Billy Corgan Among Guests Planned For Sabbath Axeman's Solo Debut.

Over the years, Black Sabbath has served as a main influence to countless rock bands, with founding guitarist Tony Iommi's groundbreaking fretwork forming the foundation which many have based entire careers upon (Alice In Chains, anyone?). Now, it's payback time for Iommi. The Axeman in Black is working on his first solo album, and apparently offers have been coming in from a plethora of musicians to join in on the effort. According to the BBC's website, those who've approached the Sabbath guitarist, among others, are Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl and rap man and major Sabbath fan Ice T. Iommi told the BBC: "I'm going to do a couple of tracks with Billy Corgan, and the Foo Fighters guy wants to do a track, so there's all sorts of people, and it's looking good."

Although there's no label committed to releasing this first-time solo venture, Iommi has spent the earlier part of this year collaborating with songwriter Bob Marlette (whose previous credits include Rob Halford) in an LA studio. It was during one such extended visit when Iommi met up with the lead Pumpkin.

"I've met Billy Corgan a few times now, because we were in LA together; he was only just down the road," said Iommi to the BBC. "So he came over and I went over to him, and we've had quite a few chats."

Iommi also told the BBC which other high-profile artists wish to pay him homage, names ranging from Henry Rollins, Pantera's Phil Anselmo and the aforementioned Ice T. "He's a huge fan," Iommi told the BBC regarding the LA-based rap star. "It was something I would never have thought, but he's a big fan of all our stuff, and he was going 'let's do a song!' It is strange to see people who are from a totally different walk of life that really do love our music." (Hey, Tony, don't be too shocked at Ice's enthusiasm. Look at what Sean "Puffy" Combs did for Jimmy Page -- their collaborative effort "Come With Me" is currently standing at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100).

According to Iommi's own website, the guitarist hopes to have his unnamed solo project out by next year, but with the next few months being consumed by the revving up of the mighty Black Sabbath machinery (the reunited band is planning a worldwide tour to kick off on December 31 following the October release of their live album Reunion ), it seems Iommi may have to work some of that old "black" magic to get all those rock stars in the studio to lay down their tracks in time.

-Jennifer Schwartz

Source: Muzic.com