Tony Iommi

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

• 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

Title	Year	Status	Character
Nothing Is Easy: Jethro Tull Live at the Isle of Wight 1970	2005	Documentary	Himself (guitar)
The Greatest	2004	TV Series documentary	Himself

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#	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



Source: Celebrity Pictures & Images