Black Sabbath and Philosophy: Mastering Reality

  What personal and cultural conditions led Black Sabbath to create heavy metal? What makes Sabbath sound evil? Is evil in the ear of the beholder? Is it still Black Sabbath without Ozzy? How can Black Sabbath and existentialism help you to face your demons? Black Sabbath is one of the world′s most influential and enduring bands. Dubbed "the Beatles of heavy metal" by Rolling Stone , they helped to define a genre with classic songs like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” songs whose lyrics reveal hidden depth and philosophical insight. Confronting existential despair, social instability, political corruption, the horrors of war, and the nature of evil, this book explores the wide range of profound ideas in the band′s music and lyrics to help you understand Black Sabbath as never before. From Aristotle and Nietzsche to Schopenhauer and Marx, this book brings some of history′s heaviest thinkers to bear on the band′s music. So . . . can you help me, occupy my brain? Yes! Start reading Black Sabbath and Philosophy .

Introduction: “What Is This That Stands Before Me?” x Acknowledgments: They Sold Their Souls for Rock ‘n’ Roll xii Part I Necessary Evil 1 1 Beyond Good and Evil: Facing Your Demons With Black Sabbath and Existentialism 3 William Irwin 2 Masters of a Better Possible Reality: Conquering Evil With Love 12 Liz Stillwaggon Swan 3 “Is It the End, My Friend?” Black Sabbath ’ s Apocalypse of Horror 20 Brian Froese Part II Playing Devil ’ s Advocate 31 4 Black Sabbath and the Sound of Evil 33 Joel McIver 5 The Worst of All Possible Worlds: Schopenhauer Meets Sabbath 41 James Heathers 6 Tony Iommi ’ s Hand of Doom: From Plastic Fingertips to Creative Freedom 51 Ken Pepper Part III The Dark Art of Metal 61 7 The Art of Black Sabbath: Aristotle Joins the Band 63 Greg Littmann 8 Black Sabbath and the Problem of Defining Metal 76 Søren R. Frimodt–Møller 9 Saint Vitus Dance: The Art of Doom 87 Manuel Bremer and Daniel Cohnitz 10 Gods, Drugs, and Ghosts: Finding Dionysus and Apollo in Black Sabbath and the Birth of Heavy Metal 96 Dennis Knepp Part IV Is It Still Sabbath Without Ozzy? 111 11 It ’ s Not Sabbath Unless Ozzy ’ s the Singer (But It ’ s Fine If You Disagree) 113 James Bondarchuk 12 Fightin’ Words: Sabbath Doesn ’ t Need the Ozzman 126 Wesley D. Cray 13 The Name Remains the Same—But Should It? 140 Mark D. White Part V Symptoms of The Universe 149 14 Wicked World: The Politics of the Supernatural in Black Sabbath 151 Erich Christiansen 15 “Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen”: Is Ozzy Going Insane? 163 Kevin McCain 16 “As the War Machine Keeps Turning”: Just War Theory, Pacifism, and the War on Terror 171 Jacob M. Held 17 Stop Stereotyping Sabbath: Sex, Subjugation, and Stupidity 182 Robert Arp Contributors: Children of the Grave 190 Index: The Writ 195

William Irwin is professor of philosophy at King’s College in Pennsylvania. Irwin originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy in 1999. Irwin has also co–edited The Simpsons and Philosophy and edited The Matrix and Philosophy and Metallica and Philosophy . He is currently the General Editor of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series.

“This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, shedding a lot of light on the members, music, and society with regards to everything from religion to family.”  ( Sacramento Book Review , 1 June 2013) “This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, shedding a lot of light on the members, music, and society with regards to everything from religion to family.”  ( City Book Review , 1 March 2013) “Black Sabbath & Philosophy is a wholly absorbing read large . . . A long–overdue work, and a rewarding one both for fans and those curious about the philosophical gravity behind all those murky riffs.”  ( PopMatters , 11 January 2013) “Much like Black Sabbath themselves, this wide–ranging, amusing book entertains and makes your brain ache in equal measure.”  ( Record Collector , 1 December 2012) “A book to dip into, that will get you thinking and almost certainly have you going back and listening to your old Black Sabbath albums in a different light. Highly recommended.”  ( Get Ready to Rock , 20  November 2012)