Synopsis
Ozzy and Black Sabbath: What Evil Lurks by Joel McIver is an unofficial tribute that offers a vivid, visually rich exploration of the life and career of Ozzy Osbourne and the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Published in 2023 to coincide with Ozzy’s 75th birthday, this large-format, hardcover book combines engaging narrative with a wealth of full-color concert and offstage photography, reproductions of tickets, album covers, posters, and other memorabilia, providing a comprehensive look at the band’s legacy and Osbourne’s larger-than-life persona. McIver, a prolific hard rock and metal author known for his work with publications like Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and Metal Hammer, as well as his editorship of Bass Player magazine, draws on his deep knowledge of the genre to craft a detailed account of Black Sabbath’s rise from their gritty Birmingham roots to global stardom, while also delving into Ozzy’s solo career and personal evolution. The book is designed as a collectible, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers, with its high-quality design and focus on behind-the-scenes stories that illuminate the band’s creative process and the development of Ozzy’s iconic “Prince of Darkness” persona.
The narrative begins in 1968, when Black Sabbath formed in Birmingham, England, as a blues rock outfit on the local cover circuit. McIver traces the band’s origins in the postwar, bombed-out suburbs of Aston, where guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward—four working-class friends—forged a new sound that would define heavy metal. The book details their early years experimenting with dark, heavy riffs and socially conscious lyrics, leading to the creation of seminal albums like Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality. McIver explores how songs like “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” came to be, emphasizing the band’s innovative approach to music and their ability to channel the bleakness of their surroundings into a genre-defining sound. The narrative captures the drama and fan mania surrounding their rise, including the chaos of their early tours and the intense camaraderie and conflicts among the members. It also highlights Ozzy’s development as a charismatic, unpredictable frontman, whose wild stage antics and larger-than-life personality became central to the band’s identity.
McIver doesn’t shy away from the band’s turbulent history, covering the highs and lows of their career across eleven different lineups and nineteen studio albums, as well as the twenty-eight solo albums from the original four members. The book delves into the pivotal moment of Ozzy’s dismissal in 1979 due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, which led to his solo career and the band’s continuation with vocalists like Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, Dave Donato, Ray Gillen, and Tony Martin. McIver provides substantial attention to these lesser-known eras, particularly the Dio and Tony Martin years, which are often overlooked by fans fixated on the Ozzy era. The narrative also covers Ozzy’s solo career in the 1980s and 1990s, detailing his work with guitarists like Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Gus G, and the pivotal role of his wife and manager, Sharon, who helped steer his career after their marriage. McIver notes the band’s various reunions, including the late 1990s reunion with Bill Ward and the final tour in 2016 without him, offering a balanced perspective on the band’s evolving dynamics.
The book also addresses the personal and professional challenges faced by the band, including the impact of drugs and alcohol, which contributed to the 1979 split with Ozzy, and the internal tensions driven by egos and mismanagement. McIver’s storytelling is enriched with anecdotes, such as Ozzy’s indirect praise of Ritchie Blackmore by expressing a preference for hiring lesser-known, hungry guitarists, and rare insights into the band’s creative process, like the crafting of their iconic songs. The inclusion of a detailed discography, a family tree tracing the band’s lineup changes, and previously unseen photos adds depth, making it a treasure trove for fans. While some longtime fans note that the book offers few new revelations compared to Ozzy’s and Tony Iommi’s autobiographies, its strength lies in its comprehensive scope and visual appeal, with high-quality images that capture the band’s raw energy and cultural impact. Critics point out minor flaws, such as occasional spelling errors or brief treatments of certain albums, but the book is widely praised as a must-have for Black Sabbath enthusiasts, offering a thorough, engaging, and visually stunning tribute to the band that created heavy metal and Ozzy’s enduring legacy as a rock icon.