Tony Iommi will release his first solo album in 21 years later this year, and the Black Sabbath guitarist has assembled a core lineup that gives From the Dark a true band feel.
For bass guitarist Becky Baldwin, however, her first session with Iommi was a nerve-racking experience. The Birmingham musician admits she was convinced she had blown her chance before she had even left the studio.
Reflecting on the experience eight months later, Baldwin recalls how nervous she was when she first walked into the room to record with one of her musical heroes.
“This photo was taken at the end of our first recording session, on the day we met,” she writes on Instagram. “I still couldn’t believe that this great honor could be real, and I was so nervous recording in front of Tony with no preparation.
“I was sure they’d look for another bass player once I left the room. I asked, ‘Could we get a quick photo together, in case I never see you again?’”
According to Baldwin, Iommi laughed off her concerns.
“Tony just laughed and said, ‘You’ll be back here in two weeks for the next session!’ But he granted my request. And I still didn’t really believe him.”
The guitarist was true to his word. Baldwin returned to complete the remaining bass parts for From the Dark, and she now finds herself as part of Iommi’s new band alongside drummer Karl Brazil and vocalist Jorn Lande, whose powerful voice recalls the Ronnie James Dio era of Black Sabbath.
The album’s first single, “World Alone,” arrived last week, giving fans their first taste of the new lineup.
“Fast forward eight months and here we are,” Baldwin says. “The nerves faded, and I did get to record the rest of the bass tracks for Tony’s incredible album. I am so proud to be a part of this, and we’re so thrilled with the results. I have to believe it’s all real now.”
Baldwin’s place on the record was not guaranteed, though. Iommi initially hoped to reunite with his longtime Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler for the project.
“I wanted him, but he couldn’t do it,” Iommi explains. “He’s doing his own album, I think… he couldn’t come to England. I wanted to get it done and finally get it out.”
The guitarist says Baldwin was the natural alternative.
“Becky lives in Birmingham, she’s a really good player, and she plays in Geezer’s style,” he says. “I thought, ‘Let’s give it a try.’ And she was good.”
While Baldwin is the newest member of Iommi’s musical family, one of his oldest collaborators will also appear on From the Dark: Brian May.
The Queen guitarist is the only guest feature on the album, continuing a friendship and musical partnership that stretches back decades.
“We’ve done a couple of album tracks [before],” Iommi tells Rolling Stone. “He’s a very, very close friend.”
May previously contributed an electric guitar solo to Black Sabbath’s Tony Martin-fronted album Headless Cross, appearing on “When Death Calls.” More than a decade later, he reunited with Iommi for the guitarist’s 2000 solo album Iommi, playing alongside Dave Grohl on “Goodbye Lament.”
Their latest collaboration, “Death Awake,” continues that relationship — although Iommi says there could have been even more.
“I did say to him, ‘Do you want to play on something else?’” he recalls. “He said, ‘No, no. Your solos are good. I don’t need to play.’”
