Tony Iommi Shocks Fans With Surprise Appearance at the Black Sabbath Ballet

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi made a surprise appearance at the finale of Black Sabbath – The Ballet earlier this week, joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet on stage for a rousing performance of Paranoid at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. The unexpected moment was captured and shared by Queen guitarist Brian May, who praised his longtime friend’s performance.

“Wow!” May exclaimed. “The true father of heavy metal making that beautiful axe sing like a bird tonight at Sadler’s Wells. Tony Iommi, plus a 40-piece orchestra and a cast of 50 dancers, putting the icing on the cake of a great production of Black Sabbath – The Ballet. Proud to call this infinitely modest and generous genius my friend.”

From Birmingham to the World Stage

The ballet’s London dates follow its sold-out premiere in Birmingham and a string of successful UK performances throughout 2023. The production expanded internationally in 2024, culminating in its U.S. debut at the Virginia Arts Festival earlier this year.

For its 2025 revival, the production has been reimagined with new audio segments, including exclusive interviews with Sharon Osbourne, the band’s longtime manager and wife of the late frontman Ozzy Osbourne, as well as heartfelt commentary from dedicated Black Sabbath fans.

A Louder, Sharper Revival

The Birmingham Royal Ballet has promised audiences an upgraded experience this year, boasting “revised, sharpened sound design” that will be “turned up to full volume for this electric night of dance and rock that audiences have never experienced before.”

Black Sabbath – The Ballet continues its run with three final performances at Sadler’s Wells, before heading north for four shows at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, where a limited number of tickets remain available.