Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi names his favorite song by another legendary band

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As a die-hard fan of heavy metal and a witness to its evolution, I can confidently say that Black Sabbath holds a special place in my heart. Their music was more than just a soundtrack; it was a revolution, an explosion of raw energy that reverberated through the airwaves and electrified every fiber of our being.

Black Sabbath significantly shaped the foundation of heavy metal music, influencing numerous other bands in their recording processes. They were more than just legendary due to Ozzy Osbourne’s tenure as lead singer; Tony Iommi’s guitar work was equally impactful. Together, their collaboration produced an extraordinary level of talent.

In the early ’70s, I found myself immersed in a trio of heavy music giants – Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple, often referred to as the holy trinity of hard rock. Each band had its unique sound, yet none could be mistaken for the others. Sabbath and Deep Purple shared some musical connections, with their musicians crossing paths at various points. It’s worth mentioning that Tony Iommi, one of Sabbath’s founding members, was a Deep Purple admirer, which might have influenced their intertwined histories.

Earlier this year, during an interview with Classic Rock magazine, Tony Iommi openly lauded Deep Purple without reservation. He confessed to being a long-time admirer of the band, while singling out one particular album and song as his favorites among their extensive discography.

Tony Iommi names the Deep Purple song that was his favorite

As a music enthusiast and gamer, I’ve always had a soft spot for Deep Purple. Among their albums, none quite hits the spot like “In Rock” does for me. It’s stacked with one hit after another! The band was exceptional at crafting powerful riffs, and “Speed King” is a tough act to follow. It’s an electrifying track that showcases each member at their finest. Ian Gillan’s vocals and Jon Lord’s keyboards were just phenomenal, truly top-notch musicians.

Interestingly, in the ’80s, Iommi invited Gillan to join Black Sabbath after their original vocalist, Ronnie James Dio, left. However, before joining, Gillan admitted he wasn’t familiar with any of Black Sabbath’s music. Despite Iommi being a fan of Deep Purple, it seemed that Gillan wasn’t particularly fond of Sabbath’s music at the time. Regardless, Gillan decided to join the band, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a less than ideal choice for him.

In a nutshell, Gillan struggled with remembering Sabbath’s song lyrics during live performances because the band used dry ice, which obstructed his view. To cope, he frequently stepped off stage to look up the lyrics again, but he could only manage as their lead vocalist for a single year.

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2024-09-27 16:00