About the Author

Born in the midlands, Tony Iommi is the co-founding member of Black Sabbath, and creator of the sound that came to be known as Heavy Metal, one of the most enduring and important British contributions to popular music.

Reviews

"Publishers Weekly," 6/27
[Tony Iommi is] "the undisputed originator of heavy metal.""Kirkus Reviews," 10/1/11
"[Iommi is] most entertaining when describing the Sabbath's incessant, hazardous prank-playing...The guitarist is not wholly unaware of the oft-ludicrous nature of his enterprise." "Publishers Weekly," 10/3/11
"An important addition to the Black Sabbath story...Iommi's autobiography is as direct as his music." "Booklist, "11/1/11
"This memoir [is] dead certain to appeal to heavy-metal fans of all ages...With plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and fresh perspectives on some of music's most notorious characters...this is a frank and honest look at a special part of rock history." RollingStone.com, 10/24/11"The book recounts all the ups and downs the guitarist experienced with Ozzy Osbourne and company." "Houston"" Press," 10/20/11 "Written in short, easily digestible chapters, Iommi's autobiography is full of revelations and observations of his career...A good read.""USA"" Today, "10/31/11
"Iommi has a story that needs to be told...Iommi tells his story simply and chronologically, making it easy for anyone to slip into the fast-paced tale. And yes, while there are plenty of drug-fueled antics, there's no doubt the focus is on the music here, as it should be...Iommi emerges from "Iron Man" seeming like a true trailblazer without sounding immodest or unkind--and I've learned that's quite a feat, especially after reading, say, Motley Crue's "The Dirt."""New York"" Daily News, "10/28/11"A raucous autobiography...He brainstormed one of the heaviest and darkest sounds known to man. But Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi makes a surprisingly sweet narrator of his own life." Ultimateclassicrock.com, 11/1/11 "In his 350+ page autobiography, Iommi leaves no doubt that he is fully deserving of the rock bad boy title but is even more worthy of the Hall of Fame nod...What makes the book stand out, though, is Iommi's lack of pretense, his insider pe

"Publishers Weekly, 6/27"
[Tony Iommi is] "the undisputed originator of heavy metal.""Kirkus Reviews," 10/1/11
"[Iommi is] most entertaining when describing the Sabbath's incessant, hazardous prank-playing...The guitarist is not wholly unaware of the oft-ludicrous nature of his enterprise." "Publishers Weekly," 10/3/11
"An important addition to the Black Sabbath story...Iommi's autobiography is as direct as his music." "Booklist, "11/1/11
"This memoir [is] dead certain to appeal to heavy-metal fans of all ages...With plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and fresh perspectives on some of music's most notorious characters...this is a frank and honest look at a special part of rock history." RollingStone.com, 10/24/11"The book recounts all the ups and downs the guitarist experienced with Ozzy Osbourne and company." "Houston"" Press," 10/20/11 "Written in short, easily digestible chapters, Iommi's autobiography is full of revelations and observations of his career...A good r

Surprisingly, the man who invented the heavy-metal riff didn't do it out of creative inspiration but out of prosthetic necessity. Detailing the gruesome accident that resulted in the severing of two fingers on his left hand, Iommi opens his memoir with both graphic description and honesty. It was this event that shaped his style of guitar playing and the sound that was to define Black Sabbath. While much of his memoir details the trials and tribulations of Black Sabbath, Iommi paints an intimate portrait of his own life from childhood to his most recent musical effort in Heaven & Hell. Aided by journalist Lammers, Iommi's narrative voice is evident in each vignette. Unfortunately for Iommi, the book ends in the same way it begins: with another accident, this one involving his right hand. Still, even with two damaged hands, Iommi reminds us that he is one of the greatest guitar legends alive today. VERDICT Another rock 'n' roll memoir rife with addiction and celebrity. Readers who enjoyed Joel McIver's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath will be drawn to Iommi's insider perspective.-Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.