. During a period of high tension between Iommi and Dio, Martin was reportedly brought back into the studio to record guide vocals for the album's tracks. While these specific "Martin-fronted" Dehumanizer
Tragedy, however, would strike soon after these demos were laid down. Cozy Powell broke his pelvis in a horse-riding accident and was unable to play. "The only reason Cozy wasn't on the final cut of the album was because soon after these demos were recorded, he broke his pelvis," one bootleg summary notes. As a result, the band ultimately turned to another familiar face, Vinny Appice (who had drummed with Dio in Sabbath on Mob Rules ), to complete the album.
Listen to the rare rehearsal tapes featuring Cozy Powell and early versions of the album's tracks: black sabbath dehumanizer demos
These aren’t historical artifacts. They are ghosts. And for the generation that has listened to Paranoid a thousand times, the Dehumanizer demos offer something precious: a chance to hear Black Sabbath discover their darkness all over again, in real time, with no safety net.
These "Cozy Demos" represent a fascinating alternate reality for Black Sabbath. Powell’s drumming style was inherently more orchestral, thunderous, and driving compared to Appice’s groove-heavy, swinging approach. The Cozy Powell Demos Track Breakdown Cozy Powell broke his pelvis in a horse-riding
The earliest Dehumanizer demos began in 1991 at Rich Bitch Studios in Birmingham, England. What makes these early tracking sessions incredibly significant to collectors is the presence of legendary drummer Cozy Powell.
The demos reinforce that this was a period of intense focus for Iommi, aiming for a sound that was, as he often described it, "satanic" and "heavy". Listen to the rare rehearsal tapes featuring Cozy
The most significant aspect of the early demos is the presence of legendary drummer Cozy Powell
The most dramatic subplot from the Dehumanizer sessions involves Tony Martin. Despite the reunion with Dio progressing, the creative tension was high. Martin was invited back to the studio not to reclaim his old job, but to try out his own vocals on the new material. Tony Iommi, perhaps still unsure about the dynamic with Dio, asked Martin to see what he could bring to the table.
in Birmingham with Powell. Unfortunately, a freak horse-riding accident resulted in Powell breaking his pelvis, forcing the band to call in Appice to finish the record.
BLACK SABBATH: THE DEHUMANIZER DEMOS The raw, ugly, brilliant blueprint of a comeback.