Tony Iommi evening raises 15,000 pounds for young Birmingham musicians

An evening with the Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has raised more than 15,000 pounds for a scholarship that helps young Birmingham musicians study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

The sold-out event, An Evening with Tony Iommi MBE, took place in the Bradshaw Hall at the Conservatoire and was hosted by the sports broadcaster Gary Newbon MBE. All proceeds went to the Tony Iommi Scholarship.

Supporting local talent

The scholarship supports music students from Birmingham who want to build careers in music at the Conservatoire, which is part of Birmingham City University.

"It's hard for young musicians to get started and keep their momentum," Iommi said. "I'm proud of Birmingham's musical heritage, and we need to keep growing the opportunities for music in the city."

Overcoming a life-changing injury

During the evening, Iommi talked about the industrial accident he suffered at the age of 17, on his last day working in a sheet metal factory, when a machine cut off the tips of two fingers on his right hand. As a left-handed guitarist, those were the fingers he used on the fretboard.

Rather than give up, he made prosthetic fingertips and adapted his playing, including loosening his strings and tuning down. That heavier, darker sound became a defining part of Black Sabbath's music and helped to shape heavy metal.

A new solo album

Iommi also spoke about his solo album From the Dark, which is due to be released this month.

The father of heavy metal

Iommi, who was born in Birmingham, formed Black Sabbath in Aston in 1968 with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. The band's riffs, many written by Iommi, are widely regarded as the foundation of heavy metal. Black Sabbath played their final concert, Back to the Beginning, at Villa Park in July 2025, weeks before Ozzy Osbourne's death.

Iommi has been appointed MBE in recognition of his contribution to music.

About the Conservatoire

The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire moved into a purpose-built home on Jennens Road in Eastside in 2017. The building includes concert halls, recital rooms and recording studios, and it trains musicians and actors in classical music, jazz, popular music, music technology and drama.

The cost of a music career

Studying music can be expensive. Students often need to buy and maintain instruments, pay for lessons and travel to auditions and performances. Scholarships like this one can make a real difference to young people from families on lower incomes, who might otherwise be unable to pursue a career in music.

Birmingham's musical heritage

Birmingham has produced many influential musicians and bands, from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and the Moody Blues to UB40, Steel Pulse, Duran Duran and Jamelia. The city also has a thriving classical scene, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and a strong tradition of jazz, bhangra and grime.

Find out more

Donations to the Tony Iommi Scholarship and information about other support for students can be found on the Birmingham City University website.

Gary Newbon

The evening was hosted by Gary Newbon, a familiar voice to generations of sports fans in the Midlands. The broadcaster spent many years presenting sport on regional television and is well known for his interviews with sporting greats. Hosting a conversation with one of the city's most famous musicians made for an unusual and popular night at the Conservatoire.

Music in schools

Music education campaigners have warned that the number of pupils studying music at GCSE and A level has fallen in recent years, and that opportunities to learn an instrument often depend on whether families can afford lessons. Birmingham's music education hub works with schools across the city to give children the chance to play and sing.