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 Presleytothe Eastern odysseys of George Harrison, fromthe dark dalliances of Led Zeppelin tothe Masonic imagery of todays hip-hop scene, the occult has long breathed lifeinto rock and hip-hop and, indeed,esoteric and supernatural traditions are a key ingredient behindthe emergence anddevelopmentof rock and roll.With vivid storytelling and laser-sharp analysis, writer and critic Peter Bebergal illuminatesthis 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.
