Legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi was honored at a special event at the Gibson Garage London, where he unveiled the return of his iconic Gibson Signature Humbucker™. The evening featured an intimate interview moderated by Liz Barnes (BBC Radio 2), a short live performance, and the premiere of the trailer for the new docuseries Iommi: The Godfather of Heavy Metal, set to debut worldwide this fall on Gibson TV.
Originally introduced in the late 1990s, the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker has made its long-awaited return. Built with a unique configuration of ceramic and Alnico 2 magnets, the pickup delivers the powerful tone, sustain, and clarity that made Iommi’s work with Black Sabbath instantly recognizable and foundational to the creation of heavy metal.
Reflecting on his history with Gibson, Iommi recalled: “When we were recording the first album, on the song ‘Wicked World,’ my Strat failed. I grabbed a Gibson SG, loved the sound, and I’ve played one ever since. We first made these pickups 28 years ago to address interference issues, and they’ve evolved since then. I hope today’s guitar players can achieve my sound—it’s the Sabbath sound”.
The evening also marked the announcement of Iommi: The Godfather of Heavy Metal, a star-studded limited docuseries exploring Iommi’s career and his profound impact on generations of musicians. Guests featured in the series include Brian May, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Dave Mustaine, Kirk Hammett, Steve Vai, Scott Ian, Rex Brown, and more.
With this dual launch, Gibson not only reintroduces a piece of equipment that shaped heavy music but also shines a spotlight on the man whose riffs became the foundation of heavy metal. Iommi’s legacy, both technical and cultural, continues to expand as new generations discover the sound he helped create.
