not even close.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by GoodJudge »

Ozzy was a star, Dio was a satellite.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by El Vampiro Blanco »

FreddyFender wrote: Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:34 pm Love Dio, but his run both with Sabbath and solo pales to Ozzy's output.

Dio: 3 great Sabbath albums, two great solo albums. Some good stuff after, but its really for fans only.

Ozzy: Every Sabbath album from self titled through Sabotage and solo album up to NMT is essential. Some solo albums people like more than others, but he didn't release anything truly throwaway until Ozzmosis.
I voted for Oz as well, for the first 6 Sabbath albums and his first two solo albums, but Dio's Rainbow albums need to be included in his list. Fantastic albums, just as good as his Sabbath albums.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Wiseacre »

DIO was technically one of the best ever and probably THE best as far as gruff, growly vocals and a FAR better singer than OZZY, but Ozzy's voice worked so much better with Sabbath, IMO. Also, DIO's music all sounded very similar to me. I voted OZZY as a personal preference.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Deege »

Dio was definitely the far more talented singer and also could play instruments and wrote his own songs.

Ozzy's voice had a bigger mass appeal, surrounded himself with great songwriters (and came up with great vocal melodies himself). I am a bigger Ozzy fan for sure. His work with Black Sabbath was incredibly groundbreaking. The Dio era of the band did some amazing stuff but it wasn't the same band by that point.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by NeonKnite »

There can be a difference between who you personally like and who you think was more influential or even subjectively "better".

I'm a much bigger fan of Dio's work than I am of Ozzy's in general, however I can't deny the massive influence Ozzy had with Sabbath and then with his solo career.

I would never say Dio is better than Ozzy. I would say I prefer Dio. I have a connection to Dio's work that is levels above Ozzy's work as much as I enjoy Ozzy's stuff.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by LillianRoxyFA »

I prefer the Sabbath material with Dio, but over all much prefer Ozzy's solo output.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by dmbrocker »

Both extremely worthy heavy metal legends, but Ozzy was the bigger of the two and had more classic songs, so I'm going with the Prince of Darkness.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Psychobolia.com »

I went with Ozzy, more classic kickass songs and records than Dio...
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by veritas »

Actually a tough call.... and they couldn't be more different.

I (vaguely) remember the glory years of 1980-81 when they released Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Blizzard and Diary !

Because Dio is the better vocalist and can sing more things, I lean towards him: Rainbow Rising, Long Live Rock and N Roll, heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Holy Diver and parts of Dehumanizer and Last in Line are fantastic too.

Much of Ozzy's Sabbath run was great and his first 2 solo albums are amazing. And then the drop off (for me) is huge .....
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Black Stuff »

Dio was a better singer, but Ozzy fit Sabbath better and basically WAS Sabbath
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by JinglesTheChristmasMouse »

Dio.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by veritas »

Black Stuff wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:24 am Dio was a better singer, but Ozzy fit Sabbath better and basically WAS Sabbath
I can't go that far with you.
To do so would be to negate Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Those 2 albums stand toe-to-toe (if not above) anything from Ozzy Sabbath.
I will say Sabbath was mostly Ozzy -- that's my limit.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by pieceofme »

Dio is the better singer. I like his stuff with Rainbow a lot. Solo and with Black Sabbath I only like a handful of songs at most.

I like Ozzy's stuff he did with Black Sabbath. Well, the first 6 albums and Dirty Women. Don't care for his solo material with the exception of a handful of songs.

Which one I prefer varies. Last year I was on big Rainbow kick. This year, more Sabbath.

Confusing poll because who you think is the better singer is not necessarily who you prefer.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Velvis »

Dio had a smaller amount of material (I think it's safe to leave out all the garbage after Dream Evil) but I like Dio Sabbath way better than Ozzy Sabbath and the Holy Diver record is way better than anything Ozzy did solo.

IMO, Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, and Holy Diver are the best things to come out of all of it.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by HORRORHOLIC1979 »

Ozzy for sure but I love them both.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by DangerZone »

pieceofme wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 9:36 am Dio is the better singer. I like his stuff with Rainbow a lot. Solo and with Black Sabbath I only like a handful of songs at most.

I like Ozzy's stuff he did with Black Sabbath. Well, the first 6 albums and Dirty Women. Don't care for his solo material with the exception of a handful of songs.

Which one I prefer varies. Last year I was on big Rainbow kick. This year, more Sabbath.

Confusing poll because who you think is the better singer is not necessarily who you prefer.
yes, super confusing
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by VinnieVincentsVag »

I prefer Dio in Sabbath.
I prefer Ozzy solo vs Dio solo
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by kytepunches »

veritas wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:42 am
Black Stuff wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:24 am Dio was a better singer, but Ozzy fit Sabbath better and basically WAS Sabbath
I can't go that far with you.
To do so would be to negate Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Those 2 albums stand toe-to-toe (if not above) anything from Ozzy Sabbath.
I will say Sabbath was mostly Ozzy -- that's my limit.
I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by HueyRamone »

kytepunches wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:31 pm
veritas wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:42 am
Black Stuff wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:24 am Dio was a better singer, but Ozzy fit Sabbath better and basically WAS Sabbath
I can't go that far with you.
To do so would be to negate Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Those 2 albums stand toe-to-toe (if not above) anything from Ozzy Sabbath.
I will say Sabbath was mostly Ozzy -- that's my limit.
I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
The more apt comparison would be The Devil you Know and 13. Both were in this modern era, and by old men.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by DangerZone »

HueyRamone wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:39 pm
kytepunches wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:31 pm
veritas wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 7:42 am

I can't go that far with you.
To do so would be to negate Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Those 2 albums stand toe-to-toe (if not above) anything from Ozzy Sabbath.
I will say Sabbath was mostly Ozzy -- that's my limit.
I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
The more apt comparison would be The Devil you Know and 13. Both were in this modern era, and by old men.
yes. Dehumanizer would be no more tears era
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Chip Z'Hoy »

DangerZone wrote: Sun Aug 03, 2025 8:17 pm Which do you prefer?
Even before two weeks ago, if I was going to reach for an album by one of the two, it would've still been Ozzy.

Sabbath too, even though I love those Dio records. Love Dio's solo records. I'm just an Ozzy guy.

Now put Dio up against most any other contemporary of his, I'm probably going to say Dio.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by kytepunches »

DangerZone wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:41 pm
HueyRamone wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:39 pm
kytepunches wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:31 pm

I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
The more apt comparison would be The Devil you Know and 13. Both were in this modern era, and by old men.
yes. Dehumanizer would be no more tears era
I won’t disagree with either point. But i would add that Dio was 6 years older than Ozzy when comparing them . Dio would be 82 right now.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Metal Sludge »

This is a tough one.
Paranoid is perfection, start to finish, as is Heaven and Hell. How do you choose?
Overall, Ozzy was better for Black Sabbath, but both of their solo careers were exceptional.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Love_Industry »

kytepunches wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:31 pm
I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
Dehumanizer blows. Dehumanizer - Cross Purposes - Forbidden was a sad run for one of my favorite bands. They should never have reunited with Dio - obvious cash grab nobody really wanted to do but both Sabbath and Dio bombed hard around that time.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by Tommy2Tone84 »

Love_Industry wrote: Wed Aug 06, 2025 5:35 am
kytepunches wrote: Mon Aug 04, 2025 5:31 pm
I would also add when they reformed Sabbath with both singers . The Dehumanizer album absolutely destroyed 13.
Dehumanizer blows. Dehumanizer - Cross Purposes - Forbidden was a sad run for one of my favorite bands. They should never have reunited with Dio - obvious cash grab nobody really wanted to do but both Sabbath and Dio bombed hard around that time.

I never got the love for Dehumanizer. I’ll take Tony’s Seventh Star solo record with Glenn all coked up and scabs left and right over Dehumanizer.

Dio was a very influential and a really good singer. I always found his career uneven. I preferred other singers and groups.
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Re: Ozzy vs Dio

Post by LurkingAtWork »

Dehumanizer wrecked an awesome run for the Tony Martin version of the band.Tyr blows it away.
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