by Marcel “Mars” Groeneveld
Staff Writer —
Tony Iommi promo tour (for his book) Iron man
October 20, 2011 at Waterstone bookstore, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Sometimes in life things just fall into place. On a trip to attend 2011’s Firefest Festival in Nottinghamd, U.K., you know the home of the legendary Robin Hood, Tony Iommi was also in town promoting and signing his new autobiography, Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath.
The book signing event was published on Iommi’s website and not mentioned through major media outlets like the newspaper, billboards or television. Still over 300 loyal and crazed fans, who came from as far as Greece and Australia, made their way to the Waterstone’s bookstore to meet and greet their Idol.
The opportunity to have their photo taken or memorabilia signed was slim because of time schedules. The great turnout of fans, produced smiling faces and some tears, as fans felt honored to spend at least one minute with one of the most influential guitarist rock has to offer.
Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath is the story told by Iommi the ups and downs to writer TJ Lammers and is available for purchase now.
The dates in the UK are done but it will continue November first in the States, see details as taken from his website:
http://www.iommi.com/book-signing-tour.php
Product details
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (13 Oct 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0857201514
• ISBN-13: 978-0857201515
• Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3.4 cm[Inside the Cover]The name ‘Tony Iommi’ sends shivers down the spines of guitarists around the world. As lead guitarist and songwriter of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the past four decades and the inventor of heavy metal. From working class, Midlands roots, his unique playing style – a result of a disfiguring hand injury he suffered working in a sheet metal factory — created a dark and gothic sound unlike anything that had been heard before and which captured the mood of its time. Sabbath went on to become a superband, playing to massive audiences around the world and selling millions of records, and Iommi led the life of a rockstar to the fullest – with the scars from all the drug-fuelled nights of excess and wildness to show for it. Iron Man is the exclusive account of the life and adventures of one of rock’s greatest heroes.
Iron Man chronicles the story of both pioneering guitarist Tony Iommi and legendary band Black Sabbath, dubbed “The Beatles of heavy metal” by Rolling Stone. Iron Man reveals the man behind the icon yet still captures Iommi’s humor, intelligence, and warmth. He speaks honestly and unflinchingly about his rough-and-tumble childhood, the accident that almost ended his career, his failed marriages, personal tragedies, battles with addiction, band mates, famous friends, newfound daughter, and the ups and downs of his life as an artist.
Everything associated with hard rock happened to Black Sabbath first: the drugs, the debauchery, the drinking, the dungeons, the pressure, the pain, the conquests, the company men, the contracts, the combustible drummer, the critics, the comebacks, the singers, the Stonehenge set, the music, the money, the madness, the metal.
`Tony Iommi is the true father of Heavy Metal, a continuously creative genius riff-meister, and one of the world’s great human beings’ –Brian May
`Without Tony, heavy metal wouldn’t exist. He is the creator of heavy! Tony is a legend. He took rock and roll and turned it into heavy metal’ –Eddie Van Halen
`Mr Iommi, aka . . . The Riffmaster. It’s all his fault I am where I am’ –James ‘papa het’ Hetfield
‘Tony Iommi should be up there with the greats. He can pick up a guitar and play a riff that’d knock your f-ing socks off’ –Ozzy Osbourne
More Dates:
November 1st 2011 – NEW JERSEY, USA
Tony will be signing copies of his new book “Iron Man” at Bookends in New Jersey on Tuesday November 1st 2011!
Bookends – 6pm: 211 E.Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, USA
TONY WILL ONLY BE SIGNING COPIES OF HIS NEW BOOK “IRON MAN”. ANY MEMORABILIA OR OUTSIDE ITEMS WILL NOT BE SIGNED.
November 2nd 2011 – HUNTINGTON, USA
Tony will be signing copies of his new book “Iron Man” at Book Revue in Huntingdon, NY on Wednesday November 2nd 2011!
Book Revue – 7pm: 313 New York Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
TONY WILL ONLY BE SIGNING COPIES OF HIS NEW BOOK “IRON MAN”. ANY MEMORABILIA OR OUTSIDE ITEMS WILL NOT BE SIGNED.
November 3rd 2011 – TRIBECA, USA
Tony will be signing copies of his new book “Iron Man” at Barnes & Noble – Tribeca, NY on Thursday November 3rd 2011!
Barnes & Noble – 6pm: 97 Warren Street at Greenwich Street, NY 10007
TONY WILL ONLY BE SIGNING COPIES OF HIS NEW BOOK “IRON MAN”. ANY MEMORABILIA OR OUTSIDE ITEMS WILL NOT BE SIGNED.
unfortunately these guys get scammed and bombarded all the time by guys hanging around the venues with a ton of stuff that you know is all gonna be on ebay. i’m not saying thats the case with you, but it ruins it for the rest of us. and these things are usually advertised so you know going it the extra stuff will not be signed. it IS disappointing but i have come to expect it.
I just purchased and attended a book signing from Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath guitarist)for his new biography book title “Iron Man”. Although I have not read the book yet, I was very disatisfied to meet (who I thought was my hero) Tony Iommi. I drove well over two hours to Bookends Bookstore in Ridgewood, New Jersey; waited well over an hour and a half in the cold with my teenager son to meet and have his book signed and a guitar plate which was removed from my son’s Epiphone Gibson SG Tony Iommi signature guitar.
As we waited patiently, I noticed a fan with a Black Sabbath LP in hand, He was about ten people in front of me. As he approached Tony he requested him to sign the LP. Tony then staled and looked at his body guard, the body guard did not notice and Tony then stated “Whats that”? The body guard then reacted to Tonys’ “hint” and told the fan that Tony will only sign his book.
It was now our turn to meet Iommi, we approached Tony with 2 copies of Iron Man (one for me and the other for my son) he signed them, and I produced the small guitar plate (approcimately) 6″ X 4″, Tony looked at the plate; the body guard said “Tony will only sign books” I then told the Bodyguard and Iommi “please sign this, its for my son overthere…..this plate is from you Iommi signature SG”. The body guard paused and looked at Tony Iommi who just stood their without attempting to sign this plate. The guard said sorry he’s only signing books. Tony Iommi had plenty of time to sign this small item for my son but he refused. The book signing wasent even packed….approximately 300 people attended and we were at the end of the line! He was finished within and hour and half! Talk about stuck-up. If I knew I would of never purchased these books. Hey Tony……remember your fans? Thanks for nothing.