I listened to this on Audio. Geezer narrated it with his Birmingham accent. It was very fun. I had no idea about a lot of this stuff. Especially how Ozzy could "shit on command"! He was like a feral animal and pissed and shitted on stuff! I couldn't help but laugh at how Tony was always lighting Bill Ward ON FIRE. Once he burned him so badly he had to go to HOSPITAL! Bill's Mom got involved and called Tony's Mom!! To make sure he stopped harming poor Bill Ward! Lots of other great anecdotes as well!
I was lucky to be at Geezer's book signing at Waterstones book shop in London. Very special to meet Geezer and have him sign his book. Absolute legend 🤘
Yes, it's short, but it's really well-written and leaves you wanting more. Perhaps the unexpurgated version, with the extra pages, will be available someday. I have no problem with Geezer saying harsh things about his band mates, because he is alo highly critical of himself. What Geezer writes seem to mostly agree with the behind-the-scenes info in the Mick Wall and Garry Sharpe-Young books, whereas Tony's accounts do seem more whitewashed. Something neither Geezer nor Tony say, but seems likely, reading between the lines, is that the money squabbles and such with Dio were easy to resolve once the drugs were out of the picture. All in all, I'm glad to have read this, and glad for Geezer's candor.
Great review chaps. I Have to say, Chris and Pete are my favourite tag-team on SoT. Totally stoked for the monthly Sabbath show; Chris is full of amazing Sabbath stories and facts, really looking forward to watching these. Keep up the great work guys!
I think from the Dio era to the end was so short because he wasn't super involved with music for a lot of those years. Off and on with Ozzy, back in Sabbath for a minute then the reunion with Dio. The bulk of his career was the early Sabbath days. I listened to it and finished it today. Was great hearing Geezer read his story. It went quick but it was great. Learned a lot and have even more respect for Geez!
I've never been in a band, but when you think about having to spend endless hours in the back of a van with the drummer with chronic BO, the guitarist who just copped off with your girlfriend and the singer who snores, it's a wonder they don't all go stark raving mad. In the topsy turvy world of rock 'n' roll, small differences of opinion and differing memories must get amplified to such a degree.
Everything you say is right. I was in a band in the 80's who toured all round the UK and Europe in the back of a van and the clashes of personalities and egos, the drink and drugs and unhealthy food would make the best of friends hate each other. You spend more time with your band than you do with your wife or girlfriend. We toured for 3 weeks, traveling every day and playing most nights and believe me at the end of the tour we wanted to kill each other. We were only a small band playing small venues, multiply the pressure and stress for a band like Black Sabbath by a million and you might be near. I admire any band together for decades, 4 years was enough for me...
I have interviewed hundreds and hundreds of rock stars. The #1 thing I have heard from so many of them is that "Being in a band is like being married to three other guys".
@@chrisalo2989 That is exactly right and a lot of the time it is like being married to three other guys you detest. The dynamics of being in a band are so complicated, keeping everyone happy is almost impossible.
monthly themed show on black sabbath! YES please. That is great news. Chris the king your review of the box set got me so excited I ordered it that night.
I thought the stories of Paul Stanley's childhood in his book was kind of interesting. Him having a facial difference with with a deformed ear and the crazy stuff with his sister and Dad....
@@jonrhythm3686 I looked up the episode it’s from 73, Archie is set to play his neighbor Irene in billiards, when he sees she has her own pool cue he tries to chicken out. Wait though, didn’t Gene Simmons say he invented it and Gene would never lie 😂
I actually read the book in one day, while on holiday in Toronto, last week, after seeing Niagara Falls. I enjoyed it and much of it was really funny; I'd thought Tony Iommi's one was really funny when I read it all those years ago, but this was just as funny. I heartily disagree with Pete and his guest about the childhood and early years of the artist. I actually find their childhood and early years to be the most thrilling part of the story because we see how a person developed into the person we know them as. I don't agree for a moment that their childhood stories are all the same. Sure, there are overlaps and similarities ~ but if any part of the story of a rocker can be said to "just be the same" as all the others, it's when they start making records and indulge in excess, management hassles, shitty parenting, groupies etc etc. And that's something that unites artists of every era and every genre. I'm currently reading Miles Davis' autobiography again and there's little difference between his life as a musician and Geezer Butler's. That, I find monotonous, unless it's told philosophically. I thought Geezer's descriptions of his youth were fascinating, partly because I also started off life in Aston, partly because he touches on the first Black and Asian immigrants coming to Birmingham ~ something that is a major part of my own history. I didn't particularly like reading about Ozzy's defacating all over the place, but Geezer did give an interesting insight from his own point of view of the band members and a number of people connected with the band. It was interesting to discover that he suffered from depression, right from when he was young. He didn't say too much about Bill Ward's drumming though, which I was a little nonplussed at. I also laughed when he said that Alvin Lee suggested they call the band Papa Sun. I always though Polka Tulk was a great name for a band ~ and it turns out it was the name of an Indian fabric store ! Overall, I enjoyed the book. He talked through many of the songs, but he also left out talking about many of them. I'd recommend it. It's certainly superior to John Wetton's abomination !!!
Just finished reading it on a United flight IAH to LAG... What a great book!? I'm a very lucky man, Geezer concludes it. His life philosophy reminds me much of Maca's. Much love for Geezer, Oz, Tony, and Bill here, in historic town Bay Ridge NY
I think, from what it sounds like, Geezer's relationship with Tony is very much like Mick and Keith or Gene and Paul, where it's a sort of "We're buddies, but MAN, you drive me crazy sometimes."
Great book, I really enjoyed reading it. I've now read all the Sabbath autobiographies (Ozzy and Tony) and each one is superb. Feel really privileged to have seen them live in Birmingham at their final gig.
Completely agree about the beginnings of these books, I'm just waiting for the moment they start talking about the band. Who their favourite teacher was, or whether they made the school football team holds zero interest.
Have it in my library of audiobooks but haven't listened to it yet. Nice when an audio-biography is actually read by the person the book is about... that doesn't happen often. Good thing I've done a lot of work in Birmingham ... so I can understand Brummie lol
I've always thought it would have been better if the Sabbath members had found time to do solo albums in the 70s. They would not have felt the need to make the albums '80s or 90s friendly'. Seems to me Geezer's solo projects are a case in point.
Got a signed edition. It’s very like Iommi’s book - too short! The last few decades is condensed into a few chapters. Well written and enjoyable - just missing detail.
ace, geezer rules....im from birmingham myself born and breed...seen geezer at the black sabbath bridge few yrs bk in town...all down to earth which is how it should be.... anyways i need to pick this book up. have ozzy/iommi ones... nice one...cheers.
I'm the opposite- I want to know the background. Particularly once they get into the success section, I start to lose interest. Rob Halford's Confess is still my favourite because it focuses on Rob himself rather than the facts I already know about the band. Maybe it's a Brummie thing, but as a fellow Brummie I don't get a sense Geezer is saying anything Tony wouldn't agree with As with the Devil Horns, that's Dio's move for sure (Gene Simmons can do one!) but it's easy to check if Ronnie was flashing the horns before Sabbath? I don't think Geezer is trying to claim anything about creating them other than to set the record straight as he sees it. Geezer being a Catholic, I wonder if the horns are connected given its a link between Italy and Birmingham?
@@shaunfulton7261 No review of a book has ever influenced me to not buy it, whether pro or anti. I do my own thinking and if I buy a book and it turns out to be rubbish {even if the reviewer said it was}, I just regard what I paid as the price of an education !!
Agree that Geezer really did not hold back. Tony did his book a couple of years after Dio passed and in hindsight, I think he held back on his recollections. Geezer paints Dio as being a great guy, but a egotistical control freak that we suspected he was in the 80's. I'll never lose the image of Gloria Butler grabbing Dio by the neck and shoving him against the wall over tour issues! It is a bit hypocritical that he ended up joining the band he dissed on the Cross Purposes album. I do side with him on his beef with the Sabbath name ownership. He sticks up for Bill and Ozzy in sections, but doesn't hold back on his distain for Ozzy's treatment of animals. I think I liked it a lot more than you both did and would probably give it a 9/10.
@johnapplegate1289 I know it all. But bury my head in sand about it...too sad a thought these great guys, Oz, Geezer, Maca, Townshend are ...old. .. and the don't make them lije that anymore. STP is one exception, per Me.
"It really is too bad that a band from that era, that has all four members still alive, couldn't just do one more show at the very least" I disagree. Let sleeping dogs lie, let old men live out their remaining years without having to pretend they're 25 again.
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle for Black Sabbath by Gary Sharpe Young is the best Sabbath book I have ever read. It ends unfortunately in like 1997. I was always hoping for a sequel, but the author passed away.
Ozzy Sh!t n Ice Machines ???? Whaaaaaaa ??? I know A dude that sometimes sh!ts in Urinals !!! But Ozzys got him beat.. Ice Machines ! Thats some " Cool Sh!t" !!!
I'd say bills book wouldn't be as good as it possibly could be because he's too much of a gentleman to spill any dirt on the others, hope he gets well soon if he is not well.
Maybe you didnt read the book too closely; Geezer specifically said he wanted a record of his life, including early years, that his family esp grandkids could read and learn about as he himself knew little of his parents and grandparents life. And that is why I am including that stuff in my shocker btw.
Great point. The whole point of an autobiography is to cover all bases that person feels is most important to them, not what a fan of said band, team or whatever wants to read. I really enjoyed it.
It is a quick read. While there are a lot of entertaining stories in the book, there is not a lot of depth or insight. I listened to the audiobook which was well done too.
OK book, worth a read, but did seemed rushed. I would have liked more details about and focus on the songwriting process---more about how Geezer wrote the lyrics (as noted by Pete), found inspiration, etc. More about the creativity of the band along with interesting facts, incidents, and anecdotes---less gossip about in-fighting or dirt about other members. I don't really care how much coke Tony did. I care more about how Geezer and Tony collaborated to create that amazing music, at least from the debut Black Sabbath (eponymous) album through Mob Rules. I think it's fine (good) that Geezer hangs it up when it comes to Sabbath. Everything has to end, and it's usually better for Rock bands to retire earlier than later, hopefully when they are on top or at least within reach. I think Sabbath should have stopped after the death of Dio (although Dehumanizer and The Devil You Know aren't up to par with Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules). Nice to see Ozzy at front again and the album and tour for 13 was OK, but something was lacking for me (and Rick Rubin was the wrong producer for that album... I miss Martin Birch). Just seemed like they kind of phoned it in. Finally, for me, it's not Black Sabbath without Bill Ward or Vinny Appice behind the kit. They had the right style and swing for Sabbath (especially Ward with his esoteric style), and Geezer always seemed to be most in the pocket with them.
The Martin Popoff Sabbath books are great. But my single favorite book is Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle for Black Sabbath by Garry Sharpe-Young. Unfortunately this book mostly covers 1979 to 1997.
@@frankjackson6241 "Black Sabbath" by Steven Rosen is a very good book, as is Martin Popoff's "Doom Let Loose." "Ozzy Osbourne - the stories behind the classic songs" by Carol Clerk goes through all the Sabbath songs of the Ozzy era and is damned good and highly informative.
@@chrisalo2989Hi Chris just wondering if keyboard and guitarist Jezz Woodroffe who played and toured with Sabbath from 75 to 77 Sabotage and Technical Ecstasy albums and tours is mentioned in any books. Enjoyed your comments 🤘
Geezers book probably skipped through the later years because of the publishers cutting the potential lawsuit-causing passages. About the devil horns, my first memory of that comes from Dr Strange comics.
@richardwillis6936 "Geezers book probably skipped through the later years because of the publishers cutting the potential lawsuit-causing passages" I think it's because it was plain boring !
The thing that troubles me the most about the book is all the stories of street fighting as if it were just a normal part of life. I know growing up in England was probably rough in the '50s and '60s but -- man, it makes them all seem like jerks to me. Also the pranks, especially Ozzy's shitting everywhere seems juvenile. I mean, SOMEONE has to clean that up. Someone is going to be disgusted. In what way is this fun? Why do we idolize this behavior?
Ronnie used to invite the audience to join him in Hell during Heaven and Hell. But Ian Gillan brought the real evil into Black Sabbath actually bringing 22 demons that hovered above the crowd during Disturbing the Priest. It makes sense considering how Satanic the Deep Purple album Fireball was . The Mule might be the most Evil song ever written. Bringing together 2 powerful Satanic Metal bands together was why Born Again was such a powerful album. One of the Heaviest Metal albums ever recorded
@@grimtraveller7923 the Devil told Ritchie Blackmore in 1984 at the Prague Airport that it was Time to reunite with the Coven, and that is why Deep Purple got back together. The song Perfect Strangers was written by Satan
A good review and I agree with both of your comments. You mentioned "other" books by "rock personalities" and all of the stuff that is not very interesting...a book that is full of that sort of stuff is Bruce Dickenson's "What does this button do" ...what a boring book, he spends way too much time about his flying "hobby" and says very little about his musical career with Maiden and solo...I don't recommend it....Sorry Bruce, love ya anyway...sing and write songs instead \m/
I only read it once, and was disappointed, maybe I'll give it another "spin" one of these days. I just received Brian Johnson's book, who is a very funny bloke...hopefully it will be good ??@@chrisalo2989
Love Sabbath but I'll probably skip this one. Sometimes it's disappointing to find out our musical heroes are children in adult bodies. Honestly it's a shame all four original guys arent equal owners of the band BS. Iommi really dropped the ball letting Ozzy/Sharon get 50% ownership when he wasn't even on 10 BS albums. Now I understand what Dio meant when he said "someone wanted to destroy this band and they did a very good job of it." Now we here the Tony Martin era left over songs cannot be released because nothing new from BS can come out and it all becomes clear.... it's just frustrating.
Read Ozzy's book first, awesome and Hilarious, loved it. Then read Tony's, so great...he told some amazing stories. Then was really looking forward to Geezer's...ehh, was kind of a let down. He's actually kind of whiney and comes off as kind of a wimp...I dunno, just my take maybe. Still love Sabbath though..And, I agree with Pete, I skipped the first 45 pages. Didn't care what his childhood was like haha....I'd give the book a B-
Black Sabbath name is owned by Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osborne 50/50 split business. The agreement is that 3 original band members must participate to call themselves Black Sabbath.
@@mikekeeler6362The only thing that was a possibility was Tony, Ozzy and Geezer playing the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham England 🇬🇧 closing ceremony. Geezer apparently got covid and injured his shoulder while on vacation so Adam Wakeman played bass guitar instead. Sabbath as a touring or recording band has retired. Cheers Mike 🍻
I found the book too short, too little info on the albums, not much info here that we didnt know already...........................Hey rock stars........................we dont care about your childhood when you write a book
Geezer made a living using Satan’s name but at the end of his book starts bitching about “The war on Christmas.” He also says he couldn’t get away with the lyrics he wrote these days because he would be “cancelled”. Compared to some hip hop and black metal his lyrics are pretty lightweight. I enjoyed his book (listened to the audiobook twice) but it’s sad to hear him repeating Fox words and phrases. There should be a Spinal Tap sequel where they show former rockers with their vineyards, polo ponies and red baseball hats.
I love these smaller panel shows. King Alo and Pete discussing Sabbath is about as good as it gets. Wonderful stuff.
And a very Happy Belated Birthday to Geezer Butler
I listened to this on Audio. Geezer narrated it with his Birmingham accent. It was very fun. I had no idea about a lot of this stuff. Especially how Ozzy could "shit on command"! He was like a feral animal and pissed and shitted on stuff! I couldn't help but laugh at how Tony was always lighting Bill Ward ON FIRE. Once he burned him so badly he had to go to HOSPITAL! Bill's Mom got involved and called Tony's Mom!! To make sure he stopped harming poor Bill Ward! Lots of other great anecdotes as well!
My favorite band Happy belated birthday Geezer
I was lucky to be at Geezer's book signing at Waterstones book shop in London. Very special to meet Geezer and have him sign his book. Absolute legend 🤘
I've been reading it and it's been a great read. Very interesting and a great read.highly recommend
Hands down the best book review I have seen on SoT!
Yes, it's short, but it's really well-written and leaves you wanting more. Perhaps the unexpurgated version, with the extra pages, will be available someday.
I have no problem with Geezer saying harsh things about his band mates, because he is alo highly critical of himself. What Geezer writes seem to mostly agree with the behind-the-scenes info in the Mick Wall and Garry Sharpe-Young books, whereas Tony's accounts do seem more whitewashed.
Something neither Geezer nor Tony say, but seems likely, reading between the lines, is that the money squabbles and such with Dio were easy to resolve once the drugs were out of the picture.
All in all, I'm glad to have read this, and glad for Geezer's candor.
Great review chaps. I Have to say, Chris and Pete are my favourite tag-team on SoT. Totally stoked for the monthly Sabbath show; Chris is full of amazing Sabbath stories and facts, really looking forward to watching these. Keep up the great work guys!
Read the book myself and its great hearing other people talk about it.
I think from the Dio era to the end was so short because he wasn't super involved with music for a lot of those years. Off and on with Ozzy, back in Sabbath for a minute then the reunion with Dio. The bulk of his career was the early Sabbath days. I listened to it and finished it today. Was great hearing Geezer read his story. It went quick but it was great. Learned a lot and have even more respect for Geez!
I've never been in a band, but when you think about having to spend endless hours in the back of a van with the drummer with chronic BO, the guitarist who just copped off with your girlfriend and the singer who snores, it's a wonder they don't all go stark raving mad. In the topsy turvy world of rock 'n' roll, small differences of opinion and differing memories must get amplified to such a degree.
Everything you say is right. I was in a band in the 80's who toured all round the UK and Europe in the back of a van and the clashes of personalities and egos, the drink and drugs and unhealthy food would make the best of friends hate each other. You spend more time with your band than you do with your wife or girlfriend. We toured for 3 weeks, traveling every day and playing most nights and believe me at the end of the tour we wanted to kill each other. We were only a small band playing small venues, multiply the pressure and stress for a band like Black Sabbath by a million and you might be near. I admire any band together for decades, 4 years was enough for me...
The Ramones did literally that & they HATED each other.
I have interviewed hundreds and hundreds of rock stars. The #1 thing I have heard from so many of them is that "Being in a band is like being married to three other guys".
@@chrisalo2989 That is exactly right and a lot of the time it is like being married to three other guys you detest. The dynamics of being in a band are so complicated, keeping everyone happy is almost impossible.
monthly themed show on black sabbath! YES please. That is great news. Chris the king your review of the box set got me so excited I ordered it that night.
Read the book. Great read. It would have been interesting to find out what the 50 odd pages said that Geezer had to take out!
Great discussion ! Black Sabbath (the band) R.I.P.
I thought the stories of Paul Stanley's childhood in his book was kind of interesting.
Him having a facial difference with with a deformed ear and the crazy stuff with his sister and Dad....
I saw the devil horns in an episode of All in the Family in the 70s, was a curse put on Archie Bunker by his neighbor Frank Lorenzo.
Interesting, and he being Italian too like Ronnie's grandma.
@@jonrhythm3686 I looked up the episode it’s from 73, Archie is set to play his neighbor Irene in billiards, when he sees she has her own pool cue he tries to chicken out. Wait though, didn’t Gene Simmons say he invented it and Gene would never lie 😂
Absolutely/ phenomenal news. King ALO/. Pete and Black SABBATH shows= grand slam homerun in 9️⃣ th inning. TREMENDOUS, thanks guys 👍💯
Yes King Alo! 🤘🏼
Fantastic book! A very enjoyable read and well written too.
I actually read the book in one day, while on holiday in Toronto, last week, after seeing Niagara Falls.
I enjoyed it and much of it was really funny; I'd thought Tony Iommi's one was really funny when I read it all those years ago, but this was just as funny.
I heartily disagree with Pete and his guest about the childhood and early years of the artist. I actually find their childhood and early years to be the most thrilling part of the story because we see how a person developed into the person we know them as. I don't agree for a moment that their childhood stories are all the same. Sure, there are overlaps and similarities ~ but if any part of the story of a rocker can be said to "just be the same" as all the others, it's when they start making records and indulge in excess, management hassles, shitty parenting, groupies etc etc. And that's something that unites artists of every era and every genre. I'm currently reading Miles Davis' autobiography again and there's little difference between his life as a musician and Geezer Butler's.
That, I find monotonous, unless it's told philosophically.
I thought Geezer's descriptions of his youth were fascinating, partly because I also started off life in Aston, partly because he touches on the first Black and Asian immigrants coming to Birmingham ~ something that is a major part of my own history.
I didn't particularly like reading about Ozzy's defacating all over the place, but Geezer did give an interesting insight from his own point of view of the band members and a number of people connected with the band. It was interesting to discover that he suffered from depression, right from when he was young. He didn't say too much about Bill Ward's drumming though, which I was a little nonplussed at.
I also laughed when he said that Alvin Lee suggested they call the band Papa Sun. I always though Polka Tulk was a great name for a band ~ and it turns out it was the name of an Indian fabric store !
Overall, I enjoyed the book. He talked through many of the songs, but he also left out talking about many of them.
I'd recommend it. It's certainly superior to John Wetton's abomination !!!
Just finished reading it on a United flight IAH to LAG... What a great book!? I'm a very lucky man, Geezer concludes it. His life philosophy reminds me much of Maca's. Much love for Geezer, Oz, Tony, and Bill here, in historic town Bay Ridge NY
I think, from what it sounds like, Geezer's relationship with Tony is very much like Mick and Keith or Gene and Paul, where it's a sort of "We're buddies, but MAN, you drive me crazy sometimes."
Bill Ward book Chapter 10 - 'Sabotage Leggings'
Great book, I really enjoyed reading it. I've now read all the Sabbath autobiographies (Ozzy and Tony) and each one is superb. Feel really privileged to have seen them live in Birmingham at their final gig.
Fun discussion. Right on
A monthly Sabbath show with King Alo would be sweet. Suggested name for the show Come to the Sabbath (yes I know that's Mercyful Fate but it works).
Ha! I had the exact same title in mind for the same reason.
And Come to the Sabbat was the billion selling 1970 Black Widow single
Completely agree about the beginnings of these books, I'm just waiting for the moment they start talking about the band. Who their favourite teacher was, or whether they made the school football team holds zero interest.
A name for the monthly Black Sabbath show: Children of the Sea of Tranquility. ;)
I really like the idea of Pete and Chris doing a regular Sabbath show. Hope it happens.
Have you seen there 3 hr,yes I said 3 hrs history of Black Sabbath?it's awesome,a few yrs old,it's on the channel
Have it in my library of audiobooks but haven't listened to it yet.
Nice when an audio-biography is actually read by the person the book is about... that doesn't happen often.
Good thing I've done a lot of work in Birmingham ... so I can understand Brummie lol
He does a great job too. Perfect conversational phrasing -- not the monotone I feared. You're going to enjoy it!
I've always thought it would have been better if the Sabbath members had found time to do solo albums in the 70s. They would not have felt the need to make the albums '80s or 90s friendly'. Seems to me Geezer's solo projects are a case in point.
Good review fellas, looking forward to the Sabbath shows! Sounds really interesting!
Got a signed edition. It’s very like Iommi’s book - too short! The last few decades is condensed into a few chapters. Well written and enjoyable - just missing detail.
ace, geezer rules....im from birmingham myself born and breed...seen geezer at the black sabbath bridge few yrs bk in town...all down to earth which is how it should be.... anyways i need to pick this book up. have ozzy/iommi ones... nice one...cheers.
I'm the opposite- I want to know the background. Particularly once they get into the success section, I start to lose interest.
Rob Halford's Confess is still my favourite because it focuses on Rob himself rather than the facts I already know about the band.
Maybe it's a Brummie thing, but as a fellow Brummie I don't get a sense Geezer is saying anything Tony wouldn't agree with
As with the Devil Horns, that's Dio's move for sure (Gene Simmons can do one!) but it's easy to check if Ronnie was flashing the horns before Sabbath? I don't think Geezer is trying to claim anything about creating them other than to set the record straight as he sees it. Geezer being a Catholic, I wonder if the horns are connected given its a link between Italy and Birmingham?
Thanks for your review guys. It has certainly made me pump the brakes on buying the book right away. Maybe I'll find a cheaper,used copy some day.
My thoughts too.
@@shaunfulton7261 No review of a book has ever influenced me to not buy it, whether pro or anti. I do my own thinking and if I buy a book and it turns out to be rubbish {even if the reviewer said it was}, I just regard what I paid as the price of an education !!
@@grimtraveller7923 I didn't ask, and I don't care. I've read almost every Sabbath book ever written. Now, take your opinion and shove it!
Agree that Geezer really did not hold back. Tony did his book a couple of years after Dio passed and in hindsight, I think he held back on his recollections. Geezer paints Dio as being a great guy, but a egotistical control freak that we suspected he was in the 80's. I'll never lose the image of Gloria Butler grabbing Dio by the neck and shoving him against the wall over tour issues!
It is a bit hypocritical that he ended up joining the band he dissed on the Cross Purposes album. I do side with him on his beef with the Sabbath name ownership. He sticks up for Bill and Ozzy in sections, but doesn't hold back on his distain for Ozzy's treatment of animals.
I think I liked it a lot more than you both did and would probably give it a 9/10.
It really is too bad that a band from that era, that has all four members still alive, couldn't just do one more show at the very least.
Yeah, you get in such band, and do it. Did you read the book? Miracle they didn't all go down in the mid 70s, baby
Have you seen Ozzy lately? He can barely walk.
@johnapplegate1289 I know it all. But bury my head in sand about it...too sad a thought these great guys, Oz, Geezer, Maca, Townshend are ...old. .. and the don't make them lije that anymore. STP is one exception, per Me.
"It really is too bad that a band from that era, that has all four members still alive, couldn't just do one more show at the very least"
I disagree. Let sleeping dogs lie, let old men live out their remaining years without having to pretend they're 25 again.
They have bad health
Great review guys! 😎👍
The Sabbath Spirit lives on when Tony Iommi puts out his solo album
🌠U Guys Rock ! Good Video !! Monday night ..long nite of video making...all good tho !!!
Nicely done, Guys 🤘🏻
Things happen for a reason and it happened to be destiny that Geezer met his wife at an airport because Bill Ward hardly showered.
It's always Rocky when you're in a rock band personalities collide
How can Geezer Butler claim to have invented the Devil Horns? There's a bunch of men doing it on Coven's first album 1968
Pete & Chris what is the best sabbath book you have read ?
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle for Black Sabbath by Gary Sharpe Young is the best Sabbath book I have ever read. It ends unfortunately in like 1997. I was always hoping for a sequel, but the author passed away.
Also I didnt know Tony Iommi was the tough guy of rock ready to knock someone out at drop of the hat.
Alo and Pardo = guaranteed great show.
50 - 70 more pages would of been perfect.
I thought it was just right, actually. But then, I'm biased towards the original 4.
I saw a picture in the sixties of The Beatles with John Lennon flashing the devil horns
Chris Alo must own at least the paper back, and hard cover editions
On Black Sabbath vol4 ozzy is doing the devil horns. Few years before Dio.
Actually, it's the V for victory sign that Ozzy is doing on Vol 4.
Victory sign Winston Churchill
Ozzy Sh!t n Ice Machines ???? Whaaaaaaa ??? I know A dude that sometimes sh!ts in Urinals !!! But Ozzys got him beat.. Ice Machines ! Thats some " Cool Sh!t" !!!
🌠Ozzy #2 in an ice machine..I was cracking up....not that surprising tho...
I'd say bills book wouldn't be as good as it possibly could be because he's too much of a gentleman to spill any dirt on the others, hope he gets well soon if he is not well.
What’s the name of the Ozzy book?
Devil horns were invented in 1951 Scrooge when death points to Scrooges tomb.
When you're in your mid 70s it's hard to keep playing
Maybe you didnt read the book too closely; Geezer specifically said he wanted a record of his life, including early years, that his family esp grandkids could read and learn about as he himself knew little of his parents and grandparents life. And that is why I am including that stuff in my shocker btw.
Good point, Harry.
Great point. The whole point of an autobiography is to cover all bases that person feels is most important to them, not what a fan of said band, team or whatever wants to read. I really enjoyed it.
It is a quick read. While there are a lot of entertaining stories in the book, there is not a lot of depth or insight. I listened to the audiobook which was well done too.
OK book, worth a read, but did seemed rushed. I would have liked more details about and focus on the songwriting process---more about how Geezer wrote the lyrics (as noted by Pete), found inspiration, etc. More about the creativity of the band along with interesting facts, incidents, and anecdotes---less gossip about in-fighting or dirt about other members. I don't really care how much coke Tony did. I care more about how Geezer and Tony collaborated to create that amazing music, at least from the debut Black Sabbath (eponymous) album through Mob Rules.
I think it's fine (good) that Geezer hangs it up when it comes to Sabbath. Everything has to end, and it's usually better for Rock bands to retire earlier than later, hopefully when they are on top or at least within reach. I think Sabbath should have stopped after the death of Dio (although Dehumanizer and The Devil You Know aren't up to par with Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules). Nice to see Ozzy at front again and the album and tour for 13 was OK, but something was lacking for me (and Rick Rubin was the wrong producer for that album... I miss Martin Birch). Just seemed like they kind of phoned it in.
Finally, for me, it's not Black Sabbath without Bill Ward or Vinny Appice behind the kit. They had the right style and swing for Sabbath (especially Ward with his esoteric style), and Geezer always seemed to be most in the pocket with them.
can i still get it signed?
Commonwealth Games?
Yep, that's it! Sorry, since I had the 'rona, my memory isn't what it used to be!
All good. If you had to pick the best Black Sabbath biography, which would you pick. Thanks Chris!!
Jinx Dawson also claims that she invented the devil horned hand gesture
You Tube loaded this vid up w/jumercials
Great overview, guys. Highly entertaining as well.
GZR the 🐐🤘
I'm guessing the missing pages is when he complains about Sharon....
What's the best book ever written about Black Sabbath? Any ideas?
Martin Popoff wrote a great book about them.
The Martin Popoff Sabbath books are great. But my single favorite book is Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle for Black Sabbath by Garry Sharpe-Young. Unfortunately this book mostly covers 1979 to 1997.
@@chrisalo2989 Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to check that book out
@@frankjackson6241 "Black Sabbath" by Steven Rosen is a very good book, as is Martin Popoff's "Doom Let Loose." "Ozzy Osbourne - the stories behind the classic songs" by Carol Clerk goes through all the Sabbath songs of the Ozzy era and is damned good and highly informative.
@@chrisalo2989Hi Chris just wondering if keyboard and guitarist Jezz Woodroffe who played and toured with Sabbath from 75 to 77 Sabotage and Technical Ecstasy albums and tours is mentioned in any books. Enjoyed your comments 🤘
I just want a Tony Iommi solo album
Geezers book probably skipped through the later years because of the publishers cutting the potential lawsuit-causing passages. About the devil horns, my first memory of that comes from Dr Strange comics.
good point!
@richardwillis6936
"Geezers book probably skipped through the later years because of the publishers cutting the potential lawsuit-causing passages"
I think it's because it was plain boring !
The thing that troubles me the most about the book is all the stories of street fighting as if it were just a normal part of life. I know growing up in England was probably rough in the '50s and '60s but -- man, it makes them all seem like jerks to me. Also the pranks, especially Ozzy's shitting everywhere seems juvenile. I mean, SOMEONE has to clean that up. Someone is going to be disgusted. In what way is this fun? Why do we idolize this behavior?
Ronnie used to invite the audience to join him in Hell during Heaven and Hell. But Ian Gillan brought the real evil into Black Sabbath actually bringing 22 demons that hovered above the crowd during Disturbing the Priest. It makes sense considering how Satanic the Deep Purple album Fireball was . The Mule might be the most Evil song ever written. Bringing together 2 powerful Satanic Metal bands together was why Born Again was such a powerful album. One of the Heaviest Metal albums ever recorded
What ????
@@grimtraveller7923 the Devil told Ritchie Blackmore in 1984 at the Prague Airport that it was Time to reunite with the Coven, and that is why Deep Purple got back together. The song Perfect Strangers was written by Satan
@@Hecatecrossways No, no, you got that wrong, it was written by _Stan_ ! You know, Stan Bloggleswich.
Deadland ritual were quite good man. Cmon. The pandemic squashed that everyone knows that
A good review and I agree with both of your comments. You mentioned "other" books by "rock personalities" and all of the stuff that is not very interesting...a book that is full of that sort of stuff is Bruce Dickenson's "What does this button do" ...what a boring book, he spends way too much time about his flying "hobby" and says very little about his musical career with Maiden and solo...I don't recommend it....Sorry Bruce, love ya anyway...sing and write songs instead \m/
Totally agree, that Dickinson book was a snooze.
I only read it once, and was disappointed, maybe I'll give it another "spin" one of these days. I just received Brian Johnson's book, who is a very funny bloke...hopefully it will be good ??@@chrisalo2989
Right! Spot on! I also skip those first memories of a musician. Too much a like indeed.
Bill Ward has Ozzy beat as far as partying
It sounds like you guys wanted the book to start at 1969?!!!
The show name? Never Say Alo!. Disturbing the Pete? I guess you could always fall back on Children of the Sea of Tranquility...
Love Sabbath but I'll probably skip this one. Sometimes it's disappointing to find out our musical heroes are children in adult bodies.
Honestly it's a shame all four original guys arent equal owners of the band BS. Iommi really dropped the ball letting Ozzy/Sharon get 50% ownership when he wasn't even on 10 BS albums. Now I understand what Dio meant when he said "someone wanted to destroy this band and they did a very good job of it." Now we here the Tony Martin era left over songs cannot be released because nothing new from BS can come out and it all becomes clear.... it's just frustrating.
Read Ozzy's book first, awesome and Hilarious, loved it. Then read Tony's, so great...he told some amazing stories. Then was really looking forward to Geezer's...ehh, was kind of a let down. He's actually kind of whiney and comes off as kind of a wimp...I dunno, just my take maybe. Still love Sabbath though..And, I agree with Pete, I skipped the first 45 pages. Didn't care what his childhood was like haha....I'd give the book a B-
??? What do call the Janitor at the Pyramids in Egypt ??? GIZA BUTLER.... haha...lololol. OK Bad joke but fuggit....
I knew a bassist for a famous death metal band who quit because the band members were so gross
Black Sabbath need to make another album with Ian Gillan, Ozzy ain't up for it anymore. Halford just ain't the right fit for Black Sabbath
Ian Gillan ain't for it either
Black Sabbath name is owned by Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osborne 50/50 split business. The agreement is that 3 original band members must participate to call themselves Black Sabbath.
There's no one fit for it
@@mikekeeler6362The only thing that was a possibility was Tony, Ozzy and Geezer playing the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham England 🇬🇧 closing ceremony. Geezer apparently got covid and injured his shoulder while on vacation so Adam Wakeman played bass guitar instead. Sabbath as a touring or recording band has retired. Cheers Mike 🍻
I found the book too short, too little info on the albums, not much info here that we didnt know already...........................Hey rock stars........................we dont care about your childhood when you write a book
Some of us do care.
It’s called an autobiography covering a person’s life. A biography usually only covers what came later.
Geezer made a living using Satan’s name but at the end of his book starts bitching about “The war on Christmas.” He also says he couldn’t get away with the lyrics he wrote these days because he would be “cancelled”. Compared to some hip hop and black metal his lyrics are pretty lightweight. I enjoyed his book (listened to the audiobook twice) but it’s sad to hear him repeating Fox words and phrases. There should be a Spinal Tap sequel where they show former rockers with their vineyards, polo ponies and red baseball hats.