Tony Iommi Recruits Brian May for Guest Solo on New Album ‘From the Dark’

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is set to release From the Dark on October 23 through BMG Records, marking his first solo album in more than twenty years. Queen guitarist Brian May, a longtime friend of Iommi’s, appears as the only guest musician on the record, delivering a guitar solo on the track “Death Wake.”

• From the Dark arrives October 23 via BMG Records.
• Brian May’s contribution is limited to a guitar solo on “Death Wake.”
• The album’s core lineup features vocalist Jorn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil.
• Iommi wanted former Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler on the record, but Butler could not take part.

Why Brian May Turned Down a Bigger Role on the Album

Iommi has said he offered May the chance to play on more than one song, but May chose to step back so the spotlight would stay on Iommi. Recalling the conversation, Iommi said May told him, “No, no. Your solos are good. I don’t need to play.” In another retelling of the exchange, Iommi said May’s response was simply, “Oh no, it’s your album.”

Iommi described “Death Wake” as a doom-leaning song built around what he called a “weird riff,” adding that he is drawn to material in that heavier, darker vein. He said bringing May in to play the solo on that particular track felt right once the song was finished.

Who Else Plays on Tony Iommi’s From the Dark

Beyond May’s single appearance, Iommi has said he deliberately avoided stacking the album with a long roster of guest musicians, preferring instead to build a steady, self-contained group that would sound like an actual band rather than a collection of cameos. That core unit includes Norwegian singer Jorn Lande, known for his work with Masterplan and Avantasia, alongside Mercyful Fate bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil, who has toured with Robbie Williams.

Iommi has said he originally hoped to get Geezer Butler, his former Black Sabbath bandmate, to play bass on the new record, but Butler’s schedule got in the way. Iommi indicated Butler was tied up with his own album at the time and was unable to travel to England to record. Iommi settled on Baldwin instead, noting that her playing style closely mirrors Butler’s and that she grew up in Birmingham, Sabbath’s home city, as an admirer of Butler’s bass work.

Tony Iommi and Brian May’s Long Friendship

Iommi has traced his bond with May back to the early 1970s, when the two were recording in neighboring studios and struck up a friendship that has now lasted close to sixty years. Iommi has called May one of his two closest friends in music, alongside the late Eddie Van Halen, and said the pair have stayed in regular contact ever since they met.

May has appeared on Iommi’s recordings before. He played on Black Sabbath’s “When Death Calls,” from the 1988 album Headless Cross, and later contributed to “Goodbye Lament” on Iommi’s self-titled 2000 solo album, a record that also brought in guests including Ozzy Osbourne, Ian Astbury, Dave Grohl, Serj Tankian, Billy Corgan and Peter Steele. Last Christmas, May gave Iommi a custom left-handed copy of his homemade Red Special guitar, a gift Iommi shared on Instagram while referring to May as his “best friend.”

Tony Iommi’s Solo Album History

From the Dark follows a sparse solo catalog for Iommi, who first tried a solo release with 1986’s Seventh Star, though contractual ties to his record label forced it out under the name “Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi.” He released his proper self-titled solo debut, Iommi, in 2000, and followed it with 2005’s Fused, made alongside Glenn Hughes and Kenny Aronoff.

More Info

• "I said to him, Do you want to play on something else? He said, No, no. Your solos are good." Why Queen’s Brian May is the only guest musician featured on Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi’s forthcoming solo album | loudersound.com
• Tony Iommi Nabbed Queen’s Brian May for New Solo Album, But Missed Out on Geezer Butler | consequence.net
• How Brian May ended up playing on Tony Iommi’s forthcoming solo album: “I said to him, ‘Play on some other tracks,’ but he went, ‘Oh no, it’s your album’” | Guitar World
• “In the very early ‘70s, he was in one studio, and I was in another. And we just hit it off”: Tony Iommi reveals Brian May’s lead guitar cameo on his new solo album – and why the Queen guitarist is its only guest | musicradar.com
• How Brian May ended up playing on Tony Iommi’s forthcoming solo album | yahoo.com
• Tony Iommi wanted Brian May to play on more of his new solo album: “But he went, ‘Oh no, it’s your album!’” | guitar.com