TONY IOMMI Goes 'Face To Face' With RICK WAKEMAN

May 27, 2009

In one of the most revealing and candid musician-to-musician interviews ever recorded, "Face To Face" host Rick Wakeman holds court with his longtime friend, the guitar icon Tony Iommi, who is best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH. Although it was over 30 years ago when Wakeman was asked to contribute his keyboard skills on BLACK SABBATH's legendary "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" album, the pair reminisce with ease, as Rick gathers the evidence on why Tony Iommi is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential guitarists in rock music. He is, after all, considered to be the man who, more or less, single-handedly invented the heavy metal riff.

Some phenomenal rock and roll anecdotage follows; recalling tales of his school years with Ozzy Osbourne, their evolving friendship, his early influences and the formation of SABBATH. Iommi explains some of the more unknown mechanics behind their writing and recording methods, right from their initial explosion into the industry, through to the relentless touring across the world, the drink, the drugs, the highs, the lows, the boozing on aeroplanes and the hedonistic happenings surrounding the departure of Ozzy from SABBATH in 1979.

Tony Iommi sets the record straight on some of the myths surrounding Ozzy's exit and the subsequent survival and success for SABBATH during the years before they reunited with him in the '90s. Iommi delivers the hilarious account of when he witnessed the unique meeting of Brian Wilson of the BEACH BOYS and Ozzy backstage at Buckingham Palace (a concert to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002) and brings us up to speed on how it feels to be working with Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice in the acclaimed HEAVEN & HELL band.

A two-minute preview can be viewed below.

To view the entire 60-minute episode, visit www.rockondigital.com.

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