Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi: Group's line-up changes may never have happened had it not been for substance abuse

And though the Aston-born guitar star says 'it's hard to say what the result would have been like without drugs', he admits the narcotics and alcohol certainly took a 'toll'.

"With regards to the changes in line-ups, things may have been different if we’d not taken drugs," explained the 70-year-old Birmingham icon.

"In Ozzy’s case certainly - and Bill of course had issues with alcohol.

"When the band first broke up it was because we couldn’t relate to each other any more. Everybody was on a different planet.

"It was hard. We also had bad periods with management."

The metal legend, who now lives in Worcestershire, also says he believes the band's music was influenced by his working in a factory; with the industry of the second city feeding into the group's sound.

He says the disadvantaged area of Aston made the band work all the harder to succeed too - with the hopes of moving on to something better.

"The things that went on in Aston were things none of us wanted to be involved in, but it was where we lived and we couldn’t get out," added Tony.

"I worked in a factory and I think the industrial side of all that did have an influence on the music. It also made us work harder because none of us wanted to be there. We really wanted to pursue our passion for music.

"I won’t just accept things. I’ve had to battle all my life against different things."

The most recent battle Tony has been faced with was his lymphoma diagnosis back in 2012. And though he now says he feels a lot better, having kept on top of the disease with regular check-ups and treatment, it means the star struggles when it comes to touring.

"I feel fine now. But I never like to say brilliant," said Tony.

"I do have periods in the day when I have to just stop for 30 minutes and have a sleep, which was difficult when on the road. But when you get to our age it does become difficult.

"That’s why I stopped; because it’s also not good for me to fly as it affects my cells, due to the blood cancer.

"I really liked playing with the band and I miss being on stage with them. But unfortunately things happen that way."

Tony will reveal many tales from his colourful past with Sabbath and life beyond the band when he takes part in an intimate question-and-answer show at Birmingham Town Hall tomorrow night.

See Weekend tomorrow for a collection of tales from the icon ahead of the show.