Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

In an industrial accident at the age of 17 on his last day of work in a sheet metal factory, Iommi lost the tips of the middle and ring finger of his right hand. Iommi contemplated quitting the guitar after the incident, but eventually figured out how to play again with the aid of thimbles to extend his fingers. He would go on to form Black Sabbath, and invent the heavy metal guitar riff in the process.