Geezer Butler was interested in horror and black magic themes, which subsequently became an important aspect of the band’s image and sound. Butler told the Houston Press about the making of the ‘Black Sabbath’ track: “It was one of those fads you go through as a teen.” But, as a devout Catholic, I was already hearing about hell and Satan all the time. [My interest] was similar to going against your parents. Then bad things started happening to me, which I blamed on my dabbling in black magic.
So I gave up. That is where the song ‘Black Sabbath’ originated. Don’t get engaged with something over which you have no control! But we didn’t grow up in a fancy neighborhood. And that was reflected in the music.” Butler recently told Classic Rock about the incident that inspired the song and related the story of what happened: “Ozzy gave me this 16th-century magic book he’d stolen somewhere.
” Because I wasn’t sure, I’d put it in an airing cupboard. Later that night, I awoke to find this dark shadow at the foot of my bed. It was a terrifying presence that terrified me to death! I dashed to the airing cupboard to throw out the book, but it had vanished!” Butler’s book, ‘Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – and Beyond,’ will be released on June 6th. The Houston Press interview can be found here. Listen to ‘Black Sabbath’ down below.