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

This epic cultural and historical odyssey unearths the full influence of occult traditions on rock and rollfrom the Beatles to Black Sabbathand 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-hopand, 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 shapedand savedpopular 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.