Tony Iommi's auction raises £19,000 for the NHS
The Black Sabbath legend calls it 'a great result'
Heavy metal torchbearer Tony Iommi has raised £19,000 for the NHS by auctioning off some of his personal possessions including a prized guitar.
The Black Sabbath legend launched the auction on eBay on 6th April to raise vital funds for Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital Charity during the coronavirus crisis.
The star lot of the auction, Tony Iommi’s signed Epiphone SG guitar, fetched an impressive £11,300, while the other five items raised just under £8,000.
Tony Iommi said last night: “Many thanks to everyone who bid for the auction, it’s a great result. We’ll do our best to get things sent out as soon as we can.”
The other Black Sabbath items in the auction were all signed and included the Dehumanizer 2 CD Edition Remastered with Live Bonus Tracks, The End Vinyl 3 discs, Supersonic Years Box Set, The End: DVD and 3 CDs and the Japanese DVD Box Set of The End.
Speaking about the auction to Birmingham Live earlier this month, Tony Iommi said: “I am patron of the cancer ward at Heartlands. I was hoping to do an ‘In Conversation’ live show to boost the Ward 19 charity fund but obviously we’ve had to think again.
“I was spending self-isolation clearing the studio, and hit on the idea of an auction.
“I’ve washed the car, cleaned the garage out, done all those little jobs that you realise needed doing, just like everyone else.
“Maria and I have been binge-watching TV, too – we’ve been doing Ozark and Boardwalk Empire – and I’ve been playing guitar. It’s a bit like being on tour, without getting out to play. You’re stuck in the room each night.
“Neighbours have dropped a note through the door, asking if I want any shopping. They’re looking out for the poor old sod!
“I think this has brought us all closer. I’m even in touch with Ozzy every day as he gets over his own health problems in LA.”