Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 2,23 Oct 2026,57 mins

Available for 29 days

If it hadn't been for guitarist extraordinaire Tony Iommi, there may never have been such thing as 'heavy metal'. The legendary Black Sabbath musician and songwriter single-handedly put metal on the musical map by innovating the 'tritone' - the unmistakably dark, doomy riffs and sounds which the band became famous for. From the late 1960s, Tony was the one constant member of Black Sabbath. From their Birmingham beginnings, to their Los Angeles years, post-Ozzy output in the 80s and on to subsequent reunions, Tony was the keeper of the flame. He has also carved out his own solo career, his latest album release 'From The Dark' is out on the 23rd October. Away from performing, in recent years he's tirelessly campaigned to raise funds for two hospitals in Birmingham, where he was treated for blood cancer and was recently made an MBE for his services to music and charity. On this special show, Tony and Shaun will chat guitars, inspiration, peers, bandmates, new music and all things in between.

Programme Website
More episodes

Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
    Black Sabbath
  3. 2.
    World Alone
    World Alone
    Tony Iommi & Jorn
  4. 3.
    Return of the Arbalist
    Return of the Arbalist
    Tony Iommi & Jorn