BLACK SABBATH guitarist and rock icon Tony Iommi is to receive an honorary degree from Coventry University, according to Birmingham Mail.

Iommi, who co-founded Black Sabbath in Birmingham in 1968, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Arts (Hon Darts) from the university during its graduation ceremonies in Coventry Cathedral on Tuesday (November 19th).

The university says the degree has been awarded "in recognition of his contribution to the world of popular music; in particular being recognised as one of the founders of heavy metal music and one of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time".

Iommi, aged 65, will head straight from the ceremony to Helsinki where Black Sabbath will begin the European - and final - leg of their world tour.

Read more at this location.

GREEN DAY's Mike Dirnt, ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor, and members of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, and MEGADETH, were on hand to honor Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler and Lee Rocker of THE STRAY CATS at the Bass Player Live! event in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday night (November 9th). Artisan News has filed the following report:

Black Sabbath have released a teaser poster with the tag "Coming To The Great White North". Stay tuned for the announcement of Black Sabbath dates in Canada soon.

Black Sabbath recently announced more live dates for 2014, scheduling more June dates in Europe.

Their 2014 schedule now looks like this:

June

1 - Moscow, Russia - Olympisski
3 - Saint Petersburg, Russia - TBA

4-7 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival

8 - Berlin, Germany - Kindl-Buhne Wuhlheide
11 - Todz, Poland - Atlas Arena
13 - Munich, Germany - Konigsplatz
15 - Pannonia Fields, Austria - Nova Rock Festival
18 - Casalecchio di Reno, Italy - Unipol Arena
24 - Stuttgart, Germany - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
27 - Essen, Germany - Stadion-Essen

Black Sabbath’s triumphant 2013 tour - which kicked off earlier this year in Australia - can now be seen by fans around the world via the forthcoming Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered In Their Masses (Vertigo/Republic).

Pre-orders for Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered In Their Masses are available now at BlackSabbath.com.

Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered In Their Masses tracklistings:

DVD / Blu-Ray:

'War Pigs'

'Into The Void'

'Loner'

'Snowblind'

'Black Sabbath'

'Behind The Wall Of Sleep'

'N.I.B.'

'Methademic'

'Fairies Wear Boots'

'Symptom Of The Universe'

'Iron Man'

'End Of The Beginning'

'Children Of The Grave'

'God Is Dead?'

'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' (Intro)/'Paranoid'

CD:

'War Pigs'

'Loner'

'Black Sabbath'

'Methademic'

'N.I.B'

'Iron Man'

'End Of The Beginning'

'Fairies Wear Boots'

'God Is Dead?'

'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' (Intro)/'Paranoid'

Due out November 26th, Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered In Their Masses will be available via a variety of formats. Options include:

- DVD standalone
- Blu-ray standalone
- Blu-ray/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in a Blu-ray case
- DVD/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in an Amaray box
- Deluxe Box with a Blu-ray disc of live show with exclusive bonus visual extras/two DVD discs/a CD featuring live audio from the show/poster/signed set list/photo booklet/guitar picks/official show “ticket”

Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered In Their Masses was recorded April 29th and May 1st, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia when the band kicked off their world tour in support of their 13 album, which entered the charts at #1 in 13 countries (including their first #1 in the US).

Teaser #1:

Teaser #2: