Tony Iommi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Iommi
Iommi performing with Heaven & Hell in 2009
Born	Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (1948-02-19) 19 February 1948 (age 77) Birmingham, England
Citizenship	United Kingdom Italy
Occupation	Musician
Spouse(s)	Susan Snowdon ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1976)​ Melinda Diaz ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1985)​ Valery Iommi ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1993)​ Maria Sjöholm ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Heavy metal doom metal hard rock blues rock
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Warner Bros. I.R.S. Rhino

Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He is best known as the guitarist, leader, and main songwriter for the famous heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi was the only member who stayed with the band for over 50 years.

He is seen as one of the people who started heavy metal music. He has inspired many types of metal music, especially doom metal. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named him number 13 on their list of the "250 Greatest Guitarists of all Time."

When he was a teenager, Tony had an accident at a factory. He lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand. This accident greatly changed how he played the guitar. For a short time in 1968, he joined the band Jethro Tull. But he did not record any music with them. He soon returned to Black Sabbath in 1969.

In 2000, Tony released his first solo album, called Iommi. His next album, Fused, came out in 2005. It featured his former bandmate Glenn Hughes. After Fused, he formed the band Heaven & Hell. This band ended after Ronnie James Dio passed away in 2010.

In 2011, Tony Iommi wrote his life story. The book was called Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath.

Early Life and a Big Change

Tony Iommi was born in Birmingham, England, on 19 February 1948. He was the only child of parents who came from Italy. His mother ran a shop from their home. His father worked as a carpenter.

Tony grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham. He went to Birchfield Road School. Ozzy Osbourne, who would later be his bandmate, also went to the same school. When Tony was young, he got the nickname "Scarface" after falling and cutting his lip. He later grew his famous mustache to cover the scar.

Around age 10, Tony started learning judo, karate, and boxing. He wanted to protect himself from local gangs. He first wanted to play the drums. But because of the noise, he chose the guitar instead as a teenager. He was inspired by guitarists like Hank Marvin. Tony has always played the guitar left-handed. After school, he worked as a plumber and in a factory.

The Factory Accident

When Tony was 17, he had a serious accident. It happened on his last day working in a sheet metal factory. He lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers on his right hand. This was his fret-board hand, as he plays left-handed.

Doctors told him he might never play guitar again. Tony felt very sad. But he decided he would not give up. He thought, "There must be a way I can play." His factory boss played him music by Django Reinhardt. Django was a famous jazz guitarist who played with only two fingers. This inspired Tony to keep trying.

Tony decided to play guitar again, even though it hurt. He made special thimbles for his injured fingers. He used an old plastic bottle and leather from a jacket. These thimbles helped him play. But he could not feel the strings well. This made him press down very hard. He also found it hard to bend strings.

To help with this, he used light-gauge guitar strings. These strings were not common then, so he used banjo strings. Later, he started tuning his guitar to lower pitches. This made the strings looser and easier to bend. It also created a "bigger, heavier sound."

Tony said in 2016 that losing his fingertips was his biggest regret. But this accident also led to his unique guitar style.

Tony Iommi's Music Career

Guitar used by Iommi, on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Tenerife

Before Black Sabbath, Tony played in several blues/rock bands. One of his first bands was the Rockin' Chevrolets in 1964. He later joined The Birds And Bees. He left his factory job to play with them in Germany. From 1966 to 1967, Tony played in a band called the Rest. Here, he met Bill Ward, who would become Black Sabbath's drummer.

From January to July 1968, Tony was the guitarist in Mythology. Bill Ward joined him a month later. Mythology broke up in July 1968.

In August 1968, another Birmingham band called Rare Breed also ended. Their singer, Ozzy Osbourne, joined Tony and Bill. They found a bassist, Geezer Butler, who was Ozzy's old bandmate. They also had a slide guitarist and a saxophonist. The six-person band was called the Polka Tulk Blues Band. After only two shows, the slide guitarist and saxophonist left. The band then shortened its name to Polka Tulk.

Earth and Jethro Tull

In September 1968, the band changed its name again to Earth. In the same month, Tony briefly left Earth to join Jethro Tull. He only played two shows with them. One was on "The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus". He returned to Earth in November 1968.

Tony learned a lot from Ian Anderson, the singer of Jethro Tull. He learned that bands need to work hard and rehearse a lot. When he came back to Earth, he made sure everyone woke up early to practice. He was the only one who could drive. He would pick them up at 8:45 AM. He told them, "This is how Jethro Tull did it." This helped their band become more organized.

Black Sabbath's Rise

In August 1969, Earth changed its name to Black Sabbath. They had to change it because another band was also called Earth. Tony's factory accident had a big effect on Black Sabbath's sound. By 1971, for their album Master of Reality, Tony had detuned his guitar. This made the strings looser and easier to play. Geezer Butler, the bassist, also detuned his bass to match Tony.

Black Sabbath was one of the first bands to detune their instruments. This technique became a key part of heavy metal music. Tony combined blues-like guitar solos with dark, minor-key riffs. He used a powerful, distorted sound. He also used power chords and a special effect pedal.

Tony Iommi in 1970

By the late 1970s, Black Sabbath faced problems. They were tired from touring. Some people thought their slow, bluesy riffs were old-fashioned. New metal bands like Judas Priest were becoming popular. After their album Never Say Die! did not do well, Tony and Geezer decided to make changes.

In 1979, they replaced Ozzy Osbourne with Ronnie James Dio. Dio was the former singer for Rainbow. With Dio, Black Sabbath made Heaven and Hell. This album tried to update their sound for the 1980s. During the 1980 tour, Bill Ward left the band. He was replaced by Vinny Appice.

With Tony and Geezer Butler as the only original members, they made the album Mob Rules. Dio left the next year to start his own band. Black Sabbath then had many different singers over the next ten years. These included Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes.

In 1992, Tony played at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. He played with the remaining members of Queen. Geezer Butler also came back to Sabbath that year. In 1997, the original Black Sabbath members reunited for tours. Bill Ward played at the first two shows. But he was not there for later tours due to a heart attack. He was replaced by other drummers.

On 11 November 2011, Black Sabbath announced they would reunite. They would record a new album. Bill Ward did not join. Brad Wilk became the drummer for the album. The new album, 13, came out in June 2013. The band officially ended their tours in early 2017.

Tony Iommi has continued to make music. In 2022, he played guitar on two songs for Ozzy Osbourne's album Patient Number 9. He also reunited with Ozzy to play at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in their hometown of Birmingham. They played "Iron Man" and "Paranoid."

Solo Music and Other Projects

In 2000, Tony Iommi released his first solo album, Iommi. It featured many guest singers. These included Dave Grohl and Ozzy Osbourne. In 2004, his second solo album, The 1996 DEP Sessions, was released. This album was recorded in 1996 but not released until later. Glenn Hughes sang on this album.

Tony continued working with Glenn Hughes on his third solo album, Fused. It came out on 12 July 2005. John Mellencamp's drummer, Kenny Aronoff, also played on the album.

Tony Iommi has also worked on other projects. He is scoring music for a series of horror films called Black Sabbath. Since 1989, he has been involved in the Rock Aid Armenia project. In 2009, Tony and Ian Gillan received high honors from Armenia. This was for their help after the Spitak earthquake. They formed a supergroup called WhoCares. They released a song to help build a music school in Armenia.

In 2020, Tony appeared on a song by Candlemass. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award. In November 2021, Tony released a perfume with an Italian brand. He also released his first instrumental song, "Scent of Dark," for it.

In 2022, Tony played at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He performed with Indigo Marshall at the opening. He also joined Ozzy Osbourne for the closing song. In 2023, he worked with Birmingham's Royal Ballet. They created Black Sabbath – The Ballet, which was very successful.

Tony's most recent solo song is the instrumental track "Deified."

Heaven & Hell Band

Tony Iommi's star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars

In 2006, Tony Iommi decided to tour again with Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. They called themselves Heaven & Hell. Bill Ward later decided not to join. Vinny Appice took his place. They released an album called The Dio Years in 2007. It had old songs with Dio and three new ones.

The band started a tour in America in April 2007. They released a live DVD and CD from a show in New York. In 2008, they toured with other metal bands. Their only studio album, The Devil You Know, came out in 2009.

In November 2008, Tony Iommi received a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars. Ronnie James Dio passed away in May 2010. On 14 June 2010, Tony announced that Heaven & Hell would play one last show. It was a tribute to Ronnie James Dio. This was their final performance.

Eurovision Song Contest

Tony Iommi wrote the song "Lonely Planet." The band Dorians sang it for Armenia in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

Personal Life

Tony Iommi bought his first house in Stafford, England, in 1972. He also bought a house next door for his parents. Tony has been married four times.

In 1973, Tony married Susan Snowdon. Their marriage lasted three years. Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was Tony's best man.

Tony married American model Melinda Diaz in 1980. They had a daughter, Toni-Marie Iommi, in 1983. Tony and Melinda divorced in the mid-1980s. When Toni-Marie was 12, Tony gained custody of her. Toni-Marie has said her father helped her through a difficult time and regain trust in people.

In 1986, Tony met an English woman named Valery. They married after six years. She had a son named Jay from a previous relationship. They divorced in the late 1990s.

In 2005, Tony married Maria Sjöholm. She was a singer for a Swedish band. They met around 1998. In 1999, Maria moved to England to live with Tony. They got married quietly in 2005. Tony called it the "Best thing I ever did!" in his book.

Tony was briefly engaged to rock musician Lita Ford in the mid-1980s.

On 19 November 2013, Tony Iommi received an honorary degree from Coventry University. This was for his great contributions to music. He is also a visiting professor of music there. Tony has dual citizenship for both the United Kingdom and Italy.

Health

In early 2012, Tony Iommi was diagnosed with early lymphoma. He had successful treatment for it. Black Sabbath's 2013 tour dates were planned so Tony could return to the UK for his treatment. In 2014, Tony announced he was finishing his regular treatment. A few months later, Black Sabbath said their next tour would be their last because of Tony's health. By August 2016, Tony Iommi announced his cancer was in remission.

In 2016, Tony said he needed an operation to remove a lump from his throat. In 2017, he explained that the lump was not cancerous.

Religion

Tony Iommi said in 2016 that he believes in God and is a Catholic. But he has not gone to church since he was a child. In 2017, a song Tony wrote called "How Good It Is" was performed at Birmingham Cathedral. The lyrics were inspired by a Bible psalm. Tony said the song was not about religion for him. He stated, "I don't follow any religious path... religiously."

In his autobiography, Tony wrote that his parents were Catholics but did not go to church often. He also said he believes in God but does not feel he needs to go to church.

Tony Iommi's Impact on Music

Tony Iommi playing with Black Sabbath in 1978

Tony Iommi is seen as one of the greatest rock guitarists ever. Metal Hammer magazine ranked him number 1 on their "Riff Lords" list in 2005. They praised his unique and powerful guitar style. Classic Rock magazine ranked him number 6 on their "100 Wildest Guitar Heroes" list in 2007. In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 25 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Tony has won many awards. These include Q Awards and Kerrang! Awards. He has also won three Grammy Awards as a member of Black Sabbath.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull said Tony turned his hand injury into something amazing. He said Tony's contribution to rock music is unique. Gene Simmons of Kiss called him "the man who came up with the riffs that launched an army of guitar players." Ozzy Osbourne calls him "the master of the metal riff."

Many people believe Tony Iommi is the main creator of heavy metal music. Brian May of Queen calls him "the true father of heavy metal." Eddie Van Halen said, "Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn't exist. He is the creator of heavy!" James Hetfield of Metallica calls him "The king of the heavy riff." Rob Halford of Judas Priest introduced Tony as "The man who invented the heavy metal riff."

Tony Iommi is also seen as a pioneer for other music styles. Many famous musicians say Tony Iommi greatly influenced their playing. These include Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, Slash of Guns N' Roses, and James Hetfield of Metallica.

Tony Iommi's Gear

Tony Iommi's deep and heavy guitar sound came partly from his accident. His unique sound was a result of detuning his guitar. He also played very loudly. He said this was needed because people would talk over them when they played.

Guitars

Tony Iommi has used several guitars throughout his career.

• Jaydee Custom SGs: These guitars were built in Birmingham. Tony used them for recordings and as main guitars.
• Gibson SG, also called "Monkey": This red 1965 Gibson SG Special became Tony's main guitar. It is now on display at the Hard Rock Café in New York City.
• Gibson Custom Shop SG: Gibson built this guitar for Tony in 1997. It was a prototype for his signature model. This guitar was stolen in 2010, and Tony asked for help to get it back.
• Epiphone P94 Iommi SG: This is a signature model from Epiphone.
• Gibson SG Standard: A regular left-handed SG with two extra frets. Tony was the first guitarist to have a signature pick-up designed by Gibson.
• Fender Stratocaster: Tony played a white Fender Stratocaster early in Black Sabbath. The neck pick-up broke, so he switched to his Gibson SG.
• St. Moritz Tony Iommi Custom SG: A replica of his "Monkey" SG, used for the 13 album and tour.
• BC Rich Ironbird: A custom-built guitar with special features.

Tony uses custom guitar strings and Shure Wireless systems. A Gibson Tony Iommi Signature Pick Up has been available for many years.

Effects

Tony uses various effects pedals to shape his sound:

• Boss chorus pedal
• Boss octave pedal
• Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
• Korg DL8000R multi-tap delay
• Tycobrahe wah pedal

Amplifiers

Tony Iommi has used different amplifiers:

• Laney TI100 Tony Iommi Signature: His current main amplifier.
• Laney GH 100 TI Tony Iommi Signature: His main amp from 1993 to 2012.
• Laney 4×12 cabinets: Speaker cabinets he uses.
• Various Marshall amplifiers: Used from the 1980s to 1993.
• Laney Supergroup Heads: His main amplifier from 1968 to 1979. Laney re-engineered his original amp for Black Sabbath's final tour.
• Orange 1972: Used for the "Iron Man" and "Paranoid" music videos.
• Mesa Boogie Mark series heads: Used from the mid-1980s to early 1990s.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Tony Iommi para niños