Heaven and Hell

Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his escalating substance abuse and erratic behavior, which had strained his relationship with guitarist Tony Iommi for years. The band recruited Ronnie James Dio, formerly of Rainbow, to replace him, and Dio's debut on 'Heaven and Hell' revitalized the band commercially and critically after a series of less successful late-1970s albums.

Ronnie James Dio wrote all the lyrics for the album, bringing a more fantasy- and myth-influenced lyrical style that contrasted sharply with Ozzy Osbourne's darker, more blunt approach. This change in vocal and lyrical direction divided some longtime Sabbath fans but won many new ones and is now regarded as one of the most successful singer replacements in heavy metal history.

Geezer Butler was absent for much of the songwriting due to personal issues, and bass parts were reportedly contributed primarily by Tony Iommi during pre-production, though Butler performs on the album. The core lineup of Iommi, Butler, Dio, and drummer Bill Ward recorded the album, which was produced by Martin Birch and released in April 1980.

The title track 'Heaven and Hell' and 'Neon Knights' became permanent fixtures in Black Sabbath's live setlist, often closing or opening shows respectively. Dio-era Sabbath also performed 'Children of the Sea' frequently, and these songs remained in the band's repertoire even during later tours with Dio under the Heaven & Hell band name in the 2000s.