BLACK SABBATH guitarist and rock icon Tony Iommi is to receive an honorary degree from Coventry University, according to Birmingham Mail, during its graduation ceremonies in Coventry Cathedral on Tuesday (November 19th).

He recently spoke with Birmingham Mail about the honour; an excerpt from the interview is available below:

Tony’s Honorary Doctorate of Arts is being 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”.

And it was, reckons the 65-year-old guitar hero, his early days working as a welder in a sheet metal works that influenced his music.

“I enjoyed working in the foundry,” he recalls. “It was hard work but it was rewarding. I became quite good as a welder.

“It was as noisy as hell with all the crashing of the metal, the hiss of the steam and the sizzle of the welding. Real heavy metal!”

The rest, as they say, is rock history. And it all comes full circle when Sabbath return to their hometown for special gigs at the LG Arena on December 20 and the National Indoor Arena on December 22.

“It’s going to be a right old ding-dong,” grins Tony, who lives in Wythall. “I’m so glad that we’re finishing the tour in my hometown. There’ll be lots of family and friends in the audience, and I think we’ll all be staying in Brum for Christmas.”

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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: