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A History of Heavy Metal Paperback – September 25, 2018

by Andrew O'Neill (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 563 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Purchase options and add-ons

'Absolutely hilarious' - Neil Gaiman

'One of the funniest musical commentators that you will ever read . . . loud and thoroughly engrossing' - Alan Moore

'A man on a righteous mission to persuade people to "lay down your souls to the gods rock and roll".' - The Sunday Times

'As funny and preposterous as this mighty music deserve' - John Higgs


The history of heavy metal brings brings us extraordinary stories of larger-than-life characters living to excess, from the household names of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Bruce Dickinson and Metallica (SIT DOWN, LARS!), to the brutal notoriety of the underground Norwegian black metal scene and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. It is the story of a worldwide network of rabid fans escaping everyday mundanity through music, of cut-throat corporate arseholes ripping off those fans and the bands they worship to line their pockets. The expansive pantheon of heavy metal musicians includes junkies, Satanists and murderers, born-again Christians and teetotallers, stadium-touring billionaires and toilet-circuit journeymen.

Award-winning comedian and life-long heavy metal obsessive Andrew O'Neill has performed his History of Heavy Metal comedy show to a huge range of audiences, from the teenage metalheads of Download festival to the broadsheet-reading theatre-goers of the Edinburgh Fringe. Now, in his first book, he takes us on his own very personal and hilarious journey through the history of the music, the subculture, and the characters who shaped this most misunderstood genre of music.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Headline
  4. Publication date
    September 25, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.79 x 7.76 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781472241450
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1472241450
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

One of the funniest musical commentators that you will ever read. A History of Heavy Metal is a comprehensive, landmark analysis of an enormous area of music that has been too long without such a thing, and has the massive advantage of the funny being turned up to twelve. A loud and thoroughly engrossing love-story.―Alan Moore

Loud, unapologetic and full of love, Andrew O'Neill's essential and much-needed History of Heavy Metal is as funny and preposterous as this mighty music deserves.―John Higgs - author of The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds

This, then, is the work of a fan first and foremost, driven by his prejudices and passions . . . a man on a righteous mission to persuade people to "lay down your souls to the gods rock and roll", as Newcastle's Venom would have it.―The Sunday Times

O'Neill's knowledge is nothing short of impressive. His chronological expedition through the ages, as seen through his own eyes, is backed up by constant witticisms and footnotes of in-jokes and opinions. He has obviously gone to great effort to leave no plectrum unturned in the pantheon of heavy metal.―TeamRock.com

From the Back Cover

'Loud, unapologetic and full of love, Andrew O'Neill's essential and much-needed History of Heavy Metal is as funny and preposterous as this mighty music deserves' - John Higgs

The history of heavy metal brings brings us extraordinary stories of larger-than-life characters living to excess, from the household names of Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica (SIT DOWN, LARS!), to the brutal notoriety of the underground Norwegian black metal scene and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. It is the story of a worldwide network of rabid fans escaping everyday mundanity through music, of cut-throat corporate arseholes ripping off those fans and the bands they worship to line their pockets. The expansive pantheon of heavy metal musicians includes junkies, Satanists and murderers, born-again Christians and teetotallers, stadium-touring billionaires and toilet-circuit journeymen.

Award-winning comedian and life-long heavy metal obsessive Andrew O'Neill has performed his History of Heavy Metal comedy show to a huge range of audiences, from the teenage metalheads of Download festival to the broadsheet-reading theatre-goers of the Edinburgh Fringe. Now, in his first book, he takes us on his own very personal and hilarious journey through the history of this most enduring and misunderstood of subcultures.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1472241452
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Headline; Reprint edition (September 25, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781472241450
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472241450
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.79 x 7.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 563 ratings

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Andrew O'Neill

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Top reviews from the United States

Christine
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
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Totally entertaining and a fun ride! Fast and super service!
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Sarah A. Windisch
4.0 out of 5 stars a good overall read
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
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I bought this for a friend who said he really enjoyed it, said it was overall very interesting
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Dr. George R. Ujvary
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is very metal!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
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A great light hearted read giving a great account of the timeline and history of heavy metal. Lots of opportunities to find new bands you haven’t heard before or read a few new snippets about the bands you’ve always loved plus context around where they sit in the timeline of the genres ever evolving history.
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Aerik Von
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious…
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2021
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Aerik Von
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious…
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2021
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Daniele Purrone
3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but somehow lacking.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2017
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This is definitely a fun read. The humour is great and there’s also some very good journalistic points. However, the history is very much incomplete. The part dedicated to proto-metal and its beginnings is completely Brit-centric, ignoring what was happening on the side of the ocean. It’s great that it mentions bands like The Who and Cream, not so great that Blue Cheer and Mountain are considered not worth of any importance. While the NWOBHM was raging, there were bands in the States that were carrying the underground flag of US Metal: what about Mark Reale’s Riot, for instance? Fire Down Under is as seminal as any Saxon record. How could the author forgot to mention Accept, who basically kickstarted the huge German power metal scene? And Queensrÿche, the forefathers of the whole prog metal movement, movement which is basically completely ignored? Some of the authors opinions I agree with, some I really don’t, but that’s perfectly fine and I have no issues with.
Anyway, despite the problems I mentioned, I still consider this book worth its money, hilarious to read and definitely recommended! Just keep in mind that it’s far from being a complete history of heavy metal (which, I agree, would have been an impossible mission).
8 people found this helpful
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RM82
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2018
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The best, funniest, most wide ranging and readable metal history I’ve come across. An absolute pleasure. Couldn’t recommend it more.
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D.J.L
4.0 out of 5 stars The Basics Covered
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019
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I always have felt that my basic knowledge of classic metal is lacking. It's a good thing to have when 50 year old metalheads come up to me at shows and comment on my battle vest with: "WHERE IS SLAYER? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE SABBATH ON HERE?". Like listen dude, I don't listen to your period of metal but I at least know what it is. I'm into pretty much everything the author hates; nu-metal, metalcore, (some) deathcore, etc. But his dislikes are to be expected from someone who was around when metal was breaking into the mainstream.

This book covers the basics of Heavy Metal very effectively. I must say, I had no idea Black Metal was so influential in the early days of metal. I knew of bands such as Burzum, Mayhem, Bathory, etc. But I had no clue some of these bands were around before Slayer and Metallica. The author makes it very clear what bands he listens to by giving a more extensive history on them. The bands the author is not a fan of, he often gives a nod with a sentence or two. This is disappointing for bands such as Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, and Slipknot, as I believe they are some of the leaders of modern metal. In fact, once the book enters to the early 2000s, the lack of passion reeks throughout the remainder of the book. To the point where I almost didn't finish because it just felt like some old fogie doesn't like the new shit. To be fair though, he does say this is the best time to be a metalhead, and that the internet has opened us up to a world of endless music discoveries. Which I would agree with. Rock is far from dead.

As noted throughout, the author in addition to being a musician, is a comedian. His digs, even at bands I like, had me chuckling out loud. His humor gives the book an individual identity; making it more accessible to someone such as myself who is looking to just get an overview. I would definitely attend his seminar if he gives one at one of the rock festivals I attend.

Overall, I recommend this book if you want a glimpse into the world of heavy metal. A brisk walk along the exterior of a vast beach.
14 people found this helpful
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Andres
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and fun
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2019
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Very fun read, for fans and also people who want an introduction to the genre.
One person found this helpful
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Stephanie Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars Metal music
Reviewed in Canada on September 11, 2023
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Haven’t had a chance to really look at it as it’s a gift for Christmas but I know my daughter is going to love it fast shipping great service
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Ella Vazquez
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro
Reviewed in Mexico on September 29, 2021
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El libro está bastante completo y es muy entretenido
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FFF
5.0 out of 5 stars You want fun? You want musical history? You want metal? Andrew O'Neill is your man.
Reviewed in Italy on September 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Even if Neil Gaiman's opinion didn't matter (but it does), he's right. This is hilarious, accurate, opinionated, informative, and again: HILARIOUS.
One of the best books about music since "How music works" by David Byrne. Even if you don't like heavy metal.
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Toastlord
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever ready about metal - funny, informative and easy to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was purchased on the back of seeing Andrew's live History of Heavy Metal show a few months back, and it's an essential read for anyone into metal. It's probably best aimed at those that are already fully familiar with the genre rather than newcomers, but it's an easy ready that you'll find yourself just reading that one more chapter before bed - I whizzed through it in a couple of days.

In terms of coverage its fairly comprehensive - you will never please everyone with something like this and there's always going to be a few omissions and complaints over coverage that certain acts and subgenres get compared to others, but overall there's nothing major omitted in my eyes. I've been a metal fan for 30+ years and still learnt plenty of things I didn't know whilst reading this. However that's missing the point somewhat as the main thing is the book is very funny, as was the live show, and even for topics you've seen covered numerous times before it's done in a way that will keep you interested because Andrew is a very funny fella.

I've struggled to find many decent books about metal in general over the years, and it's nice to finally have found one I loved (and loved enough to give to a few friends too) - if you are into metal then buy yourself this book, then once it arrives immediately burn it and buy another copy because it's that good he deserves the money twice.
One person found this helpful
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Sheldon
4.0 out of 5 stars Entretenido. Merece la pena.
Reviewed in Spain on April 27, 2018
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Está divertido, sobre todo el capítulo dedicado al Glam Metal, en el que no deja títere con cabeza. Eso sí, se le nota bastante su amor por el Black Metal. Por otor lado y como es habitual, la edición inglesa bastante más barata que la española.
One person found this helpful
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