TONY IOMMI Says His Long-Awaited New Solo Album Will 'Definitely, Definitely' Be Released In 2026

Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has shared a year-end video message in which he outlined some of the projects that kept him busy during the last 12 months. The 77-year-old musician, who was diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma nearly a decade and half ago, stated in part in the four-minute clip (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " Hello, everybody. I hope you had a great Christmas. We have; we had a great time. 2025 for me started off really well. And we had the Tony Martin [-era BLACK SABBATH re-]release of 'Eternal Idol' come out. And shortly after that I was asked by [British pop singer] Robbie Williams's drummer Karl Brazil if I'd play on a track with Robbie, which, of course, I said, 'Yes, that would be great.' And as far as I was concerned, it was gonna be an album track, but then Robbie released it as a single, which is even better. And we did a video for it. And the track was called 'Rocket', and I really enjoyed it. It was really different for me to do that. We also had the launch of my new web site, which I was very pleased with. SABBATH got together, the original SABBATH [members], and we were presented with the Freedom Of The City [award] from [our original hometown of] Birmingham, which was absolutely amazing. I mean, I never thought we'd ever get that, which is a great honor. And also around Birmingham, they'd done 'Summer Of Sabbath', which meant that they had a lot of paintings around of SABBATH on the walls, and it was really good. And all Birmingham became sort of a SABBATH city. It was really great seeing [fellow original SABBATH members] Ozzy [Osbourne], Bill [Ward] and Geezer [Butler] for Freedom Of The City. And at that point, of course, we were into rehearsals for the 'Back To The Beginning' show at the Villa grounds in Birmingham. And the amount of bands that turned up to support SABBATH on that was just fantastic. What a great event. And, of course, it raised a lot of money for charity. It's just unfortunate and sad that Ozzy passed away a couple of weeks after that, which, you know, may he rest in peace."

Iommi continued: "And on a brighter note, I had the release of the Laney TI100 limited-edition amplifier. And I also used those on the 'Back To Beginning' [show], which are really great amps. I really like 'em. And Laney have done a great job on that. And also in August I had the release of the Gibson Tony Iommi pickup. Then in September we had the second run of the 'Black Sabbath - The Ballet', which went amazingly well. It completely sold out in England. And [Birmingham Royal Ballet director] Carlos Acosta and all the team had done just a fantastic job. And I did play on the London shows, a couple of the shows, with them, and in Birmingham. So it went really good. They are so amazing, those dancers and choreographers and all that, and I take my hat off to them. Really good."

Tony added: "Then in November, December, we had a guitar ruffle for Heartlands hospital for their cancer unit, the new cancer unit, which they have done. So we tried to raise money to buy beds and all the equipment that they need. I'm glad to say we raised 53,000 pounds, which is amazing. Thanks to you guys. Also, there's a Gibson documentary coming out very, very soon. And then, of course, in 2026. I shall have definitely, definitely my solo album out. And I'm really looking forward to that. I'm enjoying doing it, and it's been great fun, and I really hope you enjoy it. But I'll keep you more up to date as we go on, what's happening with that and when it's gonna be released. In the meantime, very happy new year and take care. All the best."

Tony previously talked about his long-awaited new solo album during a July 2025 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said at the time: " I was doing my own album until [the 'Back To The Beginning' event] came up, and then, of course, I had to stop and concentrate on [preparing for] the SABBATH [performance]. But I'm continuing next week on trying to finish off what I started with this album. And then who knows what I'm gonna do then? It's great, really, 'cause if something pops up, I'll do it, if I want to do it. So it's a good thing."

Asked if his upcoming album is a Tony Iommi solo record with guests on it, like he has done before with 2000's "Iommi", the guitarist responded: "At the moment, no. I've got one singer on it at the moment, which I originally thought of different singers. But it started off as it's gonna be an instrumental album, and it's gone from I've got some instrumental stuff, but then I thought, 'Oh, I wanna try it with a singer.' And so that's what I've been doing."

Tony also spoke about his appearance on "Rocket", the first single from Williams's "Britpop" album. The rock track, which was written by Robbie, Karl Brazil, Tony Iommi and Tom Longworth, features a signature guitar solo from the heavy metal pioneer.

"[Robbie] asked me if I'd play on this track, and I didn't realize he was gonna release it as a single," Iommi said. "And then he wanted to do a video with it. Oh my God. But it was great to do that. And I enjoyed doing that. And it's great now — I can do different stuff when I want, really, and I'm enjoying it."

Tony added: "I can't stop. I have to carry on. I enjoy what I do. And it's great being creative. And I love to create music. That's what started me off and that's what will finish me off, probably. But I love it. And there will be — yes — more from me. And I'm getting more involved in — we spread our wings with the [BLACK SABBATH] ballet and different things. And there's a lot more things to come. So I'm looking forward to that."

Last year, Iommi released an instrumental track, "Deified", to accompany the arrival of another new fragrance. The song saw Iommi reunite with longtime collaborator Mike Exeter, who played keyboards and handled production, with Laurence Cottle (who played on BLACK SABBATH's "Headless Cross" album) on bass. The recording lineup was rounded out by FEEDER and Robbie Williams drummer Karl Brazil, with Ben Andrews scoring the orchestrations.

Three years earlier, Iommi unveiled "Scent Of Dark" — his first new music in eight years at the time — alongside an accompanying cologne.

At the time of "Scent Of Dark"'s release, Iommi revealed that he had "four or five hundred" unused riffs on his phone, with plans to arrange and record some of them for his various projects.

"Scent Of Dark" and "Deified" were the product of a friendship struck up during the pandemic between Iommi and Sergio Momo, acclaimed perfumer, and designer for Xerjoff, well known for its unique and individual creations and collaborations in the fragrance world. Sergio is also an accomplished guitarist, and his fine fretwork can be heard on both songs.

Iommi previously spoke about his upcoming solo album during a June 2024 appearance on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. He said at the time: "I am writing stuff now for my own, for an album. So that's exciting too. And there's no pressure. I just do stuff when I feel like it, because, obviously, I've got a life to live and I like to do all the different stuff. But I've really enjoyed doing this stuff, as I did with Ozz [BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne] when I'd done a couple of tracks for his last [solo] album ['Patient Number 9'], which was good, to work with Ozz again. And I'm quite open for all that now. Whatever comes, and I like it, I do it."

Asked if he is going to release a "proper record" or if he will just make individual songs available whenever he feels like it, Iommi responded: "No, I'm gonna do a record. And I've got a lot of stuff. But now we're actually getting around to sort of putting it together, myself and the engineer. So it's been good fun, really. And as I say, there's no pressure. I can just do it — I don't have to do it by next week. And because of everything else [that has] been lurking around, I have to take my time in doing things. But it's been fun. And that's what it's all about, really. And I'm looking forward to actually doing it and an album coming out."

When and if Iommi's new solo album surfaces, it would be his third, after 2000's "Iommi" and 2005's "Fused".

Joining Iommi on "Fused" was ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and drummer Kenny Aronoff, whose resume includes the "Iommi" album and a long run with John Mellencamp.

Nearly two decades ago, Iommi told Launch that he, Aronoff and Hughes had a great time making the "Fused" record. "It was like a load of nutters, quite honestly," he said. "We all let loose in the room. It was just like being kids, because Kenny, you know, [laughs] he was, like, he's so, like, up, and full of energy, and you've got Glenn [makes crazy sound] and Kenny [makes crazy sound] — bloody hell! It's almost too much, you know, but it worked."

SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan and Dave Grohl of the FOO FIGHTERS are among the guests who were heard on "Iommi". The LP also featured guest appearances from Philip Anselmo of PANTERA, Henry Rollins and SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian as well as Skin of SKUNK ANANSIE, Peter Steele from TYPE O NEGATIVE, and THE CULT's Ian Astbury.

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi — who was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 2011 — can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

Iommi revealed his cancer diagnosis in early 2012, shortly after SABBATH announced a reunion tour and album. He underwent treatment throughout the recording of the disc, titled "13", and the subsequent tour to promote it.

The BLACK SABBATH guitarist successfully underwent an operation in January 2017 to remove a noncancerous lump from his throat.

"13" was the first album in 35 years to feature Iommi, Osbourne and Butler all playing together.

Bill Ward was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced 14 years ago, but backed out soon after. The drummer later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

All four original members of SABBATH were present when the band announced its final reunion in late 2011. But Ward split from the group in 2012, citing an "unsignable" contract, and Osbourne, Iommi and Butler carried on with their Rick Rubin–produced "13" LP and extensive international touring without him.

The July 5, 2025 "Back To The Beginning" event at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom marked the original BLACK SABBATH lineup's first performance since 2005 and the quartet's final live appearance.

Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH tracks: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's death certificate revealed that he died on July 22 of a heart attack. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.