Black Sabbath and Rufus Publications are pleased to announce the publication of the first ever Official Black Sabbath book. Documenting the band’s extensive history from the late 1960s to the final show, Back to the Beginning in July 2025.
The Masters of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter has been created by photographer Ross Halfin, working directly with the band. Tracing their development from the late 1960s with a huge wealth of rare photographs and memorabilia, many published for the first time and curated for this huge, 500 page volume. The book covers the classic lineup of Sabbath featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward and features essays from writers Geoff Barton and Dave Ling who interviewed all four band members, especially for the book.
The Masters of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter started production two years ago and was due to be announced shortly after the final show in 2025 but as Ross explains, events took an unexpected turn, “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.”
The book will be available in three stunning editions:
The Super Deluxe Signed Metal Edition – only 200 numbered copies.
Measuring an incredible 303mm wide by 426mm tall and running to over 500 pages, printed on silk art paper. This edition is bound in a hand tooled brushed metal cover with a recycled leather spine with purple and white foil embossing. The book comes in a recycled leather clamshell box plus two exclusive limited edition, giclée prints inside. Only 200 numbered copies of this edition are available and each one features a unique book plate, hand signed by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. This edition sells for £950 plus worldwide shipping.
The Super Deluxe Signed Edition – only 300 numbered copies.
Measuring an incredible 303mm wide by 426mm tall and running to over 500 pages, printed on silk art paper. This edition is bound in black, recycled leather with purple and white foil debossing plus an inlaid print of the band from 1970. The book comes in a recycled leather clamshell box with a white foiled “Henry” the flying devil on the front plus a limited edition, giclée print inside. Only 300 numbered copies of this edition are available and each one features a unique book plate, hand signed by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. This edition sells for £650 plus worldwide shipping.
The Standard Edition
Measures 246mm x 346mm and features a printed, foiled cover and comes in a cloth slipcase with a white foiled “Henry” on the front. This edition sells for £99 plus worldwide shipping.
To mark the first anniversary of the Back to the Beginning concert, The Masters of Reality – Why Black Sabbath Matter will go on pre-order on Monday 6th July at 3pm UK time, and is scheduled to ship in October 2026.
The book can be pre-ordered from https://www.rufuspublications.com/rufusbooks/sabbath/
