Ray Gillen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gillen's time with Black Sabbath began in 1986 when he was offered the job to replace Glenn Hughes after only a few shows on the Seventh Star tour. Following that tour, the band recorded their next album, The Eternal Idol, featuring Gillen on vocals. However, the project was plagued by financial burdens, writing difficulties (as Bob Daisley had to be recruited because Gillen was not much of a composer), mismanagement, and miscommunication. These issues caused both Gillen and drummer Eric Singer to quit before the album was ever released. The band hired Tony Martin to replace him, and the vocal tracks were hurriedly re-recorded note-for-note. Despite this, demo versions featuring Gillen survived on the bootleg circuit and were officially included in the 2010 deluxe re-release of the album as a bonus disc.

In Their Own Story

In 1986, during the Seventh Star tour, singer Glenn Hughes got into a fist-fight that resulted in sinus and throat injuries, causing him to lose his voice. Gillen was brought in to replace him for the remaining shows. After finishing the tour, the band entered the studio to record The Eternal Idol with Gillen. Tensions rose as financial burdens mounted and songwriting struggles became apparent; Bob Daisley was recruited specifically because Gillen struggled with composition. Mismanagement and miscommunication further strained the band dynamic. Ultimately, Gillen and Eric Singer quit before the album's release in 1987. Tony Martin stepped in to re-record every vocal track note-for-note. Years later, in an interview, Martin revealed that the sinister laugh on 'Nightmare' was actually Gillen's voice, a detail preserved from those original sessions.

Reader's Guide

Ray Gillen joined Black Sabbath in late 1986 during the Seventh Star tour after Glenn Hughes could no longer sing due to injuries from a fist-fight. His tenure with the band extended into the recording of The Eternal Idol in 1986, though he left before its release due to financial and creative conflicts. He was replaced by Tony Martin, who re-recorded all vocals for the 1987 release. Fans can hear Gillen's original work on bootlegs or the November 1, 2010, European 2-disc expanded set of The Eternal Idol, which includes a bonus disc of his recordings. Additionally, Gillen's voice is featured as the sinister laugh on the track 'Nightmare'.

Did You Know?

• Gillen provided the sinister laugh heard on the track 'Nightmare' on The Eternal Idol.
• Demo versions of The Eternal Idol featuring Gillen were officially released on the 2010 deluxe re-release bonus disc.
• Gillen and Eric Singer quit Black Sabbath before The Eternal Idol was released due to financial burdens and writing difficulties.
• Tony Martin replaced Gillen and re-recorded all vocal tracks note-for-note for the final album release.