"Tony is one of those guys who inspires everyone," said Slash, 49, who was born Saul Hudson in Stoke-on-Trent but now lives in Los Angeles. "I was brought up on Black Sabbath and he is one of the best rock and roll guitarists out there. As a fellow player, I can really appreciate all the nuances of his technique - he is one hell of a guitar player."

"This is the man who invented heavy metal in Birmingham and created Sabbath, a brand nobody can touch," he added. "Everyone you meet in rock circles will tell you that they were inspired by Black Sabbath and the band's influence is immeasurable.