Tony Iommi gave birth to heavy metal – and learning his techniques will make you a better riff writer By Jamie Hunt published 5 February 24 In this metal rhythm lesson, we take the art form back to the source, the Black Sabbath guitarist who launched a thousand riffs
“People think his playing is all about the big riffs, but I always loved his jazzy playing – listen to Planet Caravan. You can hear a lot of passing tones”: Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt says there’s way more to Tony Iommi’s guitar style than riffs alone By Amit Sharma published 4 January 24 The Swedish progressive metal icon pays homage to the dark lord of rock
“I’m going to commit sacrilege by joining in!” Footage of Brian May and Tony Iommi jamming together finally surfaces as the Queen legend solos over Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in this exclusive clip By Matt Owen published 3 January 24 While filming a new documentary titled Great Guitar Riffs, the two guitar titans took the opportunity to jam the Black Sabbath classic – and discuss its humble origins
“I've been working in the studio, writing and doing plenty of stuff”: Tony Iommi reveals he is cooking up some “really good” new music for 2024 By Phil Weller published 2 January 24 In his New Year message, the metal legend talks about everything from the Black Sabbath ballet to working in the studio and the status of the delayed Tony Martin-era Sabbath boxset
“People romanticize the old sound, but you want your sound brought into the 21st century”: Billy Corgan reveals how Tony Iommi inspired his approach to signature gear By Phil Weller published 20 December 23 Black Sabbath’s metal icon taught the Smashing Pumpkins leader the importance of updating past tonal glories for the future
“I’m honored”: Tony Iommi walks onstage to play Paranoid at the Black Sabbath ballet – and the entire ensemble bows at his feet By Matt Parker published 25 September 23 The father of metal guitar was given a humbling tribute during a surprise appearance at the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new Sabbath-themed show
“Ozzy Osbourne gets in my face and we're doing this dance. Sometimes Kirk and I do it during For Whom the Bell Tolls”: Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo explains the origin of his iconic crab walk By Nick Wells published 11 August 23 Robert Trujillo thanks Ozzy Osbourne for helping turn on his stage performance with Metallica
“I don't know whether we played it properly, but the audience loved it”: When Black Sabbath regularly covered Smoke on the Water – and unwittingly inspired Spinal Tap's Stonehenge By Jackson Maxwell published 7 August 23 Sabbath's ill-fated Born Again tour featured comically oversized props “as big as the real Stonehenge”, onstage spills, and a crowd-pleasing hard-rock crossover
“An official Vampire now”: Tony Iommi played Paranoid with Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper at The Hollywood Vampires’ recent UK show By Matt Parker published 13 July 23 The Black Sabbath legend dropped in on the band’s Birmingham, UK show and proved he has lost none of his chops since retiring from touring
Worst Ozzy Osbourne tribute ever? British pub’s inexplicable Photoshop gaffe removes Randy Rhoads and hands his polka dot V to Ozzy instead By Matt Owen published 19 June 23 This Birmingham pub’s tribute to Osbourne and the birth of Black Sabbath went very wrong indeed
Geezer Butler: “Originally it was titled ‘Nib’, which was Bill’s beard and looked like a pen nib because it was pointy” By Nick Wells published 31 March 23 Geezer Butler explains the obscure title behind one of Black Sabbath’s most recognisable riffs
Paul Gilbert tackles both Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio’s parts in new cover of Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell By Matt Owen published 23 February 23 It follows the Mr. Big virtuoso's cover of Dio's Holy Diver, with his fully fledged Dio tribute record set to arrive April 7
Some of Black Sabbath’s heaviest tracks are being turned into a ballet By Matt Owen published 8 February 23 War Pigs, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Iron Man and five other Sabbath songs will soundtrack the new three-act dance show – which might feature a Tony Iommi cameo
Tony Iommi reveals he is about to start recording a new album By Matt Owen published 4 January 23 The Black Sabbath legend didn't give too much away, but it sounds as though a follow-up to 2005's Fused is right around the corner
Frank Bello: 5 bass players who influenced me By Joel McIver published 14 November 22 Anthrax bassist Frank Bello on Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Paul McCartney and more
The 20 heaviest songs before Black Sabbath By Richard Bienstock last updated 11 November 22 Behold, gentle reader, a sizzlin’ slew of down and dirty tracks that helped forge heavy metal
Ozzy Osbourne hints at future tour: “If I have to go up there and die on the first song, I’ll still be back the next day” By Sam Roche published 30 August 22 The Prince of Darkness also mentions a possible solo album with his former Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi
The 30 greatest rock guitar albums of 1972 By Greg Prato published 24 August 22 In '72, Alice Cooper and Bowie grew ever more theatrical while the riffs of Iommi, Blackmore and co got bigger. 50 years on, we celebrate the best from a banner year for rock
The greatest guitar albums of the ‘70s: Getting the Led out with Sabbath, the Who, Pink Floyd and more By Jenna Scaramanga published 19 August 22 Punk was a revolution, disco a global phenomenon, but the guitar music of the '70s was dominated by the giants of rock. Here are the decade's top 10 guitar albums, as chosen by you...
Tony Iommi explains why Geezer Butler didn’t join him and Ozzy at Commonwealth Games closing ceremony By Jonathan Horsley published 15 August 22 The Black Sabbath guitarist also reveals his reunion with Ozzy Osbourne was a last-minute deal that they had to keep secret