Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward – who is currently sitting out the band’s ongoing reunion citing contract disputes – has hinted at some of the specific reasons lying behind his decision to not rejoin the band in a new interview.
“I was offered a contact and I couldn’t sign it,” he tells Guitar International. “As for some of the stories – I would never, ever show up for a commitment that I could not do physically. So that should answer that one! In the statement that I did last year, I was quite clear that I came to the end of the road and promised myself and my family that I would never sign a contract that was not workable.
“It was one of the toughest decisions that I ever had to make. Because I absolutely and without question wanted to play. I haven’t left the band. Everybody thinks I have left the band. I didn’t walk out; it wasn’t like that at all! I just didn’t sign the contact and life took its own course.
“I’m the drummer in Black Sabbath so I want to do the entire show. I play all or nothing. Playing partially would kind of be aligning to my demise in Sabbath and minimize me. I’m the drummer in Sabbath and quite capable of doing the job.”
Read the entire interview at Guitar International.
In other Bill Ward news, the drummer is about to debut a fine art collection, called Absence of Corners, on August 1st. For more information, please visit www.billwarddrumart.com.
additional source: metalhammer.co.uk
36 Responses
Easy enough to prove what he claims. Post the contract. There several different ways to look at this. Performing Live all should get a equal share. On writing the writers get the credit and the cash. Recording see performing. back when they originally were together they all got writing credits even if they didn’t write the songs. My understanding was Tony wrote the music, Geezer the Lyrics and Ozzy came up with the vocal melody lines. they never said Bill ever wrote any of the songs. If this is true he has been getting song writing royalty checks for 40 years on songs he didn’t write. So as much as I love Bill’s playing, maybe everyone felt he already had received his fair share. So it’s rather simple whether he ever plays with the band again is in his hands as much as the other guys. So Bill if you want to play get out there and play. If they don’t give you 25% of the concert performance money then maybe your getting hosed.
Yes I’m sure Jon Bon Jovi splits the live show money equally with Tico Torres and David Brian. It was just Richie Sambora that he wasn’t paying equally. Point is for most bands nowadays the money is in touring and not writing music. So Bill Ward will not get paid the same amount as the Tony for example, and I don’t feel he should. He is the original and should be on that tour (if he’s able). But its laughable to suggest he would get equal money. Bill Ward was offered a job because he is now an employee and not a contractually equal member in Sabbath (much like Dio when he took over for Ozzy). I’m not saying it’s right or fair. But that’s how the business (any business) works. For those of you who think this is about re-living past Sabbath glory, your painfully wrong. This is about making money. Quite frankly I don’t have a problem with that either.
So do you think Ozzy should get the same pay as Tony … The guy that dosen’t write his lyrics. Can’t sing live . Cant remember his lyrics, and is so off key , anyone of us singing could those songs would sound better…..
Hey DR maybe they could get your buddy Thayer or Singer to be the singer … That’s if their puppet master Gene would let them …
And you call me the troll bigsled? Still can’t handle the beat down you took last time I see.
BIGSLED Kiss is afuckin joke !!!!! to have eric and thommy wear the make up is a slap in the face to peter and ace!!!
This is getting so old…Just move on…Decisions were made (for better or worse)…It is what it is…I don’t care who said what or who did what…Let it go, guys!!
Ozzy said that Bill Ward was not playing up to par and that the band would be carrying him. The irony here is that Ozzy’s voice on the album is over processed, weak, sluggish, and monotone. As for the videos I’ve seen of the first couple of shows on this tour, Ozzy is off key, off time, and is being carried by the band.
So far all the reunion has proven to me is that Ozzy’s explanation of why Bill wasn’t a part of this to be nothing short of bs and just how much better Ronnie and the Heaven and Hell lineup were. We haven’t seen the contract Bill was handed, but my guess is he couldn’t post it due to disclosure and confidentiality reasons even if he wanted to. We don’t know how much of this contract thing is true, but based on the way the Osbournes screwed Jake E. Lee on the Bark At The Moon album’s writing credits for money, it wouldn’t surprise me. On the other hand (like Bobby just said) the irony is Ozzy has proven himself to be everything he accused Bill of: not being able to remember his parts, lacking ability at his age, and just not up to snuff in general as for as being able to tour. I don’t see how Bill could’ve been any worse than Ozzy is at this point, even if Ozzy’s accusations about Bill were true in the first place. Ozzy has drifted musically for the past 20 plus years ever since he decided to not retire like he should have. All we’ve heard are unremarkable, second-rate albums and watched him turn into some mainstream TV, money-mogul guru like Gene Simmons. All the reunion and years leading up to this has revealed is Ozzy’s true nature and how the Dio fronted Sabbath was superior to this version despite it being the original with all the historical significance attached. It’s also interesting how the Osbournes kept the Dio version from using the Black Sabbath name during the Heaven and Hell reunion era a few years back, which makes perfect sense now because after the ass Ronnie and the boys kicked, there’s no way Ozzy would be able the follow that act under the same name. Just by the name Black Sabbath tagged exclusively now to Ozzy somehow legitimizes his poor showing these days, gets people to by the album, come out to see the show, and spend their money for an inferior product. The best move Bill ever made was not signing at this point.
All I have to say in defense of Bill Ward is that at least he, unlike SO many other musicians, was aware of his rights as a performer, musician, artist, instrumentalist, etc. that ALL of us have…but so few really know inside and out and use that knowledge to make informed financial and career decisions. If he felt like he’d be getting screwed by signing that contract, or not getting what he felt was at least fair or reasonable, then I completely support him in not going along with it.
I agree Seth. But then he should stop talking about it publicly. Otherwise all the opinions hit the airwaves – some in support, some not. If he feels getting paid nothing right now is better than getting paid something, then I applaud his integrity. Clearly there are two sides to the story.