90000

9 781118 397596

ISBN 978-1-118-39759-6

William irWin is professor of philosophy at Kings 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.

Black Sabbath is one of the worlds 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 bands 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 historys heaviest thinkers to bear on the bands music. So . . . can you help me, occupy my brain? Yes! Start reading Black Sabbath and Philosophy.

PHILOSOPHY/POP CULTURE

To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, visit www.andphilosophy.com

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?

IRWIN

EDITED BYIRWIN

S E R I E S E D I T O R : W I L L I A M I R W I N E D I T E D B Y

WILLIAM IRWIN

B L A C K W E L L P H I L O S O P H Y A N D P O P C U L T U R E S E R I E SThis book has not been approved, licensed, or sponsored

by any entity or person involved with Black Sabbath

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The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture SeriesSeries Editor: William Irwin

Edited by William Irwin

A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication

This edition first published 2013 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wileys global Scientific, Technical and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing.

Registered OfficeJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Black Sabbath and philosophy : mastering reality / edited by William Irwin. p. cm. (The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-118-39759-6 (pbk.) ISBN 978-1-118-39760-2 (emobi) ISBN 978-1-118-39761-9 (epub) 1. Black Sabbath (Musical group) 2. Music and philosophy. 3. Rock musicHistory and criticism. I. Irwin, William, 1970 ML421.B57B54 2012 782.421660922dc23

2012026658

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesCover design: Wendy Mount

Set in 10.5/13pt Sabon by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India

1 2013

Dedicated to Connie Santisteban, the muse of pop culture who has guided this book series

vii

Contents

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 3William Irwin

2 Masters of a Better Possible Reality: Conquering Evil With Love 12Liz Stillwaggon Swan

3 Is It the End, My Friend? Black Sabbaths Apocalypse of Horror 20Brian Froese

Part II Playing Devils Advocate 31

4 Black Sabbath and the Sound of Evil 33Joel McIver

5 The Worst of All Possible Worlds: Schopenhauer Meets Sabbath 41James Heathers

viii contents

6 Tony Iommis Hand of Doom: From Plastic Fingertips to Creative Freedom 51Ken Pepper

Part III The Dark Art of Metal 61

7 The Art of Black Sabbath: Aristotle Joins the Band 63Greg Littmann

8 Black Sabbath and the Problem of Defining Metal 76Sren R. Frimodt-Mller

9 Saint Vitus Dance: The Art of Doom 87Manuel Bremer and Daniel Cohnitz

10 Gods, Drugs, and Ghosts: Finding Dionysus and Apollo in Black Sabbath and the Birth of Heavy Metal 96Dennis Knepp

Part IV Is It Still Sabbath Without Ozzy? 111

11 Its Not Sabbath Unless Ozzys the Singer (But Its Fine If You Disagree) 113James Bondarchuk

12 Fightin Words: Sabbath Doesnt Need the Ozzman 126Wesley D. Cray

13 The Name Remains the SameBut Should It? 140Mark D. White

Part V Symptoms of The Universe 149

14 Wicked World: The Politics of the Supernatural in Black Sabbath 151Erich Christiansen

15 Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen: Is Ozzy Going Insane? 163Kevin McCain

16 As the War Machine Keeps Turning: Just War Theory, Pacifism, and the War on Terror 171Jacob M. Held

contents ix

17 Stop Stereotyping Sabbath: Sex, Subjugation, and Stupidity 182Robert Arp

Contributors: Children of the Grave 190

Index: The Writ 195

x

IntroductionWhat Is This That Stands

Before Me?

The tape would stop in the middle of N.I.B. whenever Ozzy sang My name is Lucifer, please take my hand. That was enough to convince my 13-year-old self that something sinister was at work. The play button would pop up, and I would freak out. Together the songs produced a witches brew of guilt, fear, fascination, and intoxication. Listening to Sabbath I felt that I was doing something forbidden yet necessary, like losing my virginity. Maybe I should have heeded the tapes ominous warning, but here I am 30 years later. Adolescent obsession has become adult appreciation.

We dont just listen to Black Sabbath; we are haunted by them. The music an