The legendary Black Sabbath guitarist and co-founder Tony Iommi was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to music and charity. It is one of the highest civilian honors in the United Kingdom.
What Tony Iommi said about becoming a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Tony Iommi didn’t expect his name to be among the people honored and was as surprised as his fans when he learned he was on King Charles’ Honors List. On social media, he celebrated the honor, saying:
“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,” he said.
Besides being one of the most influential guitarists of all time and the only member of Black Sabbath to appear on every one of the band’s releases, he has also taken part in countless charity events throughout his career. The most recent, of course, was Black Sabbath’s final show in their hometown of Birmingham, which raised more than £140 million for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s.
Nicknamed the “Riffmaster,” Iommi helped create Heavy Metal music in the late 1960s alongside Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward, changing the course of heavy Rock music. Over the decades, Black Sabbath became an inspiration to countless musicians and the main reference point for those who played and loved this kind of music.