Tony Iommi in Camden

HAPPY 77TH BIRTHDAY, TONY IOMMI! LET’S CELEBRATE THE RIFF MASTER

I’ll never forget one of the first essays I ever wrote in English – it was about Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi’s accident, and how the bleak, industrial environment of Birmingham shaped the sound of metal. There’s something poetic about it, isn’t it? You could say a blessing in disguise, or maybe the devil’s work in disguise? Anyways, out of total misfortune – losing the tips of his fingers in a factory accident – Iommi forged a completely new way of playing guitar. That one moment of bad luck changed rock history forever!

The darkest, heaviest riffs?
They weren’t just a sound – they were resilience for the love of doom creation.

And speaking of resilience and love of doom… did anyone else try to get tickets for the “Back to the Beginning” concert? It was like trying to win the lottery while wrestling a demon – The tickets vanished in just 16 minutes! If you managed to score one, we salute you. If not, don’t worry—there’s going to be a gathering outside the venue so fans can still come together and celebrate the legends of metal!

TONY IOMMI: THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE MASTER OF RIFFS

Born on 19th February 1948, Tony Iommi isn’t just a guitarist—he’s the guitarist who built heavy metal. When he lost those fingertips, most would’ve thought his career was over before it began. Instead, he did the unthinkable. He made his own prosthetic fingertips, down-tuned his guitar, and created the heaviest, most earth-shaking riffs of all time. That thick, doomy, unmistakable sound? That’s the backbone of metal, still copied to this day by every band that dares to be heavy. Black Sabbath’s signature was born out of this misfortune and the creation of a completely new sound! Because let’s be real – there is no doom, stoner, sludge, or anything remotely heavy today that doesn’t trace back to Black Sabbath.

The band was officially formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Tony himself, at only 20 years old. Wild, eh?

This is apparently the very first picture ever taken of Black Sabbath in 1968.

BLACK SABBATH IN CAMDEN – ROUNDHOUSE, MARCH 1970 & THE ATOMIC SUNRISE FESTIVAL

Now, Camden—the heart of rock ‘n’ roll—had the absolute privilege of hosting Black Sabbath at The Roundhouse on 9th March 1970, when they officially debuted under their new name. Before Black Sabbath, the band had been known as Polka Tulk The origin of the name is up for debate – Some believe it came from a clothing shop in Birmingham (the Pulka Tulk Trading Company), while others think it was inspired by a brand of talcum powder. I genuinely love the idea so much, that the softest substance on earth could inspire the name of what would become one of the hardest band on the planet! Anyways, continuing the band name development – after Polka Tulk, they renamed to Earth, performing blues rock covers like so many British bands of the time. It was bassist Geezer Butler who pushed for a darker sound, inspired by the occult novels of Dennis Wheatley. That influence led him to write a song called Black Sabbath—the moment that changed everything. The first time they played it live, the audience went wild. They knew they were onto something massive. That night at The Roundhouse was more than just a gig. It was the birth of heavy metal.

The same month, The Roundhouse also hosted the legendary Atomic Sunrise Festival, a seven-night celebration of counterculture music and radical theatre. The event featured David Bowie (with The Hype), Genesis, Hawkwind, Arthur Brown, Alexis Korner, Kevin Ayers, and more. Black Sabbath was scheduled to play but never showed up. The reasons remain unknown, but their absence only added to the festival’s underground mystique. The Atomic Sunrise Festival has since become legendary—not just for its lineup, but because some of the earliest footage of bands like Genesis, Hawkwind, and Bowie’s pre-Spiders outfit “The Hype” was captured there. Clips have surfaced on YouTube, and there was even an attempt to turn the festival footage into a proper DVD release, but nothing ever came of it. I found some original videos below:

More than just a gig series, the festival was a snapshot of a moment when rock music was evolving into something bigger than just entertainment—it was a movement. It was a time when the underground still felt limitless, when bands were discovering new sounds by the week, and when The Roundhouse stood at the center of it all.

THE FINAL BLACK SABBATH SHOW

But unfortunately, we are not in the 70s anymore and speaking of pain, let’s talk about the “Back to the Beginning” concert happening in Birmingham this summer. Black Sabbath. The greatest metal bands of all time. A lineup so insane it should be illegal. And if you’re thinking of getting tickets now? Yeah, good luck with that. Scoring one of those was like trying to summon a demon—you had to sell your soul, fight a hundred other metalheads, and probably still ended up empty-handed. But hey, if you did get a ticket, congrats—you’re about to witness history.

WHY IOMMI IS STILL THE MOST IMPORTANT GUITARIST IN METAL

It’s one thing to invent heavy metal. It’s another to define it for over five decades. Tony Iommi’s riffs are the foundation of everything heavy. Every metal band—from Metallica to Mastodon—owes him their sound. Brian May of Queen called him a “true pioneer.” James Hetfield worships him as “the king of the heavy riff.”

And it’s not just the music—it’s the attitude. Iommi embodies persistence, reinvention, and the refusal to back down. Even after countless surgeries, health battles, and Sabbath’s ups and downs, he’s still here. Still riffing. Still shaping the music we love.

I’m running out of space, so here are some random and intriguing facts about Tony:

1. Self-Taught Left-Handed Guitarist: Tony Iommi is a self-taught musician who plays the guitar left-handed.
2. Factory Accident Led to Unique Guitar Style: At 17, while working as a sheet metal worker, Iommi lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in an industrial accident. Inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who also played with injured fingers, Iommi created homemade prosthetic fingertips and began using lighter guitar strings, leading to Black Sabbath’s signature heavy sound.
3. The Scar and the Moustache: As a child, Iommi was chased by a neighbour wielding a spider, causing him to trip and cut his upper lip on gravel. The resulting scar led to teasing, and once he could, he grew a moustache to cover it.
4. Brief Stint with Jethro Tull: In 1968, Iommi briefly joined Jethro Tull, even performing with them during “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” concert. However, he soon returned to Black Sabbath, feeling a stronger connection with his original bandmates.
5. Almost Composed for “A Nightmare on Elm Street”: Iommi was considered to write the soundtrack for the 1984 film “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” He read the script, met with producers, and even wrote a song, but ultimately, the collaboration didn’t materialise.
6. Unreleased Collaboration with Lita Ford: He co-produced Lita Ford’s album “The Bride Wore Black,” but it was never released.
7. Autobiography Publication: In 2011, Iommi published his autobiography titled “Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath.”
8. Childhood Connection with Ozzy Osbourne: Growing up, Iommi and future bandmate Ozzy Osbourne attended the same school. Iommi admitted to bullying Osbourne during their school days, not knowing they would later form Black Sabbath together.
9. John Bonham as Best Man: Led Zeppelin’s drummer, John Bonham, served as the best man at one of Iommi’s weddings.
10. Only Constant Member of Black Sabbath: Throughout Black Sabbath’s nearly 50-year history, Iommi remained the only continuous member, anchoring the band’s evolving lineup.
11. Early Musical Influences: As a teenager, Iommi was inspired to pick up the guitar after listening to Hank Marvin of The Shadows.
12. Pioneering Use of Power Chords: Iommi was among the first guitarists to utilise three-string power chords, contributing to the development of Black Sabbath’s heavy sound.
13. Brian May and Eddie Van Halen’s collaboration on the Star Fleet Project was facilitated by May’s friendship with Tony Iommi. May first met Van Halen through Iommi when Van Halen’s band opened for Black Sabbath. May recalled being astounded by Van Halen’s performance, comparing it to seeing Jimi Hendrix for the first time. This connection led to their collaboration on the Star Fleet Project, highlighting the camaraderie among these legendary guitarists.

KEEPING CAMDEN ALIVE – THE SPIRIT OF LIVE MUSIC

At CMDN Live, we do everything we can to keep the Camden spirit alive. We’re here to make sure live music thrives, to keep venues packed, and to support the next generation of bands who might just be the next Sabbath.

So next time you head to a gig, whether it’s a tiny basement show or a packed-out venue, just remember—this is how legends start. By getting out there, playing loud, and refusing to fade away.

SOURCES & EXTRA READING:

• Tony Iommi’s Biography
• Image: Tony Standing Guitar
• Image: First Picture ever taken of Black Sabbath
• Black Sabbath Concert History – Fandom
• Image of Atomic Sunrise Poster and fans in venue
• Image Black Sabbath Standing
• The Story of Black Sabbath in the 70s – Louder
• Black Sabbath’s Self-Titled Album – Wikipedia
• Ozzy Osbourne’s Official Tour Archives
• Atomic Sunrise Festival – DJTees
• David Bowie and The Hype at Atomic Sunrise – Bowie Bible
• On This Day – Black Sabbath in London
• Iommi Biography
• 10 Things You Might Not Know About Birthday Boy Tony Iommi
• Brian May Introduces Star Fleet Project Band In Part Two Of Mini-Series
• Image: July 24, 2010 in London, England. Photo by Chiaki Nozu/WireImage

And if you were there at The Roundhouse in 1970, tell us your story—we’re dying to hear it, please send me an email with everything you can remember and would like to share and I will add your experience to this article nilaya@camden-live.com