The remaining original members, Iommi and Butler, began auditioning singers for the band's next release. Deep Purple and Whitesnake's David Coverdale, Samson's Nicky Moore and Lone Star's John Sloman were all considered and Iommi states in his autobiography that Michael Bolton auditioned. The band settled on former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan to replace Dio in December 1982.
The remaining members of Black Sabbath, Iommi and Butler, began searching for a new vocalist after Dio's departure. They considered various singers, including David Coverdale, Nicky Moore, John Sloman, and Michael Bolton. Ian Gillan was ultimately chosen to replace Dio in December 1982.