Tony Iommi received his Member of the Order of the British Empire honor today (September 30), and said his late bandmate Ozzy Osbourne would have approved.
The award was bestowed at Windsor Castle by Princess Margaret, the Princess Royal, in recognition of Iommi’s services to music and charity.
Although he spoke to the princess during the ceremony, protocol forbids people revealing what was said. But he did say the honor was “brilliant,” adding: “I’ve got a lot of awards over the years… but this is very special to me because it’s from our own country, from England. So yeah, really great.” Asked what Osbourne might have thought, Iommi said he “would have been really pleased.“
He’s been living with cancer since his 2011 diagnosis, although his lymphoma was found to be in remission five years later. Since then he’s been working in support of cancer charities, including the sale of a guitar earlier this year.
“It’s nice to give back because I know what it’s like for those patients, and they needed new machinery and new beds,” he said.”It was great to be involved – to be able to help to buy the new stuff.”
Meanwhile, Iommi – who can now use the honorific "MBE" after his name, if he chooses – reported he found the upcoming Back to the Beginning concert movie – shot during Osbourne’s final performance 17 days before his death in 2025 – a struggle to sit through.
“I’ve watched the footage and it’s emotional,” he explained. “I’ve watched it only twice now. I find it difficult to watch it, to be honest, because, obviously, of our relationship with each other. But I’m sure people will like it.”
His new solo album From the Dark arives on October 23.
