Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi limits new solo album to single guest Brian May
The Black Sabbath guitarist has abandoned the sprawling guest lists of his past solo ventures for a tight band dynamic on his upcoming record, reflecting a broader industry shift toward authentic group recordings over star-studded collaborations.
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has confirmed that Queen’s Brian May is the exclusive guest musician on his forthcoming solo album, From the Dark. May contributes a guitar solo to a track titled Death Wake, which Iommi categorizes as doom music.
The record features a core lineup of vocalist Jørn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin, and drummer Karl Brazil. Iommi noted that he deliberately avoided a wider roster of collaborators because he "wanted to keep it basically like a band".
This marks a distinct departure from the commercial strategy behind his 2000 solo release, Iommi. That album utilized a massive cast of guest stars, including Ozzy Osbourne, Serj Tankian, and Billy Corgan. Such star-studded rosters are a common music industry tactic designed to aggregate disparate fanbases and drive cross-market physical and digital sales.
When asked if May would appear on additional tracks, Iommi recalled offering him further studio time at his house. May declined the opportunity, telling his friend: "No, no. Your solos are good. I don’t need to play."
The two British rock icons have maintained a close friendship since the early 1970s. Their planned musical collaborations were frequently delayed, with Iommi noting that the pandemic disrupted their schedules just after they had spent time playing riffs together in his courtyard.
Their enduring personal and professional relationship was highlighted last Christmas when May presented Iommi with a bespoke replica of his famous homemade Red Special guitar. Iommi publicly expressed his gratitude for the gift from his best friend on social media.
Iommi’s approach to solo releases has historically been complicated by record label economics. His initial 1986 attempt, Seventh Star, was commercially rebranded by his label as a Black Sabbath release to guarantee better market penetration and fulfill contractual obligations.
Following a more concrete band setup for his 2005 album Fused with Glenn Hughes, Iommi returns to the market with World Alone, the first single from his new record released earlier this week. The upcoming release demonstrates how legacy European rock acts are increasingly prioritizing tight, authentic musical units over manufactured superstar collaborations to sustain their cultural and economic relevance.
