Black Sabbath’s iconic guitarist, Tony Iommi, shares insights into a memorable collaboration with the legendary Eddie Van Halen for the band’s 1994 album, “Cross Purposes.”
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Van Halen, renowned for his prowess on the guitar, contributed to the composition of the track “Evil Eye.” However, his record label, Warner Bros., prevented him from receiving official songwriting credits for the record.
During a recent video interview transcribed by Guitar.com, Iommi fondly reminisces about the experience, recounting how Van Halen joined a rehearsal session on his day off. The two musicians embarked on a journey that led them to a music shop, where Van Halen selected one of his signature guitars. From there, they proceeded to the rehearsal venue.
Amidst playing old Sabbath tunes, Iommi couldn’t resist correcting Van Halen’s rendition of one of their classics, jokingly remarking, “You’re playing that wrong.” This light-hearted exchange highlights the camaraderie shared between the two guitarists.
Their friendship endured beyond that collaboration, with Iommi cherishing their bond until Van Halen’s passing. Iommi’s reflections came as part of a promotional video interview for the new box set “Anno Domini.”
Anno Domini Box Set:
The box set features remastered versions of Black Sabbath’s four albums from the Tony Martin era: “Headless Cross” (1989), “Tyr” (1990), “Cross Purposes” (1994), and “Forbidden” (1995). Notably, “Forbidden” has undergone a remixing process supervised by Iommi himself.
Tony Martin’s tenure as Black Sabbath’s vocalist spanned from 1987 to 1990 before being replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Martin later rejoined the band from 1992 to 1997, only to part ways once again as the original Sabbath lineup, featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, reunited under Iommi’s direction.
By weaving personal anecdotes with details about the box set, the interview provides fans with a deeper understanding of Black Sabbath’s dynamic history and musical evolution.
