- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Pan; New Ed edition (4 Mar 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330411942
- ISBN-13: 978-0330411943
- Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 302,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
, 1 May, 2004
An entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the band whose employees knew them as 'Slack-Haddock'.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Classic Rock, May 2004
A happy and unchallenging meander through the defining years of heavy metal's greatest band. A warm and gentle read.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an absolutely wonderful book written by David Tangye & Graham Wright. There's been plenty of books on Black Sabbath before. Some good. Some not so good. This one falls in the category of being EXTREMELY GOOD. The difference between this book and the others on the Ozzy history of the band is the fact that this one was written by folks who were there. A lot of these things are written by people who retell stories, regurgitating things that are already out there. Not this one. David was Ozzy's personal assistant, and Graham was Bill Ward's assistant. So these stories are told from folks who lived them. There are some other stories by other folks who were involved with Sabbath directly as well.
This book goes into some areas of the band's history that have never been talked much about before. Specifically the days when they were known as Polka Tulk, as well as Earth. There's tons of stories about life on the road, the legendary "Satanist attacks Tony Iommi on stage with a knife" story, to one their hotel room doors being painted with a bloody red Cross, to the story about the band blowing out the candles of a group of Satanists in the hallway by singing "Happy Birthday" to 'em. There's other things, like Ozzy's first wife Thelma, and the kids Oz had with her. That's something that's almost never talked about. Graham tells stories about Bill's drive over the Australian Outback in 1974 for about 500 miles to avoid flying. And a few about how some vehicles ended up in swimming pools.
What's best about this book to me is that it's an easy free flowing style. I've read many books, and some are hard reads, but this was one that I could quite easily have read in one sitting, had I had that much time available when I read it. David & Graham are to be applauded for their work on the book, both in content and in style.
The only negative thing I have to say about it is that it's not the easiest book to get in the US. There's no direct US publisher that I'm aware of, and as such, it can be a bit expensive to get it here in the States. In fact, if you're in the US, it might be cheaper to buy it from the UK site That issue aside, I feel it's well worth it due to the quality of the stories and the writing in the book. You can't go wrong reading this if you're a fan of Black Sabbath.
Joe Siegler
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fun Sabs biography told from the perspective of two road crew members who were with the band during the classic Ozzy line-up years. Whilst there are many bizarre anecdotes, in keeping with the good natured lunacy of the band, what I found most interesting was the story of their formative years in Mythology and Earth plus the RARE concert and ephemera photos from that time. Although it may lack the more usual album/song analyses, it does give a different angle on the band and as such is worth reading. I have recently seen it in bargain bookshops as part of a budget pack with similar biogs of AC/DC and Status Quo, so if you're a Rocker, as I am, this might be the way to buy it. Get well soon Tony and come back Bill - I'd love to see you all in action again for a last hurrah!
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Absolutely essential for anyone with even a passing interest in Black Sabbath or its members. An accurate and warm telling of how four youths from Birmingham changed the face of Rock and Roll...Sure, they had their ups and downs, but unlike most other books concerning this band, 'How Black Was Our Sabbath' does not dwell on the negatives, but instead shows the band as they really were...Dedicated, hard working incredibly creative and finally...human. A story such as this, with such amazing detail, could only have been told by those who were close to the band and fans of Black Sabbath surely will give a collective "Bravo" for Dave Tangye and Graham Wright dispelling the misconceptions of this innovative band so long put forward as truth by so many different publications...
Pass on the rest...If you want to know about Black Sabbath, this is the only book you will ever need...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Heavy Metal Demons Exposed!!!
Having just read 'I Am Ozzy' autobiography,
I was interested to pick this book up to compare the road crews take on Black Sabbath, and the early Black Sabbath years covered in... Read more
I was interested to pick this book up to compare the road crews take on Black Sabbath, and the early Black Sabbath years covered in... Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by Danny Solloman
Needed more "rock and roll"
Whilst I enjoyed the book - and it is a pleasant read about one of the greatest metal bands of all time, I somehow was expecting a little more description of the excesses. Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by Simon Johns
Very Entertaining and Informative Read.
Just a quick line or two to say how much I enjoyed this book, Having read several other Rock Band memoirs, this one stands out the most. Read more
Published on 20 May 2007 by Rubin Ranzo
A Hard Road
Bought this on the strength of the recommendations here. Having read it, I have to give an alternate view. Read more
Published on 9 April 2007 by Supertzar
Fantastic Rock Adventure...
May I start by saying that this book is a most remarkable journey through the history of the originators of the term Heavy Metal. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2006 by Jac Pascall
Researched Well and an Interesting Read
Having just read an unauthorised biography on Ozzy, and enjoyed it so much, I decided to order this book. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2004 by S. Whitelock
great book!
i stumbled upon this book online by accident as, since it is " unauthorised" ,it has had no advertising what so ever! Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2004 by S. Mcminn
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