Anthony Frank Iommi, born on February 19, 1948, is a renowned British musician who has left an indelible mark on the world of heavy metal music. As the co-founder and guitarist of the iconic band Black Sabbath, Iommi was not only a driving force behind the band's success but also its leader and primary composer for nearly five decades. His impressive skills and innovative style have earned him a prestigious ranking of number 25 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
A life-changing event occurred on Iommi's last day of work in a sheet metal factory when, as a teenager, he lost the tips of the middle and ring fingers of his right hand in an accident. This traumatic experience significantly impacted his playing style, but it did not deter him from pursuing his passion for music. In fact, he went on to co-found Black Sabbath, initially known as Earth, and was a key member of the band throughout its history.
Although Iommi briefly left Black Sabbath in 1968 to join Jethro Tull, he did not record any material with the band and returned to Black Sabbath in 1969. In the year 2000, he released his debut solo album, simply titled Iommi, followed by Fused in 2005, which featured his former bandmate Glenn Hughes. This was followed by the formation of Heaven & Hell, a band that disbanded shortly after the passing of Ronnie James Dio in 2010.
Prior to the formation of Heaven & Hell, the band had toured under the name Black Sabbath, performing songs from their time together with Dio. After Dio's death, the band changed its name to Heaven & Hell for legal reasons. In 2011, Iommi published his autobiography, titled Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, which provides a unique glimpse into his life and career.
