An officially backed Black Sabbath book is set to arrive this October through Rufus Publishing. Photographer Ross Halfin has overseen the book, which chronicles the heavy metal pioneering outfit’s Ozzy Osbourne-fronted eras from their earliest days through to their ‘Back To the Beginning‘ farewell concert.
Titled ‘The Masters Of Reality‘, the book spans 500 pages and features rare photographs and memorabilia, along with essays from Geoff Barton and Dave Ling. The latter duo interviewed all four members of the band specifically for the book. Production for the book started some two years ago, and it had the official backing of the band’s late vocalist, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne.
Halfin said of the project:
“Ozzy and Sharon wanted the book out soon after the final show in Birmingham but Ozzy suddenly passing away caused the music world to stop. Ozzy was fully involved with the book and he signed the book plates months before the final show, as did all the bandmembers. So now, we all thought the time was right, one year after Back to the Beginning, to announce the project. A book we all feel celebrates both Black Sabbath and Ozzy and illustrates just how important they are. I hope fans enjoy it.”
Pre-orders for the book, which is expected out in late October, are available now through rufuspublications.com. A special limited-edition super deluxe signed (via book plate) edition limited to 200 copies retails for over $1,200.
