Earlier this week, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi revealed that he is the man behind Armenia’s song entry into the Eurovision song contest.
Dorians frontman Gor Sujyan's "Lonely Planet" was selected at a Saturday, March 2 national vote to be performed at Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden. The identity of the song's composers — Iommi (music) and Vardan Zadoyan (lyrics) — had been kept secret for a while.
Now, Iommi is sharing more details about his involvement in the contest.
The Sabbath founder said it had been a "new experience" for him.
"I've done a lot of things, but never that," Iommi tells the BBC. “The thing is, I've always thought, 'oh no, not the Eurovision', and here I am in it now."
Iommi was one of several rock stars who helped fund raise after the 1988 earthquake in Spitak, which killed up to 45,000 people and left a further 500,000 homeless.
He said he had gone back to the country a couple of years ago with Queen guitarist Brian May to see what had been done since, and the stars then got involved in another campaign to raise money to rebuild a music school there.
Through those connections, representatives from the Armenian Eurovision entry got in touch with Iommi to ask if he could write a song.
"I first said, 'oh God, I don't know' - it seemed really strange, me doing a Eurovision song, I don't usually do that," he said. "But I said, 'I've got a rock ballad, I'll send it over."
Iommi and Sabbath will release their new album, “13,” this June.
See also:
Black Sabbath guitarist behind Armenian Eurovision song entry
Black Sabbath extend Australian tour
Black Sabbath and Queen guitarists to team up for album
Black Sabbath release studio footage
VIDEO: Black Sabbath returns to the studio preview
Black Sabbath: New album signals return to band’s roots
Black Sabbath: New album update
Black Sabbath bassist talks new album and tour
Black Sabbath: Watch New Zealand, Australia TV commercials
Ozzy Osbourne injured in house fire
Black Sabbath – 13 album to be released in June
PHOTO: Black Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne in the studio
Birmingham Airport plays down Ozzy Osbourne name change
PHOTO: Ozzy Osbourne and his granddaughter
The Rolling Stones lead list of Rockers To Watch in 2013
Black Sabbath tops UK T-shirt charts
Bid to rename Birmingham Airport after Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne talks Black Sabbath Vol. 4 on In The Studio
Happy Holidays from Ozzy Osbourne
Happy Holidays from Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath update from Tony Iommi
Black Sabbath guitarist joins National Guitar Museum Board
PHOTO: Ozzy Osbourne records vocals for Black Sabbath album
PHOTO: Ozzy Osbourne at Black Sabbath photo shoot
Black Sabbath sell out first New Zealand show in 40 years
Black Sabbath: New album update from Ozzy Osbourne
Black Sabbath: Ozzfest Japan 2013 update
Black Sabbath announce New Zealand concert date
Black Sabbath issue studio update
Black Sabbath: The Vinyl Collection 1970-1978 unboxing video
Black Sabbath named Most Important British Metal Act Of All Time
Black Sabbath issue new album update
Black Sabbath: The Vinyl Collection 1970-1978 box set announced
VIDEO: Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train by Broadway’s Rena Strober & Tina Guo
Black Sabbath: Tony Iommi’s Iron Man released on paperback
Black Sabbath: Ozzfest Japan 2013 update
Black Sabbath, Slipknot confirmed for Ozzfest Japan 2013
Black Sabbath announce Australian tour, confirm album release
Black Sabbath: Australian tour announcement due on Halloween?
Ozzfest Japan announced
VIDEO: Black Sabbath classic covered by 10-year old girl
Black Sabbath And Philosophy: Mastering Reality book available
Black Sabbath album update
Black Sabbath to tour Australia in 2013
Ozzy Osbourne’s son Jack marries in Hawaii
Ozzy Osbourne’s son Jack to get married this weekend
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi named Greatest Metal Guitarist
VIDEO: Black Sabbath guitarist remembers Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham
Metallica top Rolling Stone’s Greatest Heavy Metal Albums poll
Black Sabbath goalie mask tribute unveiled
VIDEO: Watch complete Black Sabbath set at Lollapalooza
Black Sabbath: Lollapalooza interview to air on SiriusXM
VIDEO: Black Sabbath rock Lollapalooza
VIDEO: Black Sabbath share Paranoid from Birmingham concert
VIDEO: Ozzy Osbourne rocks Crazy Train on new live DVD
Zakk Wylde names new son after Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath remains open for Bill Ward’s return
Ozzy Osbourne cancels German concert due to vocal issues
Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
AUDIO: Black Sabbath – Hear complete Download concert
VIDEO: Anthrax cover Black Sabbath classic
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne to air on Showtime
VIDEO: Black Sabbath rock Download festival
VIDEO: Black Sabbath say door is open for drummer’s return
VIDEO: Slash joins Ozzy Osbourne for Black Sabbath classics in Sweden
Black Sabbath have 15 songs written for new album
VIDEO: Slash joins Ozzy Osbourne for Black Sabbath classics in Oslo
VIDEO: Slash joins Ozzy Osbourne for Black Sabbath classics in Norway
VIDEO: Little Ozzy Osbourne performs on America’s Got Talent
VIDEO: Black Sabbath – Watch complete Birmingham reunion concert
Black Sabbath guitarist comments on semi-reunion show
Black Sabbath drummer responds to bassist’s statement
Black Sabbath drummer requested image removal from band website
VIDEO: Black Sabbath rock Birmingham
