As every rock fan knows, 2016 was a painful year and in December the hits continued as we received news that Black Sabbath six-stringer Tony Iommi would be undergoing surgery to remove a lump in his throat, uncertain if it was cancerous. The heavy metal pioneer is glad to report that the surgery was not only successful, but that the lump was found to be benign!

“I went in for the throat (operation) – they found a lump at the back of my sinus in the throat and we had to have it checked in case it may have been cancerous," Iommi told Planet Rock in an interview conducted for a song he recently penned for the Birmingham Cathedral. “But it turns out it wasn’t," he continued, adding, "which I found out on Christmas Day, which is brilliant! So far (I’m all good). I daren’t say that - I’ll probably fall down the stairs now!”

This is tremendous news for the guitarist who has been touring heavily as Black Sabbath embarked on their farewell tour over the last year. Iommi had previously stated the reason for Sabbath's retirement was ultimately due to the grueling life on the road in conjunction with ongoing treatment for lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with in 2012.

Black Sabbath will perform their final two shows ever in early February in their hometown of Birmingham, England, where they boldly began nearly 50 years ago, ultimately changing the face of music forever.

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