The opening night of Black Sabbath: The Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet production , was already a highly anticipated event. However, the audience at Sadler's Wells was in for a historic surprise last Wednesday, October 22nd: the godfather of heavy metal himself, Tony Iommi , took to the stage.
Moreover, to everyone's shock, the Black Sabbath picked up his guitar and treated the fans to a live performance of the iconic solo from "Paranoid," the show's closing track.
According to Metal Injection , Iommi's participation had not been announced, making the moment even more special. Moreover, the fusion of his heavy guitar sound with the 40-piece orchestra and the cast of 50 dancers created a unique scene, celebrating the fusion of metal with classical dance.
Iommi's performance solidifies the band's blessing on this bold new interpretation of their work, proving that Black Sabbath's legacy transcends genres.
"The true father of Heavy Metal": Brian May pays tribute to Iommi
To make the night even more stellar, another rock icon was in the audience: Sir Brian May . The Queen not only watched, but also filmed his friend and colleague's performance, sharing the videos on social media.
In his post, May was full of praise: "Wow! The true Father of Heavy Metal making that beautiful axe sing like a bird tonight at Sadler's Wells."
The Queen musician continued:
“Tony Iommi, plus a 40-piece orchestra and a cast of 50 dancers, putting the cherry on top of a great Black Sabbath The Ballet production. Proud to call this infinitely modest and generous genius my friend.”
Iommi's appearance comes at a significant time. The Birmingham Royal Ballet production is one of the greatest recent tributes to the band's legacy, reinterpreting their classics through dance.
The guitarist's surprise appearance on opening night served as the definitive seal of approval for the production, uniting the worlds of high culture and heavy metal in a historic way.
Check out the player below to see how this performance went:
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