Tony Iommi – “Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven & Hell with Black Sabbath” [Book Review]

I’m not sure if any one person has had more of an impact on heavy metal than Tony Iommi. His crushing riffs came to define the genre long before there was even a term for it. For me there is not a more definitive moment in my musical life than the first time I heard the crushing riff of, “Black Sabbath” – I was changed forever. The heavy, haunting tone became the back on which metal was built. Iron Man chronicles Black Sabbath from before its inception until present day, touching on the band’s start, their numerous lineup changes and the personal life of the man behind the riff, Iommi.

Iron Man is a fascinating in-depth read into one of my favorite all-time bands. On top of that though, it is the story of a man with incredible resolve to overcome what many would call insurmountable odds most notably the accidental amputation of the tips of his fingers on his playing hand. Through it all though Iommi alone has stayed the path and carried on the Sabbath torch. Now in 2012 the planets have aligned and the original band is back together and writing music for a new release.

I found Iron Man to be a terrific and honest read that provides tremendous insight into a legendary guitarist. If you’re a fan of Black Sabbath I highly recommend reading this book.

Written by: Tony Iommi
Format/Length: Paperback, 416 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1ST edition (November 1, 2011)

Check out this live Tony Iommi solo