BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL guitarist Tony Iommi told Tim Masters of BBC News that he is making a good recovery after receiving stem-cell treatment on an injured hand.

"It's coming on alright actually," the acclaimed guitarist told the BBC at the Classic Rock Awards on Monday.

"I've already had the stem-cell treatment, so I've just got to wait now. It's been six weeks but it's feeling great."

Iommi had been in pain after problems with his right hand joints.

He told the BBC Radio 2 "Radcliffe and Maconie Show" in October that the cartilage had worn out between the joints.

"It was bone to bone and it was getting a bit painful," he said.

Iommi had his hand strapped up at the rock awards, but said he was still able to pick up his guitar.

"No, I can play! " he said. "I'm just wearing this now because if people shake your hand I don't want to push it, I want to take it easy for a bit.

"But it's been really good, and I'm glad I went that route before having any kind of operation."

Other guitarists at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards praised Iommi's skill.

"Tony's been tremendous because he lost the end of a couple of his fingers — so even more power to him to come through that and become one of the legends of metal," said IRON MAIDEN's Janick Gers.

Read more from BBC News.

Photo below courtesy of Tony Iommi's MySpace page.