Well after more than 30 years of listening to and admiring my guitar hero Mr Tony Iommi, this past May 19th 2007,  I finally got a chance to meet him.

I always wanted a copy of his SG that he used in the early days of Sabbath and I determined to make one. I acquired a 1964 SG Special that was a beater and restored it along with the mods that were done to Tony's guitar. Along the way I had help via email with Tony's current Guitar Tech,   Mr. Mike Clement. Mike filled me in on a lot of details to make this guitar as close to the original.

He also told me that the original was on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. I took a trip into the city and with permission for the Hard Rock Manager I took over 50 close up photo's for reference. Well almost 2 years in the making it was finished. I mentioned to Mike if he would be so kind as to show Tony the pictures. Mike replied a week later and told me that Tony was impressed and liked it a lot. My reply to his was how great it would be to meet Tony and let him see it in person. Mike arranged for me to get back stage when Heaven & Hell was in New Jersey for a show at the PNC Bank Art Center.

Let me tell you, I was like a kid at Christmas meeting Santa for the first time. We talked for almost 45 minutes, He checked out the SG and he was very impressed. I felt "10 feet tall" when Tony said " Maybe you should take this to Gibson and show them how it's done"  That was in reference too a comment Tony made that Gibson was talking about making a Custom Shop version of his "Monkey SG"

Of course while I had the guitar there I had Tony autograph it along with the pickguard for my Gibson Custom Shop Tony Iommi Signiture SG

As an added bonus, while talking with Tony in his dressing room, in walked Mr.Geezer Butler. He too was very impressed with my SG, so impressed that he jokingly asked if he could keep it .

This was an experience of a lifetime, something I don't think i'll ever forget.

Last but not least, My utmost Sincere Thanks goes out to Mike Clement, Tonys hard working Guitar Tech. Without him this meeting with Tony would NEVER have been possible.

THANK YOU MATE AND CHEERS !

Here is the link to the  "Start to Finish" Photo's

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v123/brucewayne131/64%20SG%20Special/

 

The Guitar that started it all:

 

The person who made it all possible, Mike Clement, Tony's Guitar Tech

 

Tony with the "Monkey SG" copy

 

Me and Tony

Tony autographing the Custom Shp SG Pickguard

Geezer Butler

 

Back Stage Photos:

 Tony's main SG aka "Old Boy"

 

Laney Amp rack along with Effects Rack

 

The original Monkey SG at the Hard Rock Cafe