Doctor Tony Iommi, now that sounds good, and it is now fact. Black Sabbath has been the number one influence in my musical taste. The moment I heard the original albums was a revelation. I have never looked back. Tony has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Coventry University in recognition of his contribution to the world of popular music. That was in November 2013.

I was incredibly pleased he got the award. He now has a new job to go with the title; he is a visiting Professor of music at the University. Coventry is in the midlands and Birmingham is where Tony is from. Birmingham brought us some great musicians and so the midland’s is a center for influential hard rock.

It is due to Black Sabbath that I first picked a guitar up. Those riffs and inventive sounds gave me a thirst. John Diggin’s is a fantastic luthier from the Black Country and it is he who built Iommi’s main guitar. He teamed up with John Birch with his revolutionary pick-ups. Then Laney, the amp manufacturer, completed the sound. Where are Laney based? where else but Birmingham.

I will conclude by quoting Dr Geoff Willcocks who is the director of arts and culture, he said ‘Tony is without doubt a rock icon and he’s an inspiration to so many people around the world’ Amen to that!

Tony Iommi Website

John Diggins Jaydee Custom Guitars

Laney Amplifiers