The 1970s saw the rise of rock and metal as a force in record and ticket sales. Right there at the birth of this was Black Sabbath, whose first album came from nowhere to smash into the top of the charts in Britain and around the world. The book covers the career of the original foursome - Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward – from Polka Tulk, through Earth and their original nine years as Black Sabbath, when the band recorded such iconic albums as Paranoid, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Masters of Reality. The book includes new interview material from key figures including Rick Wakeman and engineers Mike Butcher and Robin Black, among others.

This is a comprehensive roundup of the band's music in the decade. All of the albums and singles from 'The Rebel' until 'Never Say Die' are examined in detail, along with related archive releases. There is also a section covering Black Sabbath's tours in the era, looking at key live recordings from every tour. Overall, this is the most comprehensive account of the fortunes in the band during this crucial decade yet written.