TONY IOMMI is working with a 'great singer from Sweden' on upcoming solo album, says GEEZER BUTLER
05-01-2026
During a question-and-answer session at the 2025 Steel City Con, which was held December 5-7, 2025 in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, legendary BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler was asked if there is a possibility of him collaborating in the future on new music with either one of the two other living members of the original SABBATH lineup, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. Geezer responded: “I was actually gonna do some… Tony‘s got this great album that he is doing right at the moment. He’s just in the process — I think he’s in the process of mixing it right now, so it should be out sometime in 2026. He’s got this great singer from Sweden on it. And he wanted me to do three bass tracks, but he wanted me to do them in England, and I can’t go to England until June of 2026. So if he can hang on that long, I might collaborate with him back in June, if he can wait that long.”
Late last month, Iommi shared a year-end video message in which he said that he will “definitely, definitely” release his new solo album in 2026. “I’m really looking forward to that,” he said. “I’m enjoying doing it, and it’s been great fun, and I really hope you enjoy it.”
Tony previously talked about his long-awaited new solo album during a July 2025 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”. He said at the time: “ I was doing my own album until (the ‘Back To The Beginning’ event) came up, and then, of course, I had to stop and concentrate on preparing for the SABBATH performance. But I’m continuing next week on trying to finish off what I started with this album. And then who knows what I’m gonna do then? It’s great, really, ’cause if something pops up, I’ll do it, if I want to do it. So it’s a good thing.”
Asked if his upcoming album is a Tony Iommi solo record with guests on it, like he has done before with 2000’s “Iommi”, the guitarist responded: “At the moment, no. I’ve got one singer on it at the moment, which I originally thought of different singers. But it started off as it’s gonna be an instrumental album, and it’s gone from I’ve got some instrumental stuff, but then I thought, ‘Oh, I wanna try it with a singer.’ And so that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Tony also spoke about his appearance on “Rocket”, the first single from British pop singer Robbie Williams‘s “Britpop” album. The rock track, which was written by Robbie, Karl Brazil, Tony Iommi and Tom Longworth, features a signature guitar solo from the heavy metal pioneer.
“(Robbie) asked me if I’d play on this track, and I didn’t realize he was gonna release it as a single,” Iommi said. “And then he wanted to do a video with it. Oh my God. But it was great to do that. And I enjoyed doing that. And it’s great now — I can do different stuff when I want, really, and I’m enjoying it.”
Tony added: “I can’t stop. I have to carry on. I enjoy what I do. And it’s great being creative. And I love to create music. That’s what started me off and that’s what will finish me off, probably. But I love it. And there will be — yes — more from me. And I’m getting more involved in — we spread our wings with the (BLACK SABBATH) ballet and different things. And there’s a lot more things to come. So I’m looking forward to that.”
Last month, a raffle to win one of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi‘s guitars raised £50,000 for the hospital where he received his cancer treatment.
On December 9, Iommi took to his social media to write: “A massive thank you to everyone who bought tickets to my guitar raffle these past few weeks. Together you’ve raised over £50,000 for the Heartlands Hospital Charity appeal. What an incredible achievement and only possible thanks to all of you”.
The 77-year-old guitar legend was treated at Birmingham, United Kingdom’s Heartlands Hospital in 2012 after being diagnosed with lymphoma a few months earlier. Four years later, Iommi revealed that his cancer was in remission.
Last month, Iommi joined staff at Heartlands Hospital to help launch a fundraising drive as part of a £150,000 appeal to refurbish the hospital’s cancer treatment center.
Speaking to BBC about his diagnosis, Iommi said: “It was a terrible shock. It’s really hard when you’re going through that. You just never think until you’re in that situation, and I know how difficult it is, and how they feel. I like to be able to give something back and be involved and help.”
Reflecting on the treatment he received at Heartlands, Tony said: “The more comfortable you can make the patient, the better. I know when I was in, they treated me so well, that everybody was so nice, the nurses were nice, everybody was great. To have the right environment means a hell of a lot.”
Iommi revealed his cancer diagnosis in early 2012, shortly after SABBATH announced a reunion tour and album. He underwent treatment throughout the recording of the disc, titled “13”, and the subsequent tour to promote it.
The BLACK SABBATH guitarist successfully underwent an operation in January 2017 to remove a noncancerous lump from his throat.
“13” was the first album in 35 years to feature Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together.
Social media