Black Sabbath: Never Say Die! 1979-1997

by Garry Sharpe-Young

For a full decade, Black Sabbath dominated heavy metal. As much as Led Zeppelin scorned the term, Black Sabbath embraced it. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward conquered the music world, sold 50 million albums, and without compromise, delivered a pure, groundbreaking sound. In 1977, the unthinkable happened: Ozzy Osbourne decamped. He would be lured back for one last album, "Never Say Die," before going solo; in his place, a succession of vocalists took up the challenge. Harried by the press at every turn, Tony Iommi nevertheless succeeded in breathing new life into the band time and again. With the band’s back catalog still in heavy demand, the albums crafted in these challenging times are now recognized as some of their finest. Here, with exclusive interviews with many of the players, is the definitive account of those years—the auditioning, songwriting, recording, and performances all examined in depth.

350 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tom Cöle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you’re bored of hearing about Ozzy Osbourne and you actually enjoyed the music released by Black Sabbath in all its many incarnations between 1979 & 1995, you’ll adore this book.

Painstakingly – nay, obsessively - researched and full of exclusive interviews with nigh on everyone who passed through the Sabbath ranks between the Heaven & Hell and Forbidden albums, Never Say Die! is the most complete look at this turbulent period of the Sabs’ history as we’re ever likely to get.

Indeed, I’m rapidly nearing the end of Tony Iommi’s autobiography at the moment and there’s barely any material at all about this period of the band’s history in that book – a fact which makes this an even more essential addition to any Sabbath fan’s shelves.

It’s not perfect, mind: the book is strewn with sloppy spelling and grammatical errors, and the weighting of material is sometimes questionable (Cross Purposes and Forbidden are given fairly short shrift while Jeff Fenholt, a footnote to a footnote in Sabbath history, gets a full, interminable chapter).

But, that said, none of this should put off the serious Sabbath scholar.

Tony Martin, who sang with Black Sabbath on-and-off for a decade between ’85 & ’95, is often heard complaining in the press about being airbrushed from history and, judging by the scant attention afforded him in Iommi’s memoir, his complaints are justified. Justified, that is, everywhere but in this book.

Truly a labour of love on the part of Garry Sharpe-Young, Never Say Die! is a book that hardcore Sabbath fans will return to time and again. Thoroughly recommended!