Unreleased Tony Iommi Tracks Discovered by Police Detective in Abandoned Birmingham Flat
Birmingham, UK — May 18, 2025
In an unexpected turn of events, a West Midlands Police detective investigating a routine trespassing call stumbled upon a trove of unreleased recordings believed to be from legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. The discovery was made late Friday evening in an abandoned apartment on the outskirts of Birmingham, near Handsworth — Iommi’s hometown.
Detective Inspector Rachel Morgan was responding to reports of unauthorized entry into a derelict property slated for demolition when she discovered a locked metal trunk tucked away beneath a crumbling staircase. Inside were several reel-to-reel tapes, cassette recordings, handwritten notes, and photographs dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“We expected squatters or vandals,” Morgan said in a press briefing Saturday morning. “What we found instead appears to be an untouched archive of musical history.”
Authorities have confirmed that the tapes were labeled with dates and song titles not recognized from Iommi’s known discography. Early assessments by music historians and audio engineers suggest the recordings may include demos, alternative versions, and previously unknown compositions, some potentially recorded during the transitional years between Black Sabbath’s original and later lineups.
The origin of the material and how it came to be stored in the flat remains under investigation. Police are working with Iommi’s management team, who issued a brief statement confirming their awareness of the discovery.
“We are reviewing the contents with interest and care. If the recordings are genuine, this could be a significant addition to Tony’s legacy,” the statement read.
Local music fans and historians have already begun to speculate on the potential impact of the find. “It’s like discovering lost pages of the Bible — for rock and metal fans,” said Darren Clarke, a Birmingham-based music journalist. “The possibility of hearing new material from Iommi, especially from his experimental phases, is thrilling.”
The tapes are currently in secure custody while authenticity and ownership rights are determined. West Midlands Police have stated there is no evidence of criminal activity associated with the recordings at this time.
If verified and cleared for release, the songs could represent one of the most important archival discoveries in recent rock history.
