Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi recently discussed his upcoming album, From the Dark, and explained why his former bandmate Geezer Butler does not appear on the record, in an interview with Kerrang!.
Iommi explained that while he initially wanted Butler to play bass on the album, logistical issues and a desire to keep the recording process local led him to work with bassist Becky Baldwin instead.
“I could have got anyone, but it wanted to try and keep it Birmingham,” Iommi said. “I wanted Geezer originally to play on it, but he couldn’t do it. He was in LA, and he couldn’t get over at that time.”
He also noted that he preferred to record in person rather than sending files back and forth, and wanted to avoid comparisons to Black Sabbath.
“I didn’t want to send tapes out and record it there and then send it back and all that stuff,” he continued. “I wanted to be in one spot. I wanted it to be like a band situation. And I suppose if he’d played, people would have just gone, ‘Oh, it’s not Black Sabbath.’ Well, no, it’s not Black Sabbath.”
Instead, Iommi recruited Becky Baldwin, whose playing style and attitude fit the project perfectly.
“I wasn’t familiar with her at first, but she’s really good,” Iommi added. “She’s a big fan of Geezer and his style of playing, and she plays finger-style stuff. I like that. So we got her over, and it all works well, you know. I mean, she was nervous at first, and I did throw her in the deep end. I played this song, and it all just worked. It was a great vibe with everyone, which was important.”
Ultimately, Iommi emphasized that the project was driven by his personal enjoyment of making music.
“I’m not trying to prove anything with this,” he concluded. “It’s something that I just enjoyed doing.”
The album’s wider lineup and Baldwin’s background place the project in a broader context beyond its connection to Black Sabbath. Iommi has framed the record as a casual, self-contained effort rather than a reunion of former bandmates.
From the Dark is scheduled for release on Friday, October 23, 2026, through BMG. The album features vocalist Jørn Lande, who shares songwriting credits on all of its tracks, alongside bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil. Iommi described the sessions plainly, saying that the process was “all very casual.”
