Iommi

Tony Iommi is an English guitarist and composer, best known as a founder and lead guitarist of Black Sabbath, a band commonly credited with pioneering heavy metal. Born in Birmingham on February 19, 1948, to an Italian family, he formed Black Sabbath in 1968 with vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. The band’s early work, marked by heavy riffs, dark themes, and a sonic weight that diverged from contemporary rock, helped establish a new, heavier approach to metal. Their self-titled debut (1970) and Paranoid (1970) are regarded as landmark albums in the genre.

Iommi’s guitar style emphasizes riff-based composition and blues-influenced phrasing that fuse Sabbath’s doom-laden atmosphere with rock energy. After an industrial accident in 1965 that damaged the fingertips of his fretting hand, he developed temporary prosthetic fingertips and adopted heavier gauge strings and downtuned tunings to maintain his playing style, a development that shaped the band’s heavy sound.

In the 1980s he formed Heaven & Hell with Ronnie James Dio, continuing Sabbath’s legacy through a new lineup and touring cycle. He later released a solo album, Iommi, in 2000, featuring collaborations with various artists. Black Sabbath’s influence was recognized with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Iommi’s contributions are widely acknowledged as foundational to heavy metal guitar, influencing countless players through his riff-centric approach, distinctive tone, and willingness to experiment with tuning and technique.