The name 'Tony Iommi' sends shivers down the spines of guitarists around the world. As lead guitarist and songwriter of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the past four decades and the inventor of heavy metal. From working class, Midlands roots, his unique playing style - a result of a disfiguring hand injury he suffered working in a sheet metal factory -- created a dark and gothic sound unlike anything that had been heard before and which captured the mood of its time. Sabbath went on to become a superband, playing to massive audiences around the world and selling millions of records, and Iommi led the life of a rockstar to the fullest - with the scars from all the drug-fuelled nights of excess and wildness to show for it. Iron Man is the exclusive account of the life and adventures of one of rock's greatest heroes.
Iron Man
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`Tony Iommi is the true father of Heavy Metal, a continuously creative genius riff-meister, and one of the world's great human beings' --Brian May
`Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn't exist. He is the creator of heavy! Tony is a legend. He took rock and roll and turned it into heavy metal' --Eddie Van Halen
`Mr Iommi, aka . . . The Riffmaster. It's all his fault I am where I am' --James 'papa het' Hetfield
'Tony Iommi should be up there with the greats. He can pick up a guitar and play a riff that'd knock your f-ing socks off' --Ozzy Osbourne
`Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn't exist. He is the creator of heavy! Tony is a legend. He took rock and roll and turned it into heavy metal' --Eddie Van Halen
`Mr Iommi, aka . . . The Riffmaster. It's all his fault I am where I am' --James 'papa het' Hetfield
'Tony Iommi should be up there with the greats. He can pick up a guitar and play a riff that'd knock your f-ing socks off' --Ozzy Osbourne
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Rambling Man
Format:Hardcover
If you are a Black Sabbath fan, as I am, you will buy this book nonetheless.
The stories are great, the commentaries on every Sabbath album insightful. Tony's portrait emerges as a very down-to-earth guy who won over adversities with just stubborness and the gift of believing in himself.
That said, the writing style of this book is very dull. Divided in short chapters, it's always "We did this, we went there". "I said this, he said that". It's really transparent that is based on interviews and the ghost writer just put together the pieces. Considering Tony's unbelievable personality, it could have come out much better. But still, maybe this is the way Tony wants to look.
The stories are great, the commentaries on every Sabbath album insightful. Tony's portrait emerges as a very down-to-earth guy who won over adversities with just stubborness and the gift of believing in himself.
That said, the writing style of this book is very dull. Divided in short chapters, it's always "We did this, we went there". "I said this, he said that". It's really transparent that is based on interviews and the ghost writer just put together the pieces. Considering Tony's unbelievable personality, it could have come out much better. But still, maybe this is the way Tony wants to look.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best rock biogs I've ever read from one of the true greats of british music
12 Nov 2011
By Cardew Robinson
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
In Britain we love to throw around the terms "legend" and "national treasure" with regard to all kinds of popular public figures. But whether or not you think Tony Iommi deserves to be described as either, how many public figures in Britain today can you think of who a) are the subject of a legend and b) have actually given us something which is, in it's way, a national treasure?
The legend I'm talking about the true and shocking story of when he lost some of his fingertips in a workplace accident. The national treasure is heavy metal, a form of music derided for so long but now embraced and respected. As you'd expect all this is covered in detail, and in fact the book is crammed full of stories about his life as a top rock musician. But it's also interesting to read about his family background and his upbringing. He's also honest about some of the difficulties he's faced in his life as well as his career: it's not subtitled "my journey through heaven and hell" just as a pun.
There isn't a trace of self pity in it however. This is a musician who got where he was through hard work and inspiration and has got himself back to the top by continuing to work hard. Overall he comes across as a committed, talented and above all likeable bloke. It's been great to fsee Iommi finally getting his due over the last few years, and I think this book will enhance his reputation further. If Ozzy's the Prince of Darkness, then Tony's the King of the Riff, and this is the next best thing to spending a few hours with him in the pub.
The legend I'm talking about the true and shocking story of when he lost some of his fingertips in a workplace accident. The national treasure is heavy metal, a form of music derided for so long but now embraced and respected. As you'd expect all this is covered in detail, and in fact the book is crammed full of stories about his life as a top rock musician. But it's also interesting to read about his family background and his upbringing. He's also honest about some of the difficulties he's faced in his life as well as his career: it's not subtitled "my journey through heaven and hell" just as a pun.
There isn't a trace of self pity in it however. This is a musician who got where he was through hard work and inspiration and has got himself back to the top by continuing to work hard. Overall he comes across as a committed, talented and above all likeable bloke. It's been great to fsee Iommi finally getting his due over the last few years, and I think this book will enhance his reputation further. If Ozzy's the Prince of Darkness, then Tony's the King of the Riff, and this is the next best thing to spending a few hours with him in the pub.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a great read. I love bios, I have a lot from musicians I love/like and this one is among the top 3. Full of anecdotes and cool facts from this man's life. I just wish if he could have put more pictures, but the reading itself it's great. Has lots of chapters (90) which by no means make the reading dull, quite the contrary, does it very fluid; I read it in 3 nights, but if you have the time it can be easily read in 1 day. One thing that amazes me is Mr. Iommi's humbleness considering his legend status, I mean, if it wasn't for him there would not be heavy metal. All in all a must have/read for rock and metal fans alike. Highly recommended.
p.s.: Sorry for my english.
p.s.: Sorry for my english.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
the man behind the shades
Being a fan, it seemed logical to want to read his version of life in Rock music. This documents the timeline from school through to modern day times and i am sure Tony has left... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Borg109
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Am Iron Man
Brilliant, well written and impossible to put down without reading another chapter....thank you for your inspiration, Influence and sharing your life story!
Published 3 months ago by Tim Stark
3.0 out of 5 stars
Foamy & Fluffy
I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun. The chapters are short and they move fast.
But by the end of the book you realize it only skims the surface. Read more
But by the end of the book you realize it only skims the surface. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alexander T. Newport
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon please pay UK taxes
May I ask asking Amazon to pay their fair share of UK taxes. Those clever accountants may have all these creative schemes to stop you paying UK taxes, but it gets no hospital... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mike Olley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Iron man By Toni Iommi
Have followed Black Sabbath since the early 70s and read most inteviews in music papers of the time. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Grommet
2.0 out of 5 stars
Needs editing
Tony Iommi is a metal legend and I love his work, but this is a poor book. It's clearly a verbatim transcript of a few chats down the pub and as a consequence it's rambling and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by M A Redhead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tony no fingers
I ordered this particular book for my wife as she is like me a big Sabbath fan. She is saving the book for her holiday in two weeks time and has not read it as yet. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Russ G. Mills
5.0 out of 5 stars
classy as sin
This book is written without the structure of an established author but thats ok because iommi is a musician and i found the short chapters enjoyable as they were precise and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by sean paul mccann
5.0 out of 5 stars
The sound of Sabbath
Through thick and thin Iommi has kept the Sabbath flame lit, often well passed it's sell by date.
As you would expect, this is the history of the man including the gruesome... Read more
As you would expect, this is the history of the man including the gruesome... Read more
Published 11 months ago by mike half
5.0 out of 5 stars
Iommi book
An exellent read, funny and honest from a living legend from by far the greatest band in history of rock n roll. BLACK SABBATH
Published 13 months ago by Mez
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