More about: Black Sabbath
Tommy Iommi has paid tribute to the man who contributed on bass and guitar, as well as keys
Best known as Sabbath’s keyboard player, Nicholls joined the band in 1979, initially as a backup guitarist to Tommy Iommi. He briefly replaced Geezer Butler on bass but then, when Butler rejoined the band, the talented bastard switched to keys in time for 1980’s Heaven and Hell.
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Although he was only intermittently an official member of the band, Nicholls played on each of the band’s 10 albums and every tour thereafter, up to 2004. He had previously played in heavy metal band Quartz before leaving for Sabbath, and later played with former Sabbath singer Tony Martin.
In an unusual career turn, he was also Bongo the drummer in the first series of ITV children’s show Animal Kwackers.
In a brief tribute, Iommi wrote on Facebook: “I'm so saddened to hear the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends Geoff Nicholls. He's been suffering for a while now with lung cancer and he lost his battle this morning. Geoff and I have always been very close and he has been a real true friend to me and supported me all the way for nearly 40 years. I will miss him dearly and he will live in my heart until we meet again.”
More about: Black Sabbath
Photo: Still
