Tony Iommi, the iconic lead guitarist of the seminal heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has left an indelible impact on the music world. His power chords, unique techniques, and unforgettable riffs have laid the foundation for many rock and heavy metal bands that followed. However, the man behind the Gibson SG has also expressed compelling thoughts and beliefs that provide us with a unique insight into his creative genius. In this article, we will explore 15 quotes from Tony Iommi that showcase his philosophy, his resilience, and his love for music.
Tony Iommi Quotes
- “I was determined to play the guitar and I wanted to play the guitar. That’s all I wanted to do.”
- “I had to make different techniques to get around, to achieve the sound I needed.”
- “You can’t stop rock ‘n’ roll. You can’t stop it with a bomb, and you can’t stop it with guns.”
- “You have to like the present; if not your life becomes secondhand, if you think it was better before. Or that it will be better in the future.”
- “My early influences were the Shadows, who were an English instrumental band. They basically got me into playing and later on I got into blues and jazz players. I liked Clapton when he was with John Mayall. I really liked that period.”
- “When we first started playing we were a blues band. We decided to call it Black Sabbath and write scary music.”
- “I never thought I’d get to this point. I’d like to continue, as long as I can play.”
- “I’ve tried to make ‘Fused’ as varied as possible. I’m using a lot of different rhythms and sounds, which I’ve never done before.”
- “I’ve never really been one to have, like, an image. I just go with the flow of things.”
- “The way I look at it, I’ve survived cancer, I’ve survived operations and a lot of stuff. I’m not about to keel over. I’m going to fight.”
- “Playing the game, and unfortunately, playing the gangster game is very profitable.”
- “If it wasn’t for the move to Sabbath then I probably would have been in some rock ‘n’ roll band or a blues band, which was originally what I was in and loved.”
- “Black Sabbath was written on a bass: da, da, da, dum. Doesn’t work the same way doing it on a guitar.”
- “You look around and there’s some really heavy bands who are like Black Sabbath, but with a different singer, basically.”
- “As for our music, I’ve always liked the commercial aspect of it. I’ve always liked the heavier side of it, the heavier sort of aggressive side, the more melodic side.”
