Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi says MBE is an 'unbelievable honour'
He has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours
Last updated 10 hours ago
Legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has said it is “unbelievable” to be recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The 78-year-old heavy metal pioneer has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to music and to charity.
Iommi is famed for co-founding the chart-topping group – which is widely hailed as a pioneer of the heavy metal genre – in the 1960s alongside the late Ozzy Osbourne, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward.
He has also dedicated himself to philanthropy and is focused humanitarian projects such as international disaster relief, as well as cancer advocacy, having been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012.
Iommi said: “What an unbelievable honour to receive an MBE.
“Music has been my life and I’ve been very lucky to share this journey with many amazing people and fans, and I’m very grateful for all the support along the way.
“It’s been a privilege doing something I love and then to see that music connect with so many over the years.
“And, to be able to help raise money for charities close to my heart has meant the world to me.”
Born in Birmingham in 1948, Iommi almost did not pursue a career in music after being told he may never play again when he lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand during an industrial accident.
However, he later met drummer Ward and in 1968 the pair set out to form a heavy blues rock band based in Birmingham – enlisting bassist Butler and frontman Osbourne to form what was then called Earth Blues Company.
The group later changed their name to Black Sabbath, and went on to sell millions of records over the next decade on the back of sound-defining tracks including Paranoid and War Pigs.
Black Sabbath are widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal, and achieved two UK number one albums and won four Grammy Awards in their career.
They were also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.
Black Sabbath had many different line-ups through the years, but the original four members reunited in 2025 for their Back To The Beginning farewell concert – marking their first live performance together in two decades.
Iommi, nicknamed The Godfather Of Heavy Metal, is regarded as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and has collaborated with artists such as Dave Grohl, Ian Astbury, Peter Steele and, latterly, Robbie Williams.
He has also dedicated himself to humanitarian work, and in 1989 he joined forces with a host of musicians such as Brian May, Roger Taylor and Ian Gillan for the Rock Aid Armenia project.
The star recorded a cover of Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water to raise money for victims of the country’s devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988.
Iommi has also helped to raise funds for a new music school in Armenia, and co-wrote the country’s 2013 Eurovision Song Contest entry.
He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2012 and announced he was in remission in 2016, but following this he has also fundraised and advocated for charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support.
The rocker is also a supporter of Birmingham-based Heartlands Hospital Charity, having previously auctioned one of his guitars to raise funds for its new haematology and oncology centre.
Iommi is also passionate about animal welfare, and is a patron for Vale Wildlife Hospital and Wythall Animal Sanctuary.
See photos of Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert:
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
A giant inflatable Ozzy greeted fans arriving at Holte End of Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning host Jason Momoa and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler pose in an empty Villa Park as gates open.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Atlanta, Georgia metal monoliths Mastodon were the first band to take to the Back to the Beginning stage.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Thrash legends Anthrax pose in front of the Villa Park crowd after their performance at Back to the Beginning. Wearing matching 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirts, Anthrax played their own song 'Indians' and a fiery cover of Black Sabbath's 'Into the Void'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, wearing a 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirt with 'Iommi 666' on the back, at the Back to the Beginning concert.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Yungblud belts out Black Sabbath's 'Changes' at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. Performing as part of Supergroup A, Yungblud dedicated the track to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed as part of 'Supergroup B', singing on 'The Train Kept A-Rollin'' and 'Walk This Way / Whole Lotta Love'
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello with Steven Tyler at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
An inflatable Ozzy Osbourne ball in Aston Villa colours bounces in the crowd at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Although he didn't appear at Villa Park, Tenacious D's Jack Black performed Ozzy Osbourne's 'Mr. Crowley' on the screens with a young band that included Scott Ian's son, Revel.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Tom Morello wore a Randy Rhoads T-shirt with 'Sabbath Rules' taped to the back of his guitar.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
In character as Papa V Perpetua, Ghost leader Tobias Forge sang 'Bark at the Moon ' with Vernon Reid, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
One of the surprise performers, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood played on The Train Kept A-Rollin' as part of Supergroup B.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo in front of the glorious Villa Park crowd at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert on Saturday 5th July.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's Lars Ulrich at Back to the Beginning. The metal titans' six-song set included covers of Black Sabbath's 'Hole in the Sky' and 'Johnny Blade', plus their own Metallica classics 'Creeping Death', 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', 'Battery' and 'Master of Puppets'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
As he took to the stage on his bat throne, Ozzy Osbourne told the adoring Villa Park crowd: "It's so good to be on this stage... You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy Osbourne flips the bird at photographer Ross Halfin.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Prince of Darkness on his bat throne.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy sang five solo tracks - 'I Don't Know', 'Mr. Crowley', 'Suicide Solution', 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' and 'Crazy Train' - before he was joined on stage by his Black Sabbath band mates Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi one last time.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The concert at Villa Park was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's last-ever live performance.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Hand of Doom himself Tony Iommi at Black Sabbath's final concert at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning