Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has apologized in public to Bill Ward for saying the ex-drummer had been invited to take part in the band’s final show.
Earlier this week, Butler stated in an interview that Sabbath had offered Ward the chance to appear with them just before they took their last bow on The End tour.
The bassist reported, “It’s been mentioned to him – but he doesn’t want to do it. He wants to do the whole tour or nothing.”
That led Ward to accuse his former colleague of making “inaccurate statements,” adding, “My management reached out to the Black Sabbath management to inquire as to whether or not they would like to discuss my participation in the tour. We were told there was no interest.”
Now Butler has tweeted, “It appears Bill Ward was never invited to do a last show – my mistake. Sorry @billwarddrums.”
His message has been applauded by some fans for its honesty, while others have reacted by encouraging the band members to discuss their differences face-to-face with no one else present.
Black Sabbath’s The End tour began on January 20th in Omaha, Nebraska. See the remaining dates below.
January:
30 Edmonton, AB Rexall Centre
February:
1 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
3 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
6 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
9 San Jose, CA SAP Pavilion
11 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
13 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay
15 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
17 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
19 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
21 Hamilton, ON First Ontario Centre
23 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
25 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
27 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Australia/New Zealand:
April:
15 Perth, AU Perth Arena
17 Adelaide, AU Entertainment Centre
19 Melbourne, AU Rod Laver Arena
23 Sydney, AU Allphones Arena
25 Brisbane, AU Entertainment Centre
28 Auckland, NZ Vector Arena
30 Dunedin, NZ Forsyth Barr Stadium
Europe:
June:
1 Budapest,Hungary Groupama Arena
8 Berlin, Germany Waldebuhne
11 Donington, UK Download**
13 Verona, IT Arena Di Verona
15 Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadon
17 Dessel, Belgium Grasspop**
23 Halden, Norway Tons of Rock**
25 Copenhagen, DE Copenhell**
28 Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
30 Prague, Czech Rep. 02 Arena
July:
2 Krakow, Poland Tauron Arena
5 Riga, Latvia Riga Arena
7 Helsinki, Finland Monsters of Rock**
9 Stockholm, Sweden Monsters of Rock**
12 Moscow, Russia Olympisky Arena
**Denotes festival appearance
North America:
August:
17 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
19 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
21 Washington DC Jiffy Lube Live
23 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
25 Boston, MA Xfinity Center
27 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
29 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
31 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
September:
2 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center
4 Chicago, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
9 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Ampitheater
11 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Ampitheater
13 Portland, OR Sunlight Supply Arena
15 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
17 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
19 Hollywood, CA Hollywood Bowl
21 Phoenix, AZ AK-Chin Pavilion
additional source: classicrock.teamrock.com
20 Responses
At times like this the song “Dust in the Wind” always starts to play in my head. Once people are gone there’s no going back. It’s just so wrong to end lives this way. Better at least to pass without such huge regret hanging over you.
Well said Beth. BTW, “Dust In The Wind” is a great song, I still have the 45!
Have you ever heard the version by Sarah Brightman?
steven tyler told geezer to apologize.
lol
Hahahaha….now that is hysterical. Reading Doug R. and Beth talk Dust in the Wind with some heavy thoughts and out pops Elliot with a Tyler one liner…BRILLIANT pickup from the GnR story!!
thank you coredrum. beth/dust in the wind: now that could’ve the first rock ballad double- sided hit single.
I am sure they can work out their differences but it won’t be until after the tour is over and all the money has been hauled in by the 3. It is weird to me that Bill Ward is sitting around making zero money and he considers making some money a slap in the face. OK be a martyr……
Bill isn’t dealing from a position of power so it is what it is.
It’s too late. Bill says, “all or nothing” and I agree. Black Sabbath is going down on a very lo note as far as I’m concerned. They didn’t want to pay Bill his 25% and it’s disgusting that a TRUE reunion and farewell didn’t happen because they didn’t want to pay him his equal share.
What’s ‘equal’ share for a guy who has constantly popped in and out of Black Sabbath over the years, had to have shoulder surgery several years back, is/was completely overweight and can’t write a song worth crap? I love Bill but his martyr status is reaching new heights.