Tony Iommi Receives MBE at Windsor Castle and Drops New Single
Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi has officially received his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. The honor for the 78-year-old guitarist was originally announced in the King’s Birthday Honours back in June in recognition of his services to music and charity.
“What an unbelievable honour to receive an MBE,” Iommi said following the initial announcement. “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.”
Charity Work and Reflections
Speaking at Windsor Castle after receiving the badge from the Princess Royal, Iommi noted that the accolade would have pleased his late bandmate, Ozzy Osbourne. Beyond his musical legacy, the guitarist was recognized for his dedicated fundraising efforts. Since his lymphoma diagnosis in 2011—which has been in remission since 2016—he has worked tirelessly to raise money for patients, including auctioning off a guitar for £50,000 in January to aid the Heartlands Hospital Charity in Birmingham.
“It’s nice to give back because I know what it’s like for those patients, and they needed new machinery and new beds,” Iommi explained at the ceremony.
The New Solo Single ‘Stormwatcher’
It proved to be a busy day for the iconic axeman, who also dropped his second solo single, “Stormwatcher.” The track previews his upcoming solo album, From the Dark, which is scheduled for release on October 23 via BMG.
Featuring vocals by acclaimed Norwegian singer Jørn Lande, the maritime-themed track explores themes of struggle and survival on life’s voyage. Lande explained that the song channels real internal experiences, noting, “We are the captain of our own vessel, a ship crashing through unknown and sometimes challenging waters, always navigating forward, steering steady through every storm.”
From the Dark was co-produced by Iommi and his long-time collaborator Mike Exeter. The eight-song album—plus two bonus tracks—features contributions from Mercyful Fate bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil, following up on the previously released lead single “World Alone.”
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