Nearly 40 years of drugs, depression, booze, the Beast, and paranoia are laid out in unflinching detail in this journey into the wicked world of Black Sabbath. With numerous albums that are routinely on "best of" lists, an influence on contemporary acts that cannot be overstated, and an original lineup—fronted by the infamously addled Ozzy Osbourne—that continues to tour, Black Sabbath still fills coliseums and amphitheaters all over the world. Through rare and previously unpublished interviews, documents, and artifacts spanning the band's entire career, readers get an all-access pass to Sabbath's manic history, from bat-biting to rehab. The book contains new and never-before-seen photos and conversations that shed more light on metal's dark forefathers. Every album is cataloged, every song pored over, and every tour deconstructed—making this headlong rush down metal-memory lane the definitive reference to the band.

Martin Popoff's profile page

Martin Popoff is the author of 14 books, including two volumes of The Collectors Guide to Heavy Metal, Contents Under Pressure, and The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

"Popoff's look at [Black Sabbath] takes on a slightly new perspective, and that makes it a worthwhile read."  —Curled Up With a Good Book

"A great book, easily leapfrogging past other Sabbathologies to the head of the field."  —Ink 19 Magazine

"A must for Sabbath fans . . . all fans of rock literature should check this out."  —PiercingMetal.com

"His book goes deep, but never leaves the reader bored or overwhelmed. The excellent photos give reinforcement to the story Popoff reveals."  —Maximum Ink

"A thorough history of the band and the music. . . . A must-read for new and old Sabbath fans."  —Universal Wheels