Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi announced his new solo album From the Dark on Wednesday, and revealed additional details in an interview with Rolling Stone, one of which is that his good friend Brian May of Queen is the only special guest on the album. Iommi’s first solo LP in more than 20 years is set to be released on October 23rd. May provided a guitar solo on the track “Death Wake.”
Collaboration with Brian May
Iommi spoke about the track “Death Wake,” saying “It’s a weird riff,” and adding, “I like that track as well. I like anything doom. Of course, I got Brian May on it playing the solo on that one.” Iommi also discussed his long-standing friendship with May, stating, “In the very early ’70s, he was in one studio, and I was in another. And we just hit it off. We’ve been friends for, God, nearly 60 years. We stay in touch all the time. He’s played onstage a couple of times with me, and then we’ve done a couple of album tracks we played on together. He’s a very, very close friend.”
Album Details
If it was up to Iommi, May would’ve had a larger presence on the upcoming album, with the Black Sabbath guitarist noting, “I did say to him, “Do you want to play on something else?” He said, “No, no. Your solos are good. I don’t need to play.” Previously, Iommi and May jammed on a rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” in 2024.
Band Lineup
Iommi also would have liked to have his Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler play bass throughout the album, but it didn’t work out. “I wanted him to play on this album, but he couldn’t do it,” disclosed Iommi. “He’s doing his own album, I think. Or at the time, something happened there, so he couldn’t come to England. I wanted to get it done and finally get it out, really.” Instead, Iommi tapped Becky Baldwin of Mercyful Fate, saying, “She plays in Geezer’s style. And that’s what I wanted. She’s really good.” The rest of the solo band for the album is comprised of Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande, who co-wrote and sings on all songs, and drummer Karl Brazil.
Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
Meanwhile, Iommi recently joined his fellow surviving members of Black Sabbath in offering tributes to Ozzy Osbourne on the one year anniversary of his passing, with the guitarist declaring, “There will never be another Ozzy.”
In conclusion, Tony Iommi’s new solo album From the Dark is set to be released on October 23rd, featuring a special guest appearance by Brian May on the track “Death Wake.” The album marks Iommi’s first solo LP in over 20 years and is a must-listen for fans of Black Sabbath and heavy metal music. With its unique blend of doom-inspired riffs and talented lineup, From the Dark is sure to be a hit among music enthusiasts.
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