Biography
Dark Sabbath’s Tony Iommi is among just two guitarists (another getting Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Web page) that may take complete credit for pioneering the mammoth riffs of rock. Born on Feb 19, 1948, in Birmingham, Britain, Iommi found your guitar after becoming inspired by famous brands Hank Marvin & the Shadows as an adolescent. By 1967, Iommi experienced played with many blues-based rock rings, and formed an organization (Globe) with three aged acquaintances from his college days — bassist Terry “Geezer” Butler, drummer Expenses Ward, and signer John “Ozzy” Osbourne. But Iommi’s musical profession was almost derailed prematurely when he experienced a horrible incident in a sheet steel factory, whenever a machine chopped up from the tips from the fingertips on his correct hand. Despondent and figuring that his electric guitar playing days had been behind him, a pal changed him onto gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt (who dropped usage of two fingertips within a Gypsy caravan campfire incident), motivating Iommi to provide the six-string another move, with soft plastic material tips mounted on the ends of his fingertips. Quickly thereafter, Iommi received a luring offer to become listed on Jethro Tull’s music group in 1968, which he reluctantly recognized. After only an individual functionality with Tull (playing the monitor “Tune for Jeffrey” in the Rolling Rocks’ never-aired Television special “Rock and roll & Move Circus”), Iommi divide from Tull to come back back again to his pals in Globe. With another music group already experimenting Britain by the name of Globe, Iommi & co. had been forced to improve their name, acquiring “Dark Sabbath” in the classic horror film. Using the name change came a big change in musical path — the music group would explore dark lyrical topics, as the music will be repetitive, plodding, and H-E-A-V-Y. Along the way, Sabbath made the blueprint for rock with such extremely influential, all-time traditional produces as their 1969 self-titled debut, 1971’s Paranoid and Get good at of Truth, 1972’s Vol. 4, and 1973’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, getting among the world’s best hard rock rings along the way. Iommi’s electric guitar playing propelled such steel criteria as “Dark Sabbath,” “N.We.B.,” “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” “Battle Pigs,” “In to the Void,” and “Kids from the Grave,” which boast a few of the most recognizable electric guitar riffs in rock and roll history. But from the middle- to past due ’70s, continuous touring and substance abuse started to fracture the music group, resulting in many uninspired albums and Osbourne’s leave by 1979, which resulted in a revolving door of performers coming and exceeding the years (with occasionally Iommi becoming the only initial member staying). After keeping the Sabbath name alive with many inspired non-Osbourne produces (1980’s Heaven & Hell, 1981’s The Mob Guidelines), and lots of missteps, the initial Sabbath lineup reunited for a number of highly successful trips in the past due ’90s, making fresh Sabbath fans from a complete legion of individuals too young to get caught the music group within their ’70s heyday. And even though several Sabbath albums from your ’80s and ’90s might have probably been regarded as Tony Iommi solo albums (1986’s Seventh Celebrity was tagged a Sabbath recording in the last instant by Warner Bros.), he released his first accurate solo release by means of 2000’s Iommi. The ten-track disk featured a lot of rock’s best names financing their vocal skills (Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl, Billy Corgan, Phil Anselmo, and also Osbourne, amongst others), getting favorable evaluations upon launch. While Sabbath’s 1999 globe tour was said to be their swan track, the group announced towards the delight of the fans that they might become headlining the 2001 release of Ozzfest.
Quick Facts
Full Name Tony Iommi
Height 1.83 m
Profession Guitarist, Songwriter
Nationality English
Spouse Maria Sjoholm
Children Toni-Marie Iommi
Parents Sylvia Maria Iommi, Anthony Frank
Music Groups Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Heaven & Hell, WhoCares, Velvett Fogg, Mythology
Music Songs Paranoid, Iron Man, War Pigs, Children of the Grave, Fairies Wear Boots, Snowblind, The Wizard, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, God Is Dead?, Sweet Leaf, N.I.B., End of the Beginning, Planet Caravan, Electric Funeral, Supernaut, Heaven and Hell, Neon Knights, Sabbra Cadabbra, Dirty Women, Into the Void, Symptom of the Universe, Changes, Loner, A National Acrobat, The Mob Rules, Never Say Die, Children of the Sea, Hand of Doom, Hole in the Sky, Am I Going Insane, Killing Yourself to Live, Die Young
Albums Seventh Star, Headless Cross, Live Evil, Fused, Eighth star, Iommi, Master of Reality, Paranoid, 13, Heaven and Hell, Vol. 4 (2009 Remastered Version), Born Again, Never Say Die!, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer, Live at Last, Technical Ecstasy, The Eternal Idol, The Devil You Know, Sabotage, Cross Purposes, This Was, Live... Gathered in Their Masses, The 1996 DEP Sessions, The End, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, Greatest Hits, The Best of Black Sabbath, The Ultimate Collection, We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll, Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978), Who Cares
Nominations Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
Movies The Last Supper, Highway Star – A Journey in Rock, Hard Rock Treasures, We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll, Black Sabbath: Total Rock Review, Black Sabbath: Up Close and Personal, Tony Iommi: Inside Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights: Live at Wacken, Guitar Legends, Black Sabbath: Masters from the Vaults: Cross Purposes
- Facts
- Filmography
- Awards
- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
# | Fact |
---|
1 |
The son of Italian immigrants. |
2 |
Is close friends with Queen guitarist Brian May. |
3 |
Is good friends with KISS bass player Gene Simmons. |
4 |
The Black Sabbath album Seventh Star was actually a Tony Iommi solo album, but the record company put pressure on him to use the Black Sabbath name instead of his own (obviously to sell more copies.). |
5 |
The only member of Black Sabbath to appear on every one of the band's albums. |
6 |
His birthday (February 19) is also the anniversary of the death of AC/DC singer Bon Scott. |
7 |
Was engaged to Lita Ford in the mid 1980s. During that time, he recruited Eric Singer and Gordon Copley from Lita's band to play on what would become Black Sabbath's "Seventh Star" album. |
8 |
Was briefly a member of Jethro Tull. He appears with them during their appearance on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996). |
9 |
Often tunes his guitar down to a D (from the traditional E piano tuning) or C# to get a darker sound and more depth. |
10 |
He is the only original member of Black Sabbath to have stayed in the band throughout its numerous lineup changes. |
11 |
Accidentally cut the tips off his middle and ring fingers on his right hand (his fingering hand, he plays guitar left-handed) in a work-related accident in 1966. Has played guitar using plastic tips on these fingers ever since. |
12 |
In grade school in Birmingham, England, used to bully the man who would later become his bandmate, Ozzy Osbourne. |
13 |
Guitarist for Black Sabbath. |
Soundtrack
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Lords of Dogtown |
2005 |
writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Imaginary Heroes |
2004 |
writer: "It's Alright" |
|
Slugs |
2004 |
writer: "Paranoid" - as Frank Iommi |
|
The Simpsons |
1991-2003 |
TV Series writer - 2 episodes |
|
School of Rock |
2003 |
"Iron Man" |
|
Mike Graham Presents: The Best of Classic Championship Wrestling Vol. 1 |
2003 |
Video writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Ozzy Osbourne: Live at Budokan |
2002 |
Video documentary writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace |
2002 |
TV Movie documentary performer: "Paranoid" / writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Ultimate X: The Movie |
2002 |
Documentary short writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Grounded for Life |
2001 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Dogtown and Z-Boys |
2001 |
Documentary writer: "Into the Void", "Paranoid" |
|
Solitude |
2000 |
writer: "Solitude" - as Iommi |
|
Wings of the Crow |
2000 |
writer: "Children Of The Grave" |
|
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 |
2000 |
performer: "Goodbye Lament" / writer: "Goodbye Lament" |
|
Gilmore Girls |
2000 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Attraction |
2000 |
performer: "Neat" / writer: "Neat" |
|
Almost Famous |
2000 |
writer: "Paranoid", "Sweet Leaf" - as Frank Iommi |
|
Futurama |
2000 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Black Sabbath: The Best of MusikLaden Live |
1999 |
Video short writer: "Black Sabbath", "Paranoid", "Iron Man" |
|
Any Given Sunday |
1999 |
writer: "PARANOID" - as Anthony Iommi |
|
Detroit Rock City |
1999 |
writer: "Iron Man" - as Frank Iommi |
|
Black Sabbath: The Last Supper |
1999 |
Video documentary writer: "War Pigs", "N.I.B.", "Electric Funeral", "Fairies Wear Boots", "Into the Void", "Sweet Leaf", "Snowblind", "After Forever", "Dirty Women", "Black Sabbath", "Iron Man", "Children of the Grave", "Paranoid" |
|
That '70s Show |
1999 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Heart By-Pass |
1998 |
TV Movie documentary writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Private Parts |
1997 |
writer: "Paranoid" |
|
The Jerky Boys |
1995 |
writer: "Symptom of the Universe" - as Frank Iommi |
|
The Stöned Age |
1994 |
writer: "Paranoid" - as Anthony Iommi |
|
Dazed and Confused |
1993 |
writer: "Paranoid" - as Anthony Iommi |
|
Rock N' Roll Racing |
1993 |
Video Game music: "Paranoid" - uncredited |
|
Mystery Science Theater 3000 |
1992 |
TV Series writer - 2 episodes |
|
Wayne's World |
1992 |
"TIME MACHINE" |
|
Zombie and the Ghost Train |
1991 |
as Lommi, "SOLITUDE" |
|
Sid and Nancy |
1986 |
writer: "Paranoid" - as Iommi |
|
Live Aid |
1985 |
TV Special documentary writer: "Paranoid", "Iron Man" |
|
Heavy Metal |
1981 |
writer: "The Mob Rules" |
|
Top of the Pops |
|
TV Series writer - 1 episode, 1978 music - 1 episode, 1978 |
|
Countdown |
1974 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Rage |
2006-2014 |
TV Series writer - 3 episodes |
|
300: Rise of an Empire |
2014 |
writer: "War Pigs" |
|
This Is the End |
2013 |
writer: "War Pigs", "The End of the Beginning" |
|
The Hangover Part III |
2013 |
writer: "N.I.B." |
|
Elementary |
2013 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Atop the Fourth Wall |
2012 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Jim Norton: Please Be Offended |
2012 |
TV Movie writer: "Hole in the Sky" |
|
Dark Shadows |
2012 |
writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Metal Evolution |
2011 |
TV Series documentary writer - 2 episodes |
|
On Track with SEAT |
2011 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Fresh Meat |
2011 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series |
2011 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Heaven & Hell - Neon Nights, Live in Europe |
2010 |
Video writer: "E5150", "The Mob Rules", "Children of the Sea", "I", "Bible Black", "Time Machine", "Fear", "Falling off the Edge of the World", "Follow the Tears", "Die Young", "Heaven and Hell", "Country Girl", "Neon Knights" - uncredited |
|
It's Kind of a Funny Story |
2010 |
writer: "It's Alright" |
|
Formula 1: BBC Sport |
2010 |
TV Series writer - 1 episode |
|
Bones |
2010 |
writer: "Sweet Leaf" - as Anthony Iommi |
|
Californication |
2007-2009 |
TV Series writer - 2 episodes |
|
WWF Raw |
2009 |
TV Series writer - 2 episodes |
|
Brütal Legend |
2009 |
Video Game writer: "Children of the Grave", "Never Say Die", "Symptom of the Universe" |
|
Gentlemen Broncos |
2009 |
writer: "Paranoid" |
|
The Art of the Steal |
2009 |
Documentary writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Madden NFL 2010 |
2009 |
Video Game writer: "Paranoid" |
|
100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs |
2008 |
TV Movie writer: "Heaven and Hell" |
|
Grand Theft Auto IV |
2008 |
Video Game writer: "Heaven and Hell" |
|
Iron Man |
2008 |
writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock |
2007 |
Video Game writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Heaven and Hell: Live from Radio City Music Hall |
2007 |
Video writer: "E5150", "After All The Dead", "The Mob Rules", "Children of the Sea", "Lady Evil", "I", "The Sign of the Southern Cross", "Voodoo", "The Devil Cried", "Computer God", "Falling Off the Edge of the World", "Shadow of the Wind", "Die Young", "Heaven and Hell", "Lonely is the Word", "Neon Knights" |
|
Music Within |
2007 |
writer: "N.I.B" |
|
Rock Band |
2007 |
Video Game music: "Paranoid" / writer: "Paranoid" |
|
We Are Marshall |
2006 |
writer: "Paranoid" |
|
Guitar Hero II |
2006 |
Video Game lyrics: "WAR PIGS" - as Frank Iommi / music: "WAR PIGS" - as Frank Iommi |
|
Guitar Hero |
2005 |
Video Game writer: "Iron Man" |
|
Composer
Composer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Tony Iommi: The Guitar That Drives Black Sabbath |
1992 |
Video documentary |
|
Black Sabbath: Never Say Die |
1984 |
|
|
Actor
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band |
2010 |
TV Series |
|
Self
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
The Nation's Favourite Queen Song |
2014 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
The Joy of the Guitar Riff |
2014 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
E! Live from the Red Carpet |
2014 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards |
2014 |
TV Special |
Himself - Nominee |
Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses |
2013 |
Video |
Himself |
Black Sabbath: 13 |
2013 |
Documentary short |
Himself |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |
2013 |
TV Series |
Himself |
How the Brits Rocked America |
2012 |
TV Mini-Series documentary |
Himself |
That Metal Show |
2011 |
TV Series |
Himself - Host |
The One Show |
2011 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Heaven & Hell - Neon Nights, Live in Europe |
2010 |
Video |
Himself |
Classic Albums: Black Sabbath - Paranoid |
2010 |
Documentary |
Himself |
Heavy Metal Britannia |
2010 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs |
2008 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
The Story of the Guitar |
2008 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Heaven and Hell: Live from Radio City Music Hall |
2007 |
Video |
Himself |
Highway Star: A Journey in Rock |
2007 |
Documentary |
Himself |
E! True Hollywood Story |
2007 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Rock School |
2006 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey |
2005 |
Documentary |
Himself |
Hard Rock Treasures |
2005 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
The Jubilee Girl |
2002 |
TV Movie |
Himself |
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace |
2002 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
FanClub |
2001 |
TV Series |
Himself (Black Sabbath) |
We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll |
2001 |
Documentary |
Himself |
Black Sabbath: The Best of MusikLaden Live |
1999 |
Video short |
Himself (Guitar) (as Black Sabbath) |
Black Sabbath: The Last Supper |
1999 |
Video documentary |
Himself (Guitar) |
Rock Family Trees |
1998 |
TV Series documentary |
Himself |
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey |
1997 |
Documentary |
Himself |
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus |
1996 |
Documentary |
Himself - Jethro Tull |
Ozzy Osbourne: Live & Loud |
1993 |
Video |
Himself (Black Sabbath guitarist) |
The Black Sabbath Story Vol. 2 |
1992 |
Video documentary short |
Himself |
Tony Iommi: The Guitar That Drives Black Sabbath |
1992 |
Video documentary |
Himself (Black Sabbath guitarist) |
Black Sabbath: The Black Sabbath Story, Volume 1 |
1992 |
Video |
Himself (Guitar) (as Black Sabbath) |
The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness |
1992 |
TV Movie documentary |
Himself |
Ozzy Osbourne: Don't Blame Me |
1991 |
Video documentary |
Himself |
Guitar |
1991 |
Video documentary |
Tony Iomi |
Hard 'N Heavy Volume 2 |
1989 |
Video |
Himself |
Live Aid |
1985 |
TV Special documentary |
Himself (as Black Sabbath) |
Black Sabbath: Never Say Die |
1984 |
|
Himself / Guitarist (as Black Sabbath) |
Black and Blue |
1981 |
Documentary |
Himself (Black Sabbath) |
Top of the Pops |
1970-1978 |
TV Series |
Himself - Member: Black Sabbath / Himself |
Beat-Club |
1970 |
TV Series |
|
Archive Footage
Archive Footage
Looks like we don't have awards information. Sorry!
Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!
# | Quote |
---|
1 |
I was with Jethro Tull for two weeks. So what? |
2 |
[on how he created the heavy music for Black Sabbath] "Well, to be honest, we just became so fed up with people talking while we were playing that we said, 'Screw it, let's turn it up, so they won't be able to chatter.' The band just kept getting louder and louder." |
# | Trademark |
---|
1 |
Long Guitar Solos |
2 |
Jet Black Hair |
3 |
Black clothes |
4 |
Sunglasses |
5 |
Raw droning guitar riffs |
6 |
Signature Gibson SG Lefty guitar |
7 |
Black leather jacket, large silver cross necklace, black mustache, left-handed Gibson guitar |