Image: Black Sabbath – The Masters Of Reality, Rufus Publications
“The Masters Of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter” will be the title of the first official Black Sabbath book, set to be released in October 2026. The announcement was made one year after their major farewell concert, Back To The Beginning, in Birmingham, thereby continuing to honor the band’s legacy. The work is expected to span over 550 pages, with its content ranging from the band’s early years in the ’60s all the way to that very farewell concert. Additionally, fans will find rare photographs and previously unpublished memories from the band’s incomparable history. Among other things, it will feature essays by Geoff Barton and Dave Ling—two journalists from the rock music scene—including interviews exclusively conducted with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.
Along with the book’s official announcement, it was shared that work on the project began two years ago and that its release had already been planned for the period following Back To The Beginning.
Renowned photographer Ross Halfin commented on it:
“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 band members. 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.”
Available in Various Editions
A total of three editions of “The Masters Of Reality” are set to be published by Rufus Publications. These include the Standard Edition, a limited Super Deluxe Signed Edition, and a Super Deluxe Signed Metal Edition with only 200 numbered copies.
In 2023, Steve Rosen wrote “Tonechaser – Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen”. Tonechaser was based on Rosen’s 26-year friendship with the iconic guitarist. Tonechaser is now in its 3rd printing.
Steve Rosen has been a legendary rock journalist during a career lasting 50 years. He has written for Guitar Player, Guitar World, Classic Rock, Mojo, Playboy, Los Angeles Times and many other prestigious publications. He has written biographies on several artists including Black Sabbath, Randy Rhoads, Free/Bad Company, and others.
Now Steve has turned his attention to his long time admiration for the legendary Jeff Beck… the new book entitled:
“THE ORIGINAL PUNK – JEFF BECK STORIES: FROM YARDBIRD TO THE GUITAR SHOP”
Adds Steve;
“I have been working on the book for about seven months and I am excited to say I have finally completed it!
I first met Jeff back in 1973 when he was working with Beck, Bogert & Appice and subsequently interviewed him three more times including our final conversation in 1989. So the book covers his earliest pre-Yardbirds days and runs through his 1989 release, Guitar Shop.
The records he recorded during that period were in my estimation far and away his most important and creative albums: the Yardbirds albums;; the pair of Jeff Beck Group albums (Truth and Beck-ola); Blow by Blow; and the recordings that followed up until Guitar Shop.
I was also lucky enough to interview many musicians he played with and other key figures in his career including Keith Relf (singer for the Yardbirds); Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja (drummer and rhythm guitarist for the Yardbirds respectively); Stevie Wonder; Stanley Clarke; Max Middleton (keyboardist); Jan Hammer; Les Paul; Pete Townshend; Jimmy Page; John Paul Jones; Ronnie Wood; and many others”.
The book is a 6″x9″ hardback with roughly 360 pages. There are 16 pages of color and black-and-white photos containing some historic and never-seen-before shots.
Those of an old school persuasion can also find the book in your local bookstore or big chain bookstores. Simply go in, ask for The Original Punk by Steve Rosen and they can order either a softback or hardback for you. The book is available virtually everywhere on the planet.
The new hardcover book, …And Justice For Art: Stories About Heavy Metal Album Covers – Ultimate Edition, is now available.
…And Justice For Art: Stories About Heavy Metal Album Covers – Ultimate Editionincludes 372 color pages, 700 graphics, and more than 120 exclusive interviews about the making of hundreds of iconic metal album covers. This epic journey through the art of heavy music features stories about the sleeve artworks for albums like Black Sabbath’s Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden’s Killers, Metallica’s …And Justice For All, Cynic’s Focus, At The Gates’ Slaughter Of The Soul, Slayer’s Reign In Blood, Opeth’s Heritage, Darkthrone’s A Blaze In The Northern Sky, Suffocation’s Effigy Of The Forgotten, Tiamat’s Wildhoney, Neurosis’ Times Of Grace, among many others.
The stories behind these iconic artworks are told through hundreds of exclusive comments and interviews with metal icons like Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Nailbomb, ex-Sepultura), Jeff Walker (Carcass), David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel, Vltimas), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Esa Holopainen (Amorphis), Fenriz (Darkthrone), Tom Angelripper (Sodom) and many others. The book also includes insightful interviews with legendary illustrators such as Eliran Kantor, Dan Seagrave, Travis Smith, Valnoir, and Costin Chioreanu, who also designed the book’s cover.
“This hardcover book features 372 glossy color pages, more than 700 images and firsthand information about hundreds of graphics, which are presented in extremely high quality,” author Ramon Oscuro comments. “This is a complete reinvention of the original …And Justice For Art book published in 2015, which have been out-of-print for almost a decade. Instead of just reprinting the original volume, I decided to rewrite, redesign and update every page. I also added 108 new pages featuring new chapters, new interviews and hundreds of new graphics. It’s a completely new book, an epic journey through heavy music imagery from 1970 to 2025.”
According to Vltimas/ex-Morbid Angel frontman, David Vincent, who penned the book’s foreword, this is “a historical document about the importance of Metal album covers.” Soulfly’s Max Cavalera has thanked the author “for helping to keep alive the ritual of the album cover.” Cattle Decapitation vocalist Travis Ryan assured that “this is exactly what the music world needs to remind us how important album covers have been to all of us that grew up surrounding ourselves with physical media.”
Watch a trailer for …And Justice For Art: Stories About Heavy Metal Album Covers – Ultimate Edition:
This is a limited edition of 500 copies. It’s only available at THIS LOCATION. Use the discount code AJFA15GOOD to save 15% on your purchase.
Journalist/musician, Ramón “Oscuro” Martos García, was born in Cuba in 1975. His interest in heavy music started at a very early age after discovering the music of bands like Queen, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Sepultura, among others. He graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Santiago de Cuba before emigrating to the Dominican Republic in the early 1990s, where he played in several metal bands, including Necro, Divinis Invocat, and Los Recalcitrantes, and founded the country’s first rock/metal fanzine, Esperando El Final. After moving to the United States in the 2000s, he started writing for publications like MetalUnderground.com, This Is Metal Magazine, PureGrainAudio.com, among others.
In 2011, Ramón formed the Metal art community …And Justice For Art, which is the result of his longtime obsession with visual arts, especially heavy music art. This community and the book series …And Justice For Art – Stories About Heavy Metal Album Covers (which has spawned five volumes during the last decade) have provided exclusive information about the making of thousands of metal album covers, the work of hundreds of graphic artists and other related topics.
Guitarist Ed Fuhrman played on HADES If At First You Don’t Succeed released in 1988 and Hades Live on Location in 1992. Ed toured both Europe and America with Hades. Fuhrman also played lead guitar on all three Metal Blade releases from 1999-2001 culminating in the band’s well received Wacken performance in 2000. Watch the video below.
Fuhrman said, ” I am very pleased to announce the release of my seventh book, “The Ultimate Guitar Practice Guide.” For anyone who plays guitar already or anyone who is thinking of playing guitar, this book is for you!!! This is not a book full of chord charts and scale diagrams, those are a dime a dozen. This softcover 286 page book is written in my own unique style and is jammed full of world-class playing techniques, tips, and tricks. As many of you know, I have been teaching guitar my entire life. I have a rather unique system of teaching, designed to get each student to the highest level in the shortest period of time. Now, for the first time, parts of my teaching system are available in book form. Bear in mind that this book is not intended to ever replace one on one guitar lessons. You’ll always be able to learn more details in a private lesson environment. But for those students who don’t have direct access to me for in-person lessons, this book will be a game-changer for many of you. The book also contains a partial auto-biographical section for those interested.
Please visit my new website if you wish to order a copy of this new book. These are limited-edition print copies, so don’t miss out. No E-books are planned at this time. And please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. I handle all of these orders myself so be patient.
Visit my website for more details and ordering information. Also, any live appearances or book signing events will be listed on the website, so check back often if you are interested in attending something like this.
Matt Zane has never played it safe—and he’s not starting now. On August 22nd, from renowned publisher Heavy Music Artwork is proud to announce the notorious Society 1 frontman unleashes Everyone Dies: The Matt Zane Reckoning—a no-prisoners memoir packed with the kind of insane, behind-the-scenes stories that could only come from a life lived in the eye of the storm.
From surreal meet up with the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, to nights of chaos with icon Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, to an intense, unexpected encounter with James Gandolfini as he was doing research for the movie 8mm, to memories of the late Static-X front man Wayne Static, Zane pulls no punches and spares no detail. It’s loud. It’s raw.
It’s the unfiltered truth.
This bold, boundary-breaking volume offers an uncensored look at the extraordinary life of Matt Zane, frontman of Society 1, the man who hung from hooks while screaming into the abyss — is back. But this time, the stage is the page… and the lights are out. This is more than just a rock biography, the book includes never-before-seen photos, original poetry , and stories too intense for the film —covering everything from porn sets to public protests, psychedelic journeys, and visceral live performances involving flesh-hook suspensions and some of the biggest names in rock and metal.
“When Alex from Heavy Music Artwork approached me to do a biography that would include a taste of everything—from my pictures to poetry and even more in-depth stories—I was all in,” says Matt Zane. “He’s done some amazing work, so I was honored. I’m just so excited more of the Society 1 and my story is going to be told.”
Authored by Alex Milazzo, founder of Heavy Music Artwork —the publisher behind acclaimed titles such as Heavy Music Artwork #15 , Masterpieces 2020 , Ripping Tongues , Heretic , and Masterpieces 2022 — Everyone Dies: The Matt Zane Reckoning continues the company’s legacy of producing visually stunning and intellectually rich volumes exploring the darker corners of heavy music and art. Brace yourselves!
Release Date: August 22, 2025 Limited Hardback Edition: 200 deluxe copies, 200 silk pages (TBC) Softback Edition Also Available Printed Ethically in the UK
Watch the Film That Started It All – Now on Prime Video
The documentary Everyone Dies (Rock Stars Don’t Count) is now streaming worldwide on Amazon Prime Video , continuing to draw new fans into Zane’s unforgettable world. A deeper, uncensored extended cut is available for free at the official site: EveryoneDiesTheMovie.com
About Matt Zane Matt Zane is a director, performance artist, and the notorious frontman of Society 1. He became known as the first vocalist to perform live while suspended by flesh hooks and has also directed hundreds of adult films, published philosophical writings, and delivered some of the most extreme performances in modern rock. At 50, Zane remains one of underground culture’s most fearless voices.
About Heavy Music Artwork Based in the UK, Heavy Music Artwork is a celebrated publisher focused on the visual and philosophical aesthetics of heavy music. Known for their striking layouts and deep editorial work, they have released standout titles such as Heavy Music Artwork #15 , Masterpieces 2020 , and Ripping Tongues , celebrating the art, culture, and stories behind metal’s most extreme and visionary acts. Instagram: @heavymusicartwork
This unique and first-of-its-kind telling of Philadelphia’s rise to Rock and Roll royalty is now available through March Baby Media on several major online platforms. The book focuses on Philadelphia’s musical history and diversity over the years, particularly its contributions to Rock music during the late 70s to the early 90s.
“‘When We Rocked’ isn’t just a book, it’s a loud, sweaty dive back into Philly’s rock heartbeat…”– The Brutally Delicious Podcast (US)
“When We Rocked” includes personal accounts from a number of Philadelphia-based artists who were interviewed for the book and explores the city’s musical evolution from its Quaker origins to the Grunge era.
“When We Rocked” is written by author and historian Antonio Aloia and musician and TheCosmick Voice podcast host Mick Michaels with famed Philly drummer Johnny Dee (Doro/BritnyFox/Tyketto) contributing to the book’s heartfelt foreword.
“Being so close to Philadelphia, I am excited to see that the city’s respective music scenes are chronicled and encapsulated for future generations,” says co-author Aloia. “I hope that others will be inspired to share their stories and experiences that made the Philadelphia music scene unique!”
“When We Rocked” has been released in paperback and available on major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram. Additionally, author-autographed copies will be available for purchase on the book’s website in August.
“It’s been such a trip back through time,” says co-author Michaels. “There are always the things you remember, but it’s those things that you forgot about that are always a rush when the memories come back… there’s a lot of that in this book.”
Philadelphia’s origins and its place in Rock and Roll history.
The city’s influence on the national market.
The rise of Rock music in Philadelphia.
The R&R and Disco era of the 1970s.
Hard Rock & Heavy Metal of the 1980s.
The Grunge invasion of the early 1990s.
Personal accounts from prominent Philadelphia-based artists. (bassist Billy Childs (Britny Fox), guitarist Reggie Wu (Heavens Edge), bassist Dave Weakley (Teeze), drummer Mike Natalini (Roughhouse), and more.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 