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Lucifer Rising: Sin, Devil Worship, and Rock'n'Roll
It’s only natural that rock and roll — “the devil’s music” — and Satanism should be intimately linked. Lucifer Rising explores this unique cultural confluence. Divided into three parts, the book first traces the history of Satanism, from the birth of the Black Mass through the fashionable sinners of the Hellfire Club. The second section examines Satanism in the 20th century, including Aleister Crowley, the formation of the Church of Satan, the Manson Family, and the rise of occult-influenced bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. The book’s third part looks at the new waves of Thrash Metal, Death Metal, and the Scandinavian Black Metal scene; the murder case surrounding the band Burzum; the neo-Nazi element; and the religious right’s courtroom pursuit of heavy metal. Lavishly illustrated throughout with graphics, medieval woodcarvings, and stunning photographs, the book also contains entertainingly cynical comment from Anton LaVey, in one of his last in-depth interviews.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 4, 2010
Although the back cover boasts with glaring irony that Baddeley is a superbly "unopinionated, thorough, and willing to address and evaluate... all sides..." - while then subsequently pointing out that he is also an ordained "minister" in Anton La Vey's Church of Satan, so far this has been an extremely interesting book. If you can stomach chapter one which seems mostly devoted to railing an assault on Christianity - a tactic I found not only personally offensive but also even more ironic than the point above - the information becomes genuinely interesting. A somewhat revealing insight into the background of Aleister Crowley, as well as the Nazi's of the Third Reich is included early on which from Baddeley's POV were not what I expected.
Though Baddeley is obviously a staunch supporter (not unopinionated whatsoever) of paganism, hedonism, or whatever other label you could use to describe the annals of the broad concept of "Satanism", this undoubtedly gives him a unique insight into the influence that what I'll call "evil" has had on our modern pop culture. Given the extremely controversial / taboo nature of this subject one interested in plain matter-of-fact information is left with not so many options - Fundamentalist Christians will undoubtedly claim that every form of music other than church hymns and praise music is rooted in direct worship of Satan - Satan as Christians know him to be the actual personage of the Devil, an angel cast out of heaven. Satanists on the other hand will go so far as to claim that even church hymns are "satanic" in that most of their composers were caught up in the enlightenment - in that "Satanism" is NOT a direct worship of any sort of metaphysical or supernatural entity or deity at all.... For someone who just wants simple answers as to what does Ozzy Osbourne ACTUALLY do in his off time, or does KISS sacrifice goats backstage, it can be tough to sift through the nonsense...
Either way - an interesting, if not infused with many grains of salt, read.
Though Baddeley is obviously a staunch supporter (not unopinionated whatsoever) of paganism, hedonism, or whatever other label you could use to describe the annals of the broad concept of "Satanism", this undoubtedly gives him a unique insight into the influence that what I'll call "evil" has had on our modern pop culture. Given the extremely controversial / taboo nature of this subject one interested in plain matter-of-fact information is left with not so many options - Fundamentalist Christians will undoubtedly claim that every form of music other than church hymns and praise music is rooted in direct worship of Satan - Satan as Christians know him to be the actual personage of the Devil, an angel cast out of heaven. Satanists on the other hand will go so far as to claim that even church hymns are "satanic" in that most of their composers were caught up in the enlightenment - in that "Satanism" is NOT a direct worship of any sort of metaphysical or supernatural entity or deity at all.... For someone who just wants simple answers as to what does Ozzy Osbourne ACTUALLY do in his off time, or does KISS sacrifice goats backstage, it can be tough to sift through the nonsense...
Either way - an interesting, if not infused with many grains of salt, read.
January 23, 2011
Some interesting stuff, but it feels biased, uninformative and skewed in favor of the author's own spiritual beliefs. Baddeley's knowledge of myth and theology is quite questionable, which is a shame because his book Goth Chic was surprisingly well researched and well rounded and I recommend it as a survey of dark culture.
November 12, 2021
Entertaining and comprehensive, this is a general history of some aspects of occultism that have been associated with the term "Satanism," with a focus on the popular uses of that term in the 1960s and later. That sounds precise and boring and doesn't do justice to the lively text and free-ranging excursions into music, film, art, and lifestyles joyously dissected by the author, who claims to have been converted to the worship of the dark powers by his research. Of course, modern devil-worship is thick with bovine excremental encrustations and there is a dose of the "put on" nearly every time the term is used. Baddeley does an amusing job of dancing with the disinformation though and stays true to the outrageous trappings of Anton Lavey and his disciples, critics, and admirers, while dealing whenever possible in actual facts with as much of a straight face as anyone is likely to maintain. The first two-thirds or so of the book cover material that is chronicled better in other places -- historical devil worship and the Aquarian antics of Jagger, Anger, and the gang -- but those chapters still make for fun reading, thanks to Baddeley's sense of humor and eye for the unlikely. The real red meat begins in the metal age, with lightweight demon rockers like Kiss and the evolution of very loud music into a minor periodic table of alternative metals, populated by characters absurd and occasionally profound. Written at the turn of the millennium, there's only a hint of the unbearable fun to come in the 2000s, but one would have to be blind not to see the line from satanic child abuse witch hunts to the troubled souls in today's Q cult. On the whole, I came away grateful for the Satanists as a counterforce to religious conmen and zealots, though I do have to say that in recent years, Libertarians are giving the Lavey crowd a bad name. Highly recommended as outré cultural criticism and a collection of eye-raising (if not devil-raising) anecdotes.
August 29, 2009
The title is somewhat deceptive because while the "Satanic" influence in music is the bulk of this book, its more like Satanism in pop culture and the author trying to set the record straight on what he considers Satanism to be, which is Laveyism. I hate calling what Laveyites refer to as Satanism because really they are Atheists that don't believe in Satan. The author being a Laveyite overall makes this book better I think, but on some levels hurts it because while he really goes out of his way to discredit and attack Laveys many detractors he doesn't criticize Lavey himself, which its pretty easy to pick holes in Lavey if you really wanted to. In all fairness although Lavey was a poser and a con artist he did write some stuff that is dead on about human nature and Christianity. He also had a sense of humor. Much of what he did was done with a wink and smirk that the sheeple were never quite able to pick up on and in spite of his public persona I don't think Lavey took himself that seriously. Some of this stuff brought back memories of how it was in the 80's with the Satanic hysteria. I remember that Geraldo special being a real hoot. Lavey must have thought that was hilarious. There are also lots of interviews with many "Satanists" and bands that have been deemed "Satanic", some of them were really unintentionally hilarious too. I think the funniest was there was a guy from a black metal band who when asked what he hates he said the Red Cross because they help people. He also said he would like to chop peoples dicks off because it would cause misery for them and if his girlfriend died he wouldn't be sad, he would have sex with the corpse. Ha ha! Overall i thought this was a fun book to read.
March 18, 2013
As an “Irreverend” (which sounds more appropriate for Discordianism than anything else) in the Church of Satan, Gavin Baddeley is a singular position to write the history of Anton LaVey's Californian cult that spread, in fortunately small numbers, throughout the globe. Baddeley glosses over much of the horrible truth about LaVey's life to concentrate on all the aspects of Satanism, from its prototypical forms in the eighteenth century to its aesthetic influences in the early twentieth century to its solidification in the 1960s to its diversification in the late twentieth century. Unsurprisingly, Baddeley assails the Old Testament God and Christianity (or “the Jesus cult,” as he refers to it) in the first chapter and returns to this pose throughout the book. Refreshing, however, is his objective reporting on Satanists themselves. You might anticipate that Baddeley would lionize those who least deserve it, but he doesn't. Personally, I was left with the impression that Baddeley wanted to distance himself from the more extreme adherents of Satanism (e.g., those few who said that bigoted fundamentalist Christians were the “only Christians [they] could respect” because their actions caused suffering). Thank God for what limits he has?
The book contains hardly any likeable characters. Almost everyone profiled is some combination of greedy, selfish, racist, sexist, violent, sociopathic, and narcissistic. I'll put my cards on the table: LaVeyan Satanism encapsulates everything I despise about modern American life in particular and life on Earth in general. I will defend virtually every belief system, but not this one. Baddeley lays bare the unsavory anatomy of Satanism, sparing no glance at its inherent malevolence-—and he's in the church. For his objectivity, he comes across as perhaps the only sympathetic person in the book, unless one wishes to count H.P. Lovecraft—who was definitely racist, but he had nothing on several of the people featured in Baddeley's tome. (One can admire Zeena Schreck for disowning her evil father, but she absorbed many of his attitudes and married a man who shared them.)
This is not a book for everyone. For one thing, if you're a devout Jew, Christian, or Unitarian Universalist, it's extremely offensive. If you're any kind of feminist, liberal, or decent person, then you'll be aghast at a number of ideas presented by Baddeley's interviewees. If you don't wish to see photographs of nude women in your reading material, you should also give this book a miss. But if you're curious about the modern-day users of the Dark Side of the Force, then Lucifer Rising will be just the thing.
The book contains hardly any likeable characters. Almost everyone profiled is some combination of greedy, selfish, racist, sexist, violent, sociopathic, and narcissistic. I'll put my cards on the table: LaVeyan Satanism encapsulates everything I despise about modern American life in particular and life on Earth in general. I will defend virtually every belief system, but not this one. Baddeley lays bare the unsavory anatomy of Satanism, sparing no glance at its inherent malevolence-—and he's in the church. For his objectivity, he comes across as perhaps the only sympathetic person in the book, unless one wishes to count H.P. Lovecraft—who was definitely racist, but he had nothing on several of the people featured in Baddeley's tome. (One can admire Zeena Schreck for disowning her evil father, but she absorbed many of his attitudes and married a man who shared them.)
This is not a book for everyone. For one thing, if you're a devout Jew, Christian, or Unitarian Universalist, it's extremely offensive. If you're any kind of feminist, liberal, or decent person, then you'll be aghast at a number of ideas presented by Baddeley's interviewees. If you don't wish to see photographs of nude women in your reading material, you should also give this book a miss. But if you're curious about the modern-day users of the Dark Side of the Force, then Lucifer Rising will be just the thing.
February 9, 2023
A good tale about satanism and how it has influenced art, sometimes subduing it's influence sometimes feeding on it. It tries to take all, or at least the most visible, strands of satanism of the late 20th century and giving them the chance to expose their views. A must for metalheads who want a headstart in the occult.
May 31, 2019
I bought this book 15 years ago - started and restarted it - but have only now finished it. Solid read. I’d like to learn more about the ancient traditions and sects (the myths and legends), but this book had a lot of ground to cover and did so fairly well.
June 20, 2021
review to come soon
September 25, 2021
նեղվում եմ որ գրքի կազմը սենց վատն ա, որովհետև գիրքը վատը չէր։
July 23, 2025
interesting account of the development modern Satanism, written without bias and a good load of humor. His writing style makes me want to pick up other things he's written..
July 23, 2024
Published in 1999, it is an informative and thought-provoking work that not only describes Satanism, but explores its roots, meanings and social implications. Baddeley challenges the trivialisations and prejudices often associated with Satanism, offering a nuanced and articulate view of this movement (at least of the LaVeyan part).
Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/tY-zJOJWsUE
Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/tY-zJOJWsUE
July 22, 2013
A book of this kind is easily in the ranks with 'Satan Wants You' by Arthur Lyons, as the credits & influences The Church of Satan has had on society & modern culture is fully recognized, thereby giving the Devil His due.
There are compelling interviews with Dr. LaVey {whose words are spread throughout the book as relative to the subject of the chapter at hand}, HP Blanche Barton, Mgr. Gilmore, a two-parter with Mgr. Boyd Rice; Thomas Thorn of EHC; iconoclastic film-maker & long-time friend of Doctor's, Kenneth Anger; Mgr. Vincent Crowley of Acheron; Abaddon of Venom; Quarthon of Bathory; Coop; Mgr. Rex Diabolos Church {whose necro-erotic art adorns the front cover}; Timothy Patrick Butler; Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis; Count Grishnacht & Euronymous of the 'Black Metal Circle' {a couple of presumptuous & antagonistic delusionals who declared 'war' on The Infernal Empire. As a consequence of their absurd proclamations, which can be compared to the flea crawling up the leg of an elephant with the intention of rape, one killed the other, both of whom declared eachother 'allies' reveal themselves herein to be nothing more than reverse-xians, still praddling about under the xian mythology, many times veering towards Tolkien's fantasy world - they very easily could be considered "Tolkienists", rather than Satanists {by their own admission, they would rather call themselves 'devil-worshipers' & 'slaves of Satan', dedicated to bringing about the most misery they can upon the world - just like xoids, whom they claim to respect, as they are, verily, brothers in arms, or 'black sheep'. In the same herd; then there's Glenn Danzig, Glen Benton of Deicide, King Diamond {who is accredited with the use of 'corpse-paint' for use by contemporary Death-Metallers}, Sister Namaah of The Kirk Von Satan {a veritable 'Satanic Nun'}, amongst others. The book is divided into three parts:
1. The History of Satanism, which covers the basic inceptions, superstitiions, & practices of the aristocracies in indulgence, & the revolution of The Black Mass.
2. Satanism in The 20th Century, which includes historical recollections & occultic ties of The Third Reich, Gerald Gardner {the comical origin of 'wicca', which is about as 'ancient' as the turn of the century, & serial killers Richard Ramirez & David Burkowitz, among others.
3. The Satanic Millenium, explains the Infernal rise of the internet, diabolical board games, Columbine, Marilyn Manson, the afore-mentioned 'Black Metal Circle', & the future influences of Satanism upon the world.
Lucifer Rising takes on where Satan Wants You leaves off, & is a must for Satanists to possess - indeed, it is absolutely a part of Church of Satan history. This book is unprecedented, as it is a record written by a Satanist, someone who knows what we're all about, & thus takes an objective view on the subject, instead of the usual biased & bigoted misrepresentations of xoid Satanophobes. A real work of art.
There are compelling interviews with Dr. LaVey {whose words are spread throughout the book as relative to the subject of the chapter at hand}, HP Blanche Barton, Mgr. Gilmore, a two-parter with Mgr. Boyd Rice; Thomas Thorn of EHC; iconoclastic film-maker & long-time friend of Doctor's, Kenneth Anger; Mgr. Vincent Crowley of Acheron; Abaddon of Venom; Quarthon of Bathory; Coop; Mgr. Rex Diabolos Church {whose necro-erotic art adorns the front cover}; Timothy Patrick Butler; Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis; Count Grishnacht & Euronymous of the 'Black Metal Circle' {a couple of presumptuous & antagonistic delusionals who declared 'war' on The Infernal Empire. As a consequence of their absurd proclamations, which can be compared to the flea crawling up the leg of an elephant with the intention of rape, one killed the other, both of whom declared eachother 'allies' reveal themselves herein to be nothing more than reverse-xians, still praddling about under the xian mythology, many times veering towards Tolkien's fantasy world - they very easily could be considered "Tolkienists", rather than Satanists {by their own admission, they would rather call themselves 'devil-worshipers' & 'slaves of Satan', dedicated to bringing about the most misery they can upon the world - just like xoids, whom they claim to respect, as they are, verily, brothers in arms, or 'black sheep'. In the same herd; then there's Glenn Danzig, Glen Benton of Deicide, King Diamond {who is accredited with the use of 'corpse-paint' for use by contemporary Death-Metallers}, Sister Namaah of The Kirk Von Satan {a veritable 'Satanic Nun'}, amongst others. The book is divided into three parts:
1. The History of Satanism, which covers the basic inceptions, superstitiions, & practices of the aristocracies in indulgence, & the revolution of The Black Mass.
2. Satanism in The 20th Century, which includes historical recollections & occultic ties of The Third Reich, Gerald Gardner {the comical origin of 'wicca', which is about as 'ancient' as the turn of the century, & serial killers Richard Ramirez & David Burkowitz, among others.
3. The Satanic Millenium, explains the Infernal rise of the internet, diabolical board games, Columbine, Marilyn Manson, the afore-mentioned 'Black Metal Circle', & the future influences of Satanism upon the world.
Lucifer Rising takes on where Satan Wants You leaves off, & is a must for Satanists to possess - indeed, it is absolutely a part of Church of Satan history. This book is unprecedented, as it is a record written by a Satanist, someone who knows what we're all about, & thus takes an objective view on the subject, instead of the usual biased & bigoted misrepresentations of xoid Satanophobes. A real work of art.
March 3, 2013
As a kid growing up forced to go to private school run by Baptists, I was always fascinated by what I was supposed to stay away from. I saw so many of those documentaries in the 1980s saying AC/DC stood for "Against Christ/Devil's Child" and Ozzy Osbourne would have satanic sex orgies with dead animals on stage, that I was terrified to listen to those bands...until I actually I heard the music and realized it's just rock and roll, and the people running my school would've probably gotten the same messages Charles Manson found in the Beatles records. Baddeley's expose' of Satanic and occult influences in pop culture, mostly music but he goes into film and some literature also, is full of photos and illustrations, but what interested me was so much artists that genuinely live and follow the satanic and/or occult beliefs (in themselves quit diverse)...though admittedly most I never heard of. I am not a believer or follower of the occult, witchcraft, or satanism though I am fascinated by so-called "pagan" beliefs from a historical standpoint. A very informative, sometimes captivating read though a lot of the people he profiled sounded like he was purposely promoting their careers...I'm thinking who cares? Check out this book and watch Geraldo Rivera's "expose" on satanism from the 80s which is on YouTube.
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October 16, 2008Don't bother with this one. Much of the information is incorrect, dates especailly. Plus it is billed as a book about the link between Satanism and rock which really isn't covered in depth. I love interviews of Anton LaVey as much as the next person but they really don't have anything to do with rock music. I was looking for something salacious and not really grounded in reality. My suggestion is to read something by Gary Patterson (Hellhounds on their trail, The walrus was Paul, etc.) and skip this book all together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2012
I read this book in middle school and I look back on it today and suddenly realize that a healthy portion of my favorite movies, books, and music were introduced to me in this book. It's a really easy read, not exactly the opus of high literature, but entertaining in a campy way and I have some indelible sentimental connections to it
September 17, 2012
While the book gives a decent overview of the presence of the devil in 20th century pop culture, it feels more like a loosely knit collection of interviews and essays on the subject than it is a book with a head and a tail.
All in all it appears on sensationalistic side while aiming to have an undertone of serious investigation.
All in all it appears on sensationalistic side while aiming to have an undertone of serious investigation.
November 29, 2007
An interesting look into a not widely known about subculture. Very much so a history of the church of satan, the individuals involved and other satanic groups throughout history.
June 18, 2008
My husband, Stephen Kasner, is mentioned in this book, so I recommend it for that reason.
March 9, 2010
Some of the history can get a bit dry if you're not that into reading about the occult. Very informative, and cool pictures. This really shows that rock'n'roll and the devil go hand in hoof.
May 19, 2012
Possibly the most enjoyable, non-agenda filled and knowledgeable books on the rock music/occult intersection. Worth a glance.
April 6, 2014
Very informative.
April 29, 2013
informative, reads like a history book, very detailed, although mixed from with allot of unnecessary "gunk" from and about certain rock bands that don't matter, and never did!
July 8, 2014
Interesting look into the pagan orgins of rock n' roll. Explains the origin of some of the most iconic imagery in music today.
May 11, 2016
Second half is a bit heavy on interviews with nobodies, but good overall.
October 10, 2021
Interesante y cultural. Solo que es la percepción del autor.
September 22, 2007
I guess I wanted a more insightful look into Satan and his musical minions, this wasn't it.
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May 17, 2008very interesting look in how devil worship effects pop culture
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews