by Tony Iommi
First published 2011
Tony Iommi opens his life story with brutal honesty. The Black Sabbath guitarist recounts his working class upbringing and the industrial accident that nearly destroyed his musical dreams. He walks readers through the band's meteoric rise as they invented heavy metal, earning comparisons to The Beatles for their influence on rock music. Iommi details the chaos that followed success: failed relationships, personal losses, struggles with substance abuse, and constant lineup changes. He shares stories about famous musicians, record label executives, and the creative process behind their darkest songs. The memoir reveals how Black Sabbath experienced every excess associated with hard rock before anyone else. Iommi discusses his bandmates, including their volatile drummer and rotating vocalists. He also opens up about discovering he had a daughter and his ongoing battles with the music industry. Throughout the turbulent decades, Iommi maintained his sense of humor and musical passion despite facing criticism, health problems, and professional setbacks.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century, musicians
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, turbulent
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity, rags-to-riches
Setting: Black Sabbath
Period: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s
381 pages · Hardcover · Da Capo Press
Content warnings: addiction, substance-abuse