BREAKING: Black Sabbath Founder Tony Iommi C…read more.
The amps may have gone silent and the crowd dispersed, but something powerful lingered in the air after Back to the Beginning the all-star tribute concert that marked an emotional look back at the origins of Black Sabbath and the music that changed the world.
Backstage, away from the stage lights and cheers, Tony Iommi sat with a quiet smile and a black Sharpie in hand. In front of him: two brand-new Gibson SG Standard guitars the very model that had helped him define the sound of heavy metal. He signed them carefully, almost reverently, adding a personal touch that would soon become a beacon of generosity.
The guitars, donated by Gibson, weren’t just for display or press photos. They were part of something deeper an auction to raise money for three charities close to the heart of the Osbourne family, Tony’s lifelong friends and bandmates. The proceeds were set to benefit causes tied to cancer research, addiction recovery, and children’s mental health. All three have touched the Osbournes and many Sabbath fans in deeply personal ways.
“I’ve been through a lot. We all have,” Iommi said softly, reflecting on the years gone by. “Music gave us an escape, but it also gave us the chance to give something back. That means more now than ever.”
The guitars went up for auction shortly after the concert ended, and bids started pouring in almost immediately. Fans from across the globe from longtime collectors to new-generation Sabbath devotees saw it as more than a chance to own an instrument. It was a connection to a legacy. A moment. A man.
The highest bidder, a 48-year-old fan from Iommi’s own Birmingham, wrote in a message, “This isn’t just about a guitar. It’s about what that music helped me through. Depression, loss, uncertainty… Black Sabbath was always there. Now I get to give back, too.”
The concert itself had already been a night for the ages a raw, emotional ride through the roots of metal. With Ozzy Osbourne making a surprise appearance to deliver a heartfelt thank-you, and tributes paid to Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, the night felt less like a farewell and more like a full-circle moment. A family reunion for those who never stopped believing in the power of a riff.
And backstage, as the guitars were packed away and sent on their journey, Iommi paused, took one last look, and gave a nod. It wasn’t about the spotlight or the stage. It was about heart, memory, and meaning.
“Music gave us everything,” he said. “Now it’s our turn to give a little something back.”
For those lucky enough to win the guitars and for the many lives the donations will touch Tony Iommi’s gesture is more than just charity. It’s legacy in action.
