Tony Iommi's 'Walk of Stars' honor; video interview, report available
Birmingham Mail has posted a two-minute video report (see below) of Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi's inauguration into Broad Street's Walk of Stars yesterday (Sunday, November 23) in Birmingham, England in front of a crowd of fans.The 60-year-old rocker from Aston was presented with his star by deputy lord mayor Councillor Randal Brew. He thanked fans, many of whom had stood in pouring rain for hours for a glimpse of the music idol.
"Thanks ever so much for coming and for standing in this awful weather," he said.
"I just want to say that I'm proud to be a Brummie and I'm proud to say I'm from Birmingham. Thanks very much for this and I'm going to put it in a good place. Really, thanks very much."
Broad Street's Walk of Stars honors those who have made a significant contribution in music, television, film, radio, theatre, sport, business and literature and is run by the Broad Street Business Improvement District.
Born in Aston, Birmingham, guitarist and songwriter Tony is best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and more of less single-handedly inventing the heavy rock music genre. Iommi is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential guitarists in rock music and is widely considered to be the man who invented the heavy metal riff.
Iommi has released over 30 albums with Black Sabbath, two solo albums, has sold over 80 million copies and is the recipient of 20 platinum and 14 gold albums. Black Sabbath was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in November 2005, and in March 2006 into New York's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On July 6, 2007, Ozzy Osbourne became the first artist to be honored on Birmingham, England's own Hollywood-style Walk of Stars in the city's Broad Street / Centenary Square.