Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi opened up about his new solo record, “From the Dark.” He also discussed his decades-long friendship with Queen guitarist Brian May, who performs on the track “Death Wake,” in a conversation shared on loudwire.com.
Iommi discussed the depth of his bond with May, dating back over five decades, as well as his friendship with the late Eddie Van Halen. He described both as among the few musicians he stayed genuinely close with over the years.
“We’ve known each other for 56, 58 years. He’s my best friend. And of course, Eddie Van Halen was. We always stayed in touch a lot. They were the only two I really did stay in touch with,” Iommi said.
He then went on to describe how May came to record on “From the Dark,” recalling an informal visit that turned into a studio session.
“[Brian] came to my house and we always have a little fiddle about. He brings a guitar or I’ve got one here and he’ll use that. I said, ‘Oh, bring your guitar when you come,’ he brought his guitar and I said, ‘You’re going to be playing on this track here.'”
Iommi also revealed that he had invited May to contribute to additional tracks on the album, an offer the Queen guitarist turned down out of respect for the project being Iommi’s own.
“He’s great. I said to him, ‘Play on some other tracks,’ but he went, ‘Oh no, it’s your album.’ That’s the relationship we’ve had with each other for all these years. We’ve played a lot together. He is a great friend,” Iommi continued.
The friendship between the two guitarists has translated into a standout musical moment on the record, one that fits into the broader picture of what “From the Dark” represents for Iommi at this stage of his career.
“From the Dark” is set for release on October 23. It marks Iommi’s first solo album in more than two decades and only the third of his career, following 2005’s “Fused.” The eight-track record was co-written and recorded alongside Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil. This lineup gives the project a fresh sound built around Iommi’s signature style.
The album’s lead single, “World Alone,” has already been released as the first preview of the record. It features Lande on vocals and offers fans a first taste of the heavier direction Iommi is taking on this project.
“Death Wake,” the track featuring May’s guitar solo, stands as one of the record’s key collaborative moments. It highlights the chemistry between the two longtime friends that Iommi described in such personal terms.
With the album arriving this fall, “From the Dark” is shaping up to be a significant milestone in Iommi’s solo output. It brings together new collaborators alongside the enduring musical partnership he has maintained with May across nearly six decades.
