# Tony Iommi's Prosthetic Guitar Fingers

> Tony Iommi describes how his prosthetic fingertips cause blood-splatter injuries while playing guitar.
- Title: Tony Iommi's Prosthetic Guitar Fingers · Guitar World
- Summary: Tony Iommi describes how his prosthetic fingertips cause blood-splatter injuries while playing guitar. Tony Iommi's prosthetic fingertips can slice through…
- Keywords: tony iommi, prosthetic fingertips, black sabbath, guitar, string injury, blood spill, Tony, Iommi's, Prosthetic, Fingers, Guitar World
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tony-iommi-on-the-difficulties-of-playing-with-prosthetic-fingertips
- Published: 2026-10-15T13:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tony iommi, prosthetic fingertips, black sabbath, guitar, string injury, blood spill
## Tony Iommi's Fingertip Injury
Tony Iommi lost the ends of his middle and ring fingers at age 17 in a machinery accident.
## Prosthetic Fingertips Solution
Iommi uses custom prosthetic fingers made from leather strips and glued onto his right hand.
## Prosthetic Maintenance
Iommi changes the leather parts every couple of weeks to keep his fingertips in shape.
## String Injury Incident
Iommi's fingers sliced through a guitar string, causing blood spills during a performance.

> I fretted a string and it sliced right through my finger. There was blood all over the place.
## Adaptation Strategy
Iommi uses his little finger to play guitar when his prosthetics fail.
## Key takeaway

Tony Iommi's prosthetic fingertips can slice through guitar strings, causing blood spills during performances.