Iommi (album)

Iommi is the debut solo album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

Iommi
Studio album by Tony Iommi
Released	17 October 2000
Recorded	1996–2000
Genre	Heavy metal hard rock
Length	51:08
Label	Divine, Priority
Producer	Bob Marlette
Tony Iommi chronology
Iommi (2000) The 1996 DEP Sessions (2004)

The album took nearly five years to make. All of the songs were written by Iommi, producer Bob Marlette and the respective vocalists of each track (except "Black Oblivion", which was written by Iommi and Billy Corgan).

According to Iommi, he and Phil Anselmo had recorded three tracks together for the album, but only one was put onto the album. Iommi has also said he "Wrote a couple of tracks with Billy Idol and two with Billy Corgan, but you know, we could only use one of each".

Other songs written

In an interview with Cosmik Conversations, Iommi said that they "actually wrote a few tracks with Billy [Idol]...three with Phil Anselmo...and two tracks with Billy Corgan, but you know, we could only use one of each."[1] There is also a track entitled "Something Wicked This Way Comes" written and recorded with Scooter Ward of the band Cold that was not included on the album. The bulk of the music for that track was used for Peter Steele's song, "Just Say No to Love." The track has been available through various filesharing networks. One of the unreleased tracks with Phil Anselmo is a faster-paced song entitled "Inversion of the Saviours".[2] It has also been available through various file sharing networks.

Black Sabbath band members and former members on the album

Iommi's career is closely linked to his time in Black Sabbath, a band he led from its formation in 1968 to its semi-retirement in 1999, and has continued to lead during sporadic reunions (in 2001, in some form or another every year from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2011 to 2017). Subsequently, Iommi formed the band Heaven & Hell, a group featuring a collection of former Black Sabbath band members that had performed together under the Black Sabbath name in the past. A number of musicians associated with Black Sabbath appear on Iommi.

Track nine features Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath vocalist (1968–1978, 1978–1979, 1996–2006, 2011–2017) and drummer Bill Ward (1968–1980, 1983, 1984, 1994, 1997–2006, 2011–2012). The track also features Laurence Cottle on bass, the session bassist for Black Sabbath's studio album Headless Cross.[3] Cottle also features on tracks 3-5 and 7-9. Tracks 3 and 7 feature guitarist Brian May (of Queen), who had previously guest performed with Sabbath on their 1989 tour, performing a guitar solo on the Headless Cross album, and which Iommi played with him at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Rock Hard	8/10[5]

In 2005, Iommi was ranked number 451 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Guest musicians	Length
1.	"Laughing Man (In the Devil Mask)"	Iommi, Marlette, Rollins	Henry Rollins – vocals Terry Phillips – bass Jimmy Copley – drums	3:42
2.	"Meat"	Iommi, Marlette, Skin	Skin – vocals Martin "Ace Kent" – additional guitars Bob Marlette – bass John Tempesta – drums	4:55
3.	"Goodbye Lament"	Iommi, Marlette, Grohl	Dave Grohl – vocals, drums Brian May – additional guitars Laurence Cottle – bass	4:52
4.	"Time is Mine"	Iommi, Marlette, Anselmo	Philip Anselmo – vocals Laurence Cottle – bass Matt Cameron – drums	4:58
5.	"Patterns"	Iommi, Marlette, Tankian	Serj Tankian – vocals Laurence Cottle – bass Jimmy Copley – drums	4:22
6.	"Black Oblivion"	Iommi, Corgan	Billy Corgan – vocals, bass, additional guitars Kenny Aronoff – drums	8:22
7.	"Flame On"	Iommi, Marlette, Astbury	Ian Astbury – vocals Brian May – additional guitars Laurence Cottle – bass Matt Cameron – drums	4:31
8.	"Just Say No to Love"	Iommi, Marlette, Steele	Peter Steele – vocals, bass Laurence Cottle – bass Matt Cameron – drums	4:29
9.	"Who's Fooling Who"	Iommi, Marlette, Osbourne	Ozzy Osbourne – vocals Laurence Cottle – bass Bill Ward – drums	6:12
10.	"Into the Night"	Iommi, Marlette, Idol	Billy Idol – vocals Ben Shepherd – bass Matt Cameron – drums	5:06
Total length:				51:08

Credits

Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.

Personnel

• Tony Iommi – guitars

Additional musicians

• Bob Marlette – keyboard, programming

Production

• Ralph Baker – executive production
• Bob Marlette – production, engineering, mixing

Visual art

• Art Shoji – art direction
• Maggie Magarian – art direction, design
• William Hames – photography
• Ross Halfin – photography
• Mike Clement – photography
• Gene Kirkland – photography
• JMO Design – logo

Studios

• A&M Studios – recording
• Chipping Norton – recording
• Long View Farm – recording
• Sunset Marquis Hotel – recording
• Olympic Studios – recording

Charts

Chart	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7]	43
US Billboard 200[8]	129

References

1. Johnson, DJ. "TONY IOMMI (of Black Sabbath)". A 6th Year of Cosmik Conversations. Cosmik Conversations. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
2. "Interview: Philip Anselmo Talks Down, Dime and Lost Iommi Tracks".
3. "AllMusic Headless Cross credits". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
4. Allmusic review
5. Rensen, Michael. "Rock Hard". issue 162. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
6. [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 27. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tony Iommi – Iommi" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
8. "Tony Iommi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.