In a recent revelation, legendary guitarist Tony Iommi expressed his disappointment over the Hard Rock Cafe’s refusal to return a prized guitar he sold to them. This guitar, a red Gibson SG affectionately named “Monkey,” has a rich history, having been used by Iommi on at least four of Black Sabbath’s early albums. In an interview with Guitar World, Iommi shared the story behind the guitar and the agreement he had with the cafe.
The Backstory of the Monkey Guitar
The Monkey SG, a 1965 model, became Iommi’s main instrument after a malfunction with his white Stratocaster during the recording of “Wicked World” for the debut Black Sabbath album. Recognizing its significance, Iommi decided to retire the guitar, not wanting to risk damage during performances. He eventually sold it to the Hard Rock Cafe under the condition that he could buy it back if he ever desired.
“The guy who used to buy memorabilia for the Hard Rock came to England and visited me,” Iommi explained. “He wanted to buy some stuff… I’d retired the Monkey SG because it was too valuable to me; I didn’t want to take it on the road and risk it getting damaged.” He emphasized that the deal seemed fair at the time, allowing the guitar to be displayed safely rather than sitting in storage.
The Unexpected Turn
Unfortunately, after the passing of the Hard Rock’s memorabilia buyer, Iommi’s attempts to retrieve the guitar were met with confusion. “We tried to get in touch with Hard Rock to get it back, and they knew nothing about the deal,” Iommi lamented. This unexpected refusal has left him frustrated, as he hoped to reclaim an essential piece of his musical legacy.
The Guitar’s Legacy at Hard Rock Cafe
As noted on Iommi’s website, the Monkey guitar was originally donated to the Hard Rock Cafe, where it is currently on display at their Times Square location in New York City. The guitar’s unique history and the memorable performances it contributed to have made it an iconic artifact in rock music.
In a twist, the Hard Rock Cafe did allow Gibson to create replicas of the Monkey guitar in 2020, with Iommi owning two of them. “I think we did about 50 of them, and I own two of those,” he stated, noting the replicas have the same “knocks and bumps” as the original. “It’s the same guitar, basically.”
