Question on Black Sabbath/Christian series "They sold their souls for rock and roll"

[BlackSabb]

Hi there. I watched the Christian series (on youtube) "They sold their souls for rock and roll", an anti contemporary music series. Much of it was how rock, country, pop, hip hop etc is part of a satanic master plan to bring in a new world order or rebellion and godlessness, and how much of contemporary music is inspired by the famous 20th century satanist, Aleister Crowley, (who "prophesied" this new order).

The things they said about Sabbath were incorrect. They claimed the name Black Sabbath came from a ghost figure that appeared before the bassist, Geezer Butler. Yes, he did dabble in the occult and yes, he and other band members did see a shadowy ghost figure (alluded to in the title song "Black Sabbath"). But the name came from a Boris Karloff movie.

A pretty basic mistake I thought, considering the show claimed from the outset it took "years" of research.

Then they picked on the Sabbath album, "They sold their souls for rock and roll". Firstly, this is not a "Sabbath" album, it is a compilation, ie, greatest hits album. Secondly, it was not put together or released by the band, but by the record company. Thirdly, and most importantly, the title was not made up by the band, but again, the record company.

Again, another basic mistake.

And in any case, even if it was named by the band, this doesn't mean they literally "sold their souls for rock and roll". It is just a title with a play on words designed to sell records. And most probably a play on words spoken against them, being accused that they were satanic. So what a better play on words than by inflaming their critics than this title?

As an example, Deep Purple did this with their album, "Who do we think we are". The band said that they would always get fan mail beginning with "who do you think you are?" So to get their own back, they named their album after this.

The band 'Garbage' also did this. Someone once said that their music sounded like "garbage". Hence, they played on these words and named themselves this.

And so when Sabbath are accused of being satanists, "they sold their souls for rock and roll" is a perfect comeback to their critics.

IF they did indeed name this, but as I said, the record company did.

So here is my question. This Christian program claimed that Sabbath had altar calls at their concerts, inviting concert goers to dedicate their lives to Satan. Can anyone verify this?

I have been a Sabbath fan for decades and have never heard of this. Ever. Period. Considering the other gaffs this program made about the band, I am very dubious.

But I am willing to say that I don't know it all, and so if anyone can verify this, I'd be grateful.

 

[Citanul]

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to prove a negative, so there's no way of saying with absolute certainty that it never happened, although it's extremely unlikely that any such thing took place. I would also not believe any anti-rock 'n' roll propaganda like this, as the information they give out is usually wrong or incredibly distorted.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

It would help if these folks would at least check out the facts-the album's title is "We sold our SOUL for rock and roll (soul being singular, as in the form of music)", and second you're correct, Black Sabbath is the name of a Boris Karloff movie.
As far as Satanic alter calls are concerned, I've seen Black Sabbath live 20 years ago-wrong! If you saw a satanic alter call, you'd probable score pretty high on a blood alcohol test (or some other drugs). They accused AC/DC of the same-saw them twice, nothing.
Again, I quit secular music 15 years ago, but if God hasn't convicted you, I'm not going to.

 

[Lessien]

First of all: Why would you even watch junk like that? It's just a bunch of paranoid people out to pick on something they don't like by convincing the naive that it's evil.

I don't listen to Black Sabbath, but I highly doubt they had a Satanic alter call. If you feel God is calling you to give up listening to them, you should, but if not, don't worry about it.

 

[12ogue]

Hence it leads the entire world to believe the ALL Christians believe modern music is "evil."

Then there comes in the attacks by many non-Christians calling Christianity "a dud" and many other names.

Ugh...

 

[BlackSabb]

It would help if these folks would at least check out the facts-the album's title is "We sold our SOUL for rock and roll (soul being singular, as in the form of music)", and second you're correct, Black Sabbath is the name of a Boris Karloff movie.
As far as Satanic alter calls are concerned, I've seen Black Sabbath live 20 years ago-wrong! If you saw a satanic alter call, you'd probable score pretty high on a blood alcohol test (or some other drugs). They accused AC/DC of the same-saw them twice, nothing.
Again, I quit secular music 15 years ago, but if God hasn't convicted you, I'm not going to.

I kind of thought so, that these claims were total nonsense. It makes me angry that a Christian series would go to so much trouble, and not even get basic facts straight. Or possibly even lie.

And during this entire program, they went on and on and on having different quote from these artists, saying how the music takes them away, and "posesses" them, and how when they are playing, they lose themselves in the music and are "not themselves" anymore.

And of course the program interpreted all this as being demonically posessed/guided.

Eg, Jimi Hendrix is quoted as saying that he was posessed. Have you seen real posessions? People who are truly posessed are barking mad loons, with no capability of rational thought and control. Just because Mr Hendrix says he's "posessed" doesn't mean he is an authority on spiritual matters.

And besides, he's just saying "posesses" in terms of the high and ecstasy of the music that he plays.

 

[musicPhan#41]

if this is the series by joe schimmel, then i know the man behind this 'They sold their soul for rock and roll' movie. I wouldn't take that film too seriously. i've talked to the guy and he's really a classic example of the kind of people who come here to the secular music forum and cannot be reasoned with.

 

[beau99]

I can't find an exact quote, but most of the members of Black Sabbath said on a few occasions that Jesus was the reason they played music. Even Ozzy, before he got messed up.

 

[durangodawood]

It seems that there are so few people who value truth over scoring points for their particular P.O.V.

 

[Lessien]

It seems that there are so few people who value truth over scoring points for their particular P.O.V.

Sadly, that seems to be the case. Espeically with people who think secular music is evil. When I argue with people who hold to that opinion, it seems they don't even listen to the arguments I present. I quote them point-by-point and rebut their claims, agreeing with them occasionally, but they never do the same. Once, I posted lyrics from "Crazy" by Simple Plan--a song that talks about how society has gone crazy, saying that things like greed and the media's impossible standards of beauty "don't make sense"--and the guy I was arguing with didn't even try to present an intellegent argument. He just said that I was "easily decieved" and that he "didn't need to read the lyrics" because they "glorified sinful behavior." He didn't even listen to what I was trying to say!

I have little respect for people who don't listen to arguments from those who disagree with them.