Anthony Frank “Tony” Iommi, born February 19, 1948, in Birmingham, England, was
the guitarist and principal riff writer for Black Sabbath. At 17, while working
in a sheet-metal factory, he lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in
an industrial accident. He adapted his technique, fashioned prosthetic
fingertips, and used lighter strings and lower tunings, helping create the
heavy, dark guitar sound associated with the band. Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy
Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward formed a group called
Earth in 1968 and adopted the name Black Sabbath ...