TONY IOMMI Returns To BLACK SABBATH Bench For BBC’s…read More.
Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi recently returned to Birmingham’s famous Black Sabbath Bench, situated on Broad Street, for a special appearance on BBC’s ‘Red Sofa’ Day, part of the 60th-anniversary celebrations for “Midlands Today.” It marked more than five years since Iommi and bandmate Geezer Butler first unveiled the bench, which was designed and installed by Westside Business Improvement District (BID) in 2019. On that occasion, the two arrived by narrowboat via Birmingham’s canals.
This time, Iommi made a solo visit, where he was joined by BBC “Midlands Today” reporter Ben Sidwell. Sidwell had wheeled over the program’s distinctive red sofa from Gas Street for the occasion, setting it up alongside the recently restored Black Sabbath Bench for a relaxed conversation with the guitarist. The interview featured reflections on the band’s legacy as pioneers of heavy metal, their early days, and how their hometown of Birmingham has transformed over the years.
Iommi and Sidwell also touched on the significance of the red sofa, which has become an iconic symbol of the regional news program. However, the real highlight of the conversation was BLACK SABBATH itself. Originally formed under the name EARTH, the band, with its classic lineup of Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, started out in the Aston neighborhood of Birmingham. Their journey to global superstardom began in 1968, when they played their first live gig at The Crown pub on Station Street.
The legacy of BLACK SABBATH’s early days is still alive in Birmingham today. Henry’s Blueshouse, the weekly event where the band first performed, is still held every Tuesday, now at its new home, Snobs on Broad Street. Jim Simpson, the jazz promoter who managed the group during the release of their first two landmark albums, Black Sabbath and Paranoid in 1970, remains involved with the event over five decades later.
Luisa Huggins, a representative of Westside BID, expressed delight at Iommi’s return to the Black Sabbath Bench, saying, “We love our Black Sabbath Bench and it’s always wonderful to welcome Tony Iommi back onto Broad Street.”
The full interview aired on BBC “Midlands Today” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, as part of the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the program.
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