Tony Iommi took the stage for the first time since Black Sabbath’s final show in July, making a surprise appearance Wednesday evening during the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performance of Black Sabbath – The Ballet at Sadler’s Wells in London. The heavy metal godfather played his iconic guitar solo to “Paranoid” as part of the evening’s closing number.
Iommi’s good friend and fellow guitar legend Brian May of Queen was in attendance, and later shared a couple of video clips on Instagram, writing, “Wow ! The true Father of Heavy Metal making that beautiful axe sing like a bird tonight at Sadlers Wells. Tony Iommi plus a 40 piece orchestra and a cast of 50 dancers – putting the icing on the cake of a great production of Black Sabbath the Ballet. Proud to call this infinitely modest and generous genius my friend.”
Black Sabbath – The Ballet is currently playing in London through October 25th, and will hit the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from October 30th through November 1st. Watch Tony Iommi perform with the Birmingham Royal Ballet below.