Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi welcomed 2023 with a video message reflecting on last year and looking to new projects. In the clip, Iommi discusses beginning work on a new record, which could mark his first solo effort since 2005’s Fused.
He cited performing at the Commonwealth Games as a huge 2022 highlight. But the year wasn’t free from tragedy. In 2022, he lost Mike Clement, his guitar tech for the past three-plus decades. In the video, he also talks about Russia’s war against Ukraine, which apparently is getting in the way of him finishing up his new recording studio.
“I’m having a new studio built, which I’m really pleased about. Well, actually, the studio is built. It’s almost ready to go, I’m just waiting for some equipment. Because of the war [in Ukraine], it’s sort of stopped some of the parts coming through,” Iommi says “But we’re almost there. In another couple of weeks, I think I’ll be ready to go in and start work in there, which I’m really looking forward to… writing another album.”
Iommi’s previous solo albums include 2000’s star-studded Iommi and the aforementioned Fused.
In the video, Iommi also stated that he will be working on reissuing the IRS Records era of the Black Sabbath catalog this year. View the full video message below.
Black Sabbath: The Best 30 Songs From The Ozzy Osbourne Era(s), Ranked
Fifty years ago this week (September 18), the mighty Black Sabbath released their second album, Paranoid, in America. A bit tighter than their self-titled debut, which came out earlier in the year, Paranoid‘s title track became their biggest radio hit in America. The album also had “Luke’s Wall/War Pigs” and “Iron Man,” But the 41-minute album didn’t waste a second: it’s a perfect album.
In fact, seven of the eight songs made our list that we put together in honor of Paranoid‘s 50th. And yes, Black Sabbath did some incredible stuff with Ozzy’s replacement, the late, great Ronnie James Dio… and that’s probably a list for another day (and yes, both RJD and drummer Vinny Appice should have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the founding four members, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward) .
Here, we decided to stick with songs from the Ozzy eras of the band. 1970’s debut album (and the “Evil Woman” single) through 1978’s Never Say Die! and also 2013’s 13. Yes, we know that they put out two new songs in the ’90s, but those didn’t come close to making this list… which, like Paranoid, doesn’t waste a moment. The roots of every heavy metal band can be found in these thirty songs.
