Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Talks Possible New Solo Album

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi welcomed 2023 with a video message reflecting on last year and looking to new projects. In the clip, Iommi discusses beginning work on a new record, which could mark his first solo effort since 2005's Fused.

He cited performing at the Commonwealth Games as a huge 2022 highlight. But the year wasn't free from tragedy. In 2022, he lost Mike Clement, his guitar tech for the past three-plus decades. In the video, he also talks about Russia's war against Ukraine, which apparently is getting in the way of him finishing up his new recording studio.

"I'm having a new studio built, which I'm really pleased about. Well, actually, the studio is built. It's almost ready to go, I'm just waiting for some equipment. Because of the war [in Ukraine], it's sort of stopped some of the parts coming through," Iommi says "But we're almost there. In another couple of weeks, I think I'll be ready to go in and start work in there, which I'm really looking forward to... writing another album."

Iommi's previous solo albums include 2000's star-studded Iommi and the aforementioned Fused.

In the video, Iommi also stated that he will be working on reissuing the IRS Records era of the Black Sabbath catalog this year. View the full video message below.

Black Sabbath released their second album, Paranoid, in America on September 18, 1970. A bit tighter than their self-titled debut, which came out earlier in the year, Paranoid's title track became their biggest radio hit in America. The album also had "Luke's Wall/War Pigs" and "Iron Man," But the 41-minute album didn't waste a second: it's a perfect album.

In fact, seven of the eight songs made our list that we put together. Here, we decided to stick with songs from the Ozzy eras of the band: 1970's debut album (and the "Evil Woman" single) through 1978's Never Say Die! and also 2013's 13. Yes, we know that they put out two new songs in the '90s, but those didn't come close to making this list. Like Paranoid, this list doesn't waste a moment. The roots of every metal band can be found in these thirty songs.

And yes, Black Sabbath did some incredible stuff with Ozzy's replacement, the late, great Ronnie James Dio. That's probably a list for another day. And yes, both RJD and drummer Vinny Appice should have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the founding four members: Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward.

Speaking of the Rock Hall, you should go back and watch Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield's speeches inducting the band. Hetfield's speech is particularly great. The Metallica frontman said Sabbath helped a "shy boy" find "his own loud voice.

"Those monstrous riffs lived inside him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words," Hetfield said. " ... They helped crack the shell he was stuck in." (He also said scaring his mom and sister was "an extra bonus.")

Without further ado, here's our list of Black Sabbath's 30 best songs from the Ozzy era.