Watch Armenian musicians cover Black Sabbath as Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan look on

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Tony Iommi and Deep Purple's Ian Gillan were recognised for their charity work in Yerevan and watched as the Naregatsi Orchestra cover Black Sabbath's She's Gone

Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan in 2011 (Image credit: Will Ireland - Classic Rock Magazine/Future Publishing)

Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan were guests in the Armenian capital of Yerevan yesterday where they were recognised for their fundraising efforts.

The pair joined forces with a host of other musicians in 1989 to record a cover of Deep Purple classic Smoke On The Water to raise money for charity after a devastating earthquake decimated the city of Spitak the year before.

An estimated 40,000 people lost their lives during the disaster, with Iommi and Gillan coming together again in 2011 with Nicko McBrain, Jason Newsted, Mikko Lindstrom and Jon Lord for the two-track single Out Of My Mind/Holy Water to raise further funds for Rock Aid Armenia.

Rolling Stone report that Iommi and Gillan, who worked together in Black Sabbath on 1993’s Born Again album, attended the event with Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, along with Jon Dee who was behind the Smoke On The Water charity single.

While there, the Naregatsi Orchestra performed a cover of Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy track She's Gone – video of which can be watched below.

Later, Iommi posted a photo of himself, Gillan and Dee with the orchestra and said: Great day here in Armenia, Ian and I have just been with the Naregatsi Orchestra."

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.