‘Into the Void: My Life with Black Sabbath and Beyond’ brings details about the bassist’s life and the trajectory of the band that paved the way for heavy metal
Founder of the iconic band Black Sabbaththe bass player Geezer Butler turned 75 in 2024. Amid the celebrations, he released his unpublished memoir Into the Void: My Life with Black Sabbath and Beyondproduced in Brazil by the publisher Belas Letras.
Into the Void shows that Butler is a key piece in the formation of the band that paved the way for heavy metal. In addition to being the bassist, he is also the group’s main lyricist and responsible for great classics such as “Paranoid”, “War Pigs” and “Black Sabbath”.
In the book, the musician recounts his childhood in the working class of Birmingham, England, as well as the success and internal chaos of the band.
For this release, Belas Letras has prepared two versions: a hardcover edition with gifts, purple trilateral painting, ribbon and limited and exclusive items, such as a personalized bookmark, 6cm sticker, nylon backpack-sack and a Geezer Butler paper toy to assemble. And a paperback version for those who want the same quality and content for a lower price.
Satanism and religion
In Into the VoidGeezer Butler brings details about all phases of his life. He talks about his musical beginnings in the blues, the formation of Black Sabbath and the frenetic pace of touring, as well as the changes and challenges faced by the group over time. The bassist also tells stories about his almost life as an accountant and projects outside the band.
One of the highlights of the book is the accusations of occultism against Black Sabbath. Butler recalls that the group received threats from a “Witch King” called Alex Sanderssaying that the band would be cursed. Despite having an interest in horror and the occult, the bassist reveals that he did not want to convey any satanic message in his lyrics and that it was exactly the opposite.
He also discusses the incident where an American nun committed suicide and the Paranoid album was found on her record player, as well as other issues the band has had with these associations.
+++READ MORE: Black Sabbath: The band’s best album, according to Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler still remembers his relationship with religion in his childhood, saying that he became a religious fanatic and spent all his money on it. The bassist reveals that he turned away from Catholicism when a local nun started calling him “Miss” due to his long hair at the time.
The book also brings interesting information for Black Sabbath fans. Among other things, Butler recalls the drastic departure of Ozzy Osbourne and how the band dealt with this change.
Into the Void: My Life with Black Sabbath and Beyond is now available on Amazon.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
