Tony Iommi writes music for CSI series episode

Black Sabbath superstar works non stop! After extremely hard work on the new album 13 and a long 84 shows worldwide tour, the legendary Riffmeister still is full of energy and enthusiasm. This is an update from Tony himself, where he tells about his collaboration with TV series CSI:

"People have been asking what exactly I’m doing at the moment, we’ll I’m getting back in the studio having tried to make myself rest after the tours. I’m writing, mostly just putting ideas down rather than complete songs. I like to create all sorts of moods with my music and then decide later how they might be used. 

One specific piece though is for the CSI TV series that will be aired in the US on November 2nd. I was asked if I’d be interested so I had a look at the footage and came up with an idea they seemed to like. It’s not very long but it was different working with images rather than just music, I’d certainly be up for doing more."

Later,the CSI episode with Tony's music has been changed to November 16th. The show's producer postponed the episode due to an NFL football game. 

Here's a little incomplete snippet of Tony's music for CSI Twin Paradox episode. Produced and engineered by Mike Exeter. Enjoy!

Iommi.com, 13 November 2014

Tony Iommi composes new soundtrack for 'CSI' TV series

Tony has issued the following update:

"People have been asking what exactly I'm doing at the moment. Well, I'm getting back in the studio, having tried to make myself rest after the tours. I'm writing, mostly just putting ideas down rather than complete songs. I like to create all sorts of moods with my music and then decide later how they might be used. One specific piece, though, is for the 'CSI' TV series that will be aired in the U.S. on November 9th.

I was asked if I'd be interested, so I had a look at the footage and came up with an idea they seemed to like. It's not very long, but it was different working with images rather than just music. I'd certainly be up for doing more."

This is already second Tony's collaboration with 'CSI'. Earlier, before the release of "13" Black Sabbath made a rare television appearance performing a new song on the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". The episode aired in May 2013 on CBS-TV. The band world premiered a cut called "End Of The Beginning" from "13".

The episode's plot followed the CSI team as they investigated a series of murder that resembled the sins in "Dante's Inferno", with the trail leading the detectives played by Ted Danson and Marc Vann to attend a Black Sabbath concert.

Iommi.com, 30 October 2014

Professor Tony Iommi begins a new job!

Our Tony recently has posted photos online from his first day on the job as a teacher at Coventry University in the U.K. Tony began his stint as a professor of music last Wednesday (September 24) and posted pictures of a class session as well as an autograph line where he signed things for students.

Tony was appointed Visiting Professor Of Music last June at the university, which awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate Of Arts in November of last year for his outstanding contribution to global music. He toured the facilities in May and spent some time during that visit talking with students and staff about his 50 years as a musician.

Department Of Performing Arts head Dr. Sara Reed said, "It is a tremendous honor to have Tony here with us as a Visiting Professor. His huge wealth of experience and musical knowledge is beyond value to our students."

Tony will work this fall directly with students on their songwriting and composition skills.
Black Sabbath's successful world tour in support of its 2013 reunion album, "13", came to a close on July 4 with a massive gig at London's Hyde Park.

Iommi had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment ever since being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward.

Tony also successfully participated as a guest of honour at Birmingham's great event Pride Of Brum, 26 September 2014, celebrating city's most inspirational personalities of all generations. 

Blabbermouth.net, 30 September 2014

Photos by Coventry University and I Am Birmingham 

Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan write a letter to Gyumri Music School students

 Tony Iommi and his friend Ian Gillan of Deep Purple addressed a letter to Gyumri Music School, which was built last year with contributing funds raised by sales of the album and the single Who Cares, a supergroup including Tony himself, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord (R.I.P.) and other rockstars.  Armenian Mediamax.com writes: 

September 20 will mark the first anniversary of the opening of the school, with the participation of a joint project of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), Mediamax Media Company and Do Something Australian Organization.

“To all the staff and students, please know that I am thinking of you on this day; one year from the opening. I hope you are enjoying the school and - most important - that you are enjoying the music. Music is a friend for life and souls - having touched - are forever entwined. Peace, love and respect to you all”, Ian Gillan’s letter reads. 

“Dear Headmaster, Teachers and Pupils! I'm afraid my work schedule has prevented me from coming to see you, nevertheless I'd like to send you my congratulations on your first year anniversary. It's amazing that what started as a conversation with lan Gillan has now become a building and successful school. People all over the world know about you and have contributed to the rebuilding. I hope the day goes well and look forward to visiting you at some point in the future”, Tony Iommi’s letter reads. 

The opening ceremony of the music school took place on September 20, 2013. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, Do Something Chairman Jon Dee and Mardigian Family representatives attended the opening. 

Mediamax.com, 24 September 2014

Tony Iommi: Why I'm backing Pride of Birmingham Awards 2014

Black Sabbath legend tells Birmingham Mail's Paul Cole why he couldn’t miss city supershow on Friday 26 September, 8pm in Town Hall:

"So many people go out of their way to help others in Birmingham but you rarely get to hear about them. That’s why Pride of Birmingham is a brilliant event. It’s an opportunity to give them the recognition they richly deserve. It’s going to be quite a night and I reckon that’s it’s going to be the event not to miss in years to come.

I’m a Brummie born and bred and I’ve always found fellow Brummies to be modest folk by and large. They don’t blow their own trumpet, just get on with doing remarkable things without any expectation of praise. But the one thing guaranteed to get them going is their pride in Birmingham.
For many years Birmingham was looked down on, and was butt of jokes by people who didn’t know any better. If they wanted a barmy, or eccentric, character in a TV show, they made it a Brummie. But the city has changed so much. It’s a forward-looking, go-getting place, a great city of world renown. Birmingham has given the world so much, and that’s due to the people of the city who make things happen.

At Pride of Birmingham we’re going to be meeting some of them, and I look forward to hearing their stories. I’ve been to many music awards ceremonies over the years – but never anything like this!" 

Iommi Fans, buy your ticket here! Only few seats available, the venue is almost sold out! Get your chance! 

Paul Cole for Birmingham Mail, 24 September 2014 

Slash says Tony Iommi is Pride of Birmingham and deserves a medal

Guns 'N’ Roses guitar hero nominates Black Sabbath legend for prestigious Pride of Birmingham award. Slash says that Brummie Tony is an inspiration not just in Brum but worldwide. And he praised the 66-year-old rocker’s determination to battle on after treatment for cancer.

“Tony is one of those guys who inspires everyone,” said Slash, 49, who was born Saul Hudson in Stoke-on-Trent but now lives in LA, “I was brought up on Black Sabbath and he is one of the best rock and roll guitarists out there. As a fellow player I can really appreciate all the nuances of his technique – he is one hell of a guitar player. This is the man who invented heavy metal in Birmingham and created Sabbath, a brand nobody can touch. Everyone you meet in rock circles will tell you that they were inspired by Black Sabbath and the band’s influence is immeasurable. Besides which, Tony is a great guy and we’ve met on a number of occasions. There’s just no stopping him. He comes down with lymphoma and what does he do? Reform Sabbath and do a world tour. He really is the Pride of Birmingham and he deserves a f******g medal.”

Our Tony has just finished his latest course of treatment, and concluded a marathon world tour with his Black Sabbath bandmates Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tommy Clufetos.

He is one of the guest presenters at the Pride of Birmingham Awards, organised by the Birmingham Mail in association with Virgin Trains at the city’s historic Town Hall on September 26.
The Pride of Birmingham awards celebrate the courage, caring and compassion of remarkable people who make a difference.

Tickets for Pride of Birmingham, priced £20, are available from the Town Hall box office on 0121 345 0600 and online at www.thsh.co.uk.

Each ticket includes a donation to the £1 million campaign to set up Europe’s first Rare Diseases Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, teaming medics and researchers from the QE, Children’s Hospital and Birmingham University.

Paul Cole for Birmingham Mail, 1 August 2014

Tony Presenting at "Pride of Birmingham"

Tony will be presenting an award at the Pride of Birmingham ceremony on September 26th. This is where we celebrate the courage, caring and compassion of remarkable people who make a difference. Those who are the real pride of Birmingham. Celebrities from showbiz and sport, rock and pop, film and TV will join host Gaby Roslin as the Birmingham Mail honours heroes from all walks of life at a glittering ceremony at historic Birmingham Town Hall.

Tickets for the ceremony can be purchased here: TICKETS TO PRIDE OF BRUM.

Tickets include a donation to the Rare Disease Centre Appeal being run by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Children's Hospital and the University of Birmingham. The event will be hosted by Gaby Roslin and Birmingham comedian Barbara Nice, with a host of local celebrity guests including Tony Iommi, Roy Wood, Ali Campbell, Laura Mvula, Ruby Turner, Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell, James and Oliver Phelps, (the Weasley twins from Harry Potter , footballers Ian Taylor and Dion Dublin, actors Ian Kelsey and Lorna Laidlaw from BBC Birmingham made drama, Doctors. 

Additional information about the Awards can be had here.

Iommi.com, 22 July 2014

Photo Coventry University

Tony's video message for his Facebook followers! Million copies of 13 sold worldwide

Black Sabbath rocked a monumental gig at London’s Hyde Park on Friday July 4 following reports that the concert could be the legendary metal act’s last show ever. However, just a day before the gig, Tony Iommi said that Sabbath will tour again!

Tony posted a video message to his Facebook fans on July 3, thanking them for their support this year and ending with the awesome line, “We’ll see you on the next tour,” putting to rest that the notion that the band’s Hyde Park gig would be their last show. Check out the metal godfather’s video message TONY IOMMI'S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE.

Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne were presented with a platinum plaque on Friday, July 4 at London's Hyde Park for worldwide sales in excess of one million copies of the band's comeback album, "13". The CD was released in June 2013 via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. and Vertigo in all other territories.

"13" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, the first Sabbath album to ever top the U.S. chart; and it has sold more than 368,000 copies in the United States since its release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

By Iommi.com, 6 July 2014Photo Iommi.com

Black Sabbath triumph in Italy!

The possibility of being able to see Black Sabbath live in Italy again for many fans seemed only a pale hypothesis. After the sudden cancellation of the gig at Fiera Rho fixed for the 5 last December, the Black Sabbath kept their iron word and repaid the faithful italian audience for long waiting. The publication of the album " 13 ", the first places in the charts and platinum discs... also bearing in mind the sixteen years since the last time that Ozzy and Tony have played together in Italy, Sabbath fans were on seventh heaven.

18 June, at Unipol Arena of Bologna, the atmosphere is charged with tension, there are alternating moments of contemplative silence to choirs of incitement. 11,000 pairs of eyes fixed on the stage seeking to penetrate the black curtain. Wide-open eyes, ready to immortalize an instant in which Black Sabbath will make their entry on stage. All of a sudden, strong, bursts the voice from backstage: here we are. Here's Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Tommy! 

The first sounds of War Pigs explode in the air. Magnificent stage scenery reduced to its essentials, all space to the instrumentation, huge ledwall central above the drum kit and two big screens on the sides, let anyone to follow every move of the masters. Shocking images from horror movies, the volume is perfect, Sabbath's trademark sound is poweful, crisp and so recognizable. Tony's immense guitar and powerful convulsed bass of Geezer Butler: remarkable is the work of sound engineers who have made the performance still more immersive and sensational. Masterpieces proceed: "Into The Void”, "Under The Sun", "Snowblind" and eternal "Black Sabbath".

Tony seems to be an ascetic on stage, totally concentrated on his instrument and focused on every note...  with friendly punctuality, between one part and another, he thanks the public that heil him.

Tommy Clufetos copes wonderfully with the heaviest task of sitting on the seat of beloved Bill Ward, and playing the holy of holies of Sabbath discography, respecting the original, but without seeming his pale copy. Stunning drum solo closing the jam leads into the intro of "Iron Man", Sabbath's universally known hit and anthem of headbangers throughout the world. The dynamics of this piece of music, heritage of humanity and registered trademark of Black Sabbath, have maintained their appeal despite the passing of 44 years. The legendary band is praised by entire arena, it is impossible to hold the screams of incitement and hands to heaven!

“Behind The Wall Of Sleep”, “NIB”, “Fairies Wear Boots”, "Children of the Grave" - all highest points of Sabbath career. British Legends leave the stage for a few moments, but the public needs a last pearl: "Paranoid". Ozzy roars: "You’re as crazy as me!" With the monumental initial riff of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" follows "Paranoid", band's absolute hit, in its time, composed almost by accident. Magnificent Iommi's powerchords performed with schizophrenic precision, the public jumps without missing a beat and demonstrates to know, word for word, every verse of the lyrics. 

It's even difficult only to to imagine something better: Black Sabbath know perfectly to have given life to a set of highest level and with conscious satisfaction. The boys are on stage, hugging each other,  bowing down to receive the honours of a completely conquered crowd. Beautiful is their triumphant exit from stage, through the greetings and applauses of the ecstatic human ocean. Each of the 11,000 Sabbath fans may return home with the certainty of having taken part of their gig of life. For those who had doubts - keep calm - with Bologna show Black Sabbath proved again to be on the throne of heavy metal. Forever. 

Setlist:

War Pigs

Into the Void

Under the Sun

Snowblind

Black Sabbath

Behind the Wall of Sleep

N.I.B. (Geezer Butler solo)

Fairies Wear Boots

Supernaut riff

Rat Salad jam (Tommy Clufetos solo)

Iron Man

God Is Dead?

Children of the Grave

Encore: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath riff

Paranoid

By Damiano Zacchia for Metalitalia.com 

Black Sabbath to be honoured at Silver Clef Awards

Music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins will present Black Sabbath with the AEG Live Ambassadors Of Rock award at the 2014 O2 Silver Clef Awards on Friday, July 4 at the London Hilton. 

Ozzy Osbourne says: "Winning the Ambassadors Of Rock award from Nordoff Robbins is a huge honour. Music is our life, and we couldn't live without it. The world can't survive without music and this is a very special charity that brings music to everyone. There are a lot of talented people already being honoured at the awards and we are looking forward to celebrating with them at the O2 Silver Clefs this summer."

Black Sabbath have been the guiding force in the rock world for over four decades and this headline show on 4th July at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park will mark yet another pinnacle of their career. The album "13" went to number 1 around the world and the guys played to world audiences on a sold out tour. They even found time to pick up the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Living Legend Award!

This is the first time that AEG Live has sponsored this much sought-after award with Nordoff Robbins. Tom Miserendino, President & CEO, AEG Europe says: "We are extremely proud to be sponsoring this award which highlights the massive impact Black Sabbath has had on the music world. Starting in Birmingham in 1968 and going on to conquer the world, the band really are great ambassadors for the music industry. We are equally excited about them taking over Hyde Park later that same evening following their triumphant return to live gigs last year."

CAA's Emma Banks, chairman of the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef committee, says: "Black Sabbath are still at the top of their game after a long, illustrious and occasionally controversial career. Selling out arenas all over the globe, they really are Rock Gods!"

Paul Cashmere, 17 June 2014