Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll

By Peter Bebergal

Book Overview

This epic cultural and historical odyssey unearths the full influence of occult traditions on rock and roll--from the Beatles to Black Sabbath--and shows how the marriage between mysticism and music changed our world. From the hoodoo-inspired sounds of Elvis Presley to the Eastern odysseys of George Harrison, from the dark dalliances of Led Zeppelin to the Masonic imagery of today's hip-hop scene, the occult has long breathed life into rock and hip-hop--and, indeed, esoteric and supernatural traditions are a key ingredient behind the emergence and development of rock and roll. With vivid storytelling and laser-sharp analysis, writer and critic Peter Bebergal illuminates this web of influences to produce the definitive work on how the occult shaped--and saved--popular music. As Bebergal explains, occult and mystical ideals gave rock and roll its heart and purpose, making rock into more than just backbeat music, but into a cultural revolution of political, spiritual, sexual, and social liberation.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399167668
• ISBN13: 9780399167669
• Release Date: October 2014
• Publisher: Tarcherperigee
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher