Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pulled the plug on negotiations with Bill Ward because he feared he was running out of time to make the band’s reunion album.
The guitarist was diagnosed with cancer soon after the band announced plans to make their first record with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978.
With memories of Ronnie James Dio’s death in his mind, he decided he couldn’t continue negotiations with drummer Ward, who said he hadn’t been offered a contract he regarded as “signable.”
Iommi tells Guitar World, “Once I heard ‘cancerous lymphoma,’ I thought, ‘That’s it. I’ve had it.’ We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out. But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed, I thought, ‘Fucking hell, that’s it – we’ve got to get a move on. I might pop off next year!’
“So I emailed him and said, ‘Bill, we can’t wait any longer. We’ve got to get on with it.’ And that was it.”
Iommi recently credited Osbourne with persuading him to see a specialist, leading to the discovery of his cancer in time for successful treatment. The guitarist says, “I asked the doctor, ‘Is it okay if I work?’ He said, ‘Yes – you’ve just got to be careful.’ So I’d go in the studio and play for a bit. Then I’d get tired and I’d have to sit down. The guys would tell me not to push it.”
Osbourne commented, “He was a soldier and marched on – he still had more riffs coming out of him than anyone. We all rallied around him, but it’s not like we’d be saying, ‘Are you okay, are you okay?’”
Bassist Geezer Butler added, “It brought up how we’re all mortal beings and we aren’t here for ever. Tony and I were on the Heaven and Hell tour with Ronnie – and six months later Ronnie was dead. When Tony got the cancer, obviously that was in his mind.
“So it was like, let’s get the album done at all costs, as long as Tony’s up to it. It didn’t affect his playing at all – in fact, I think it really encouraged him and kept his mind off the cancer, which is the best thing you can possibly do.”
Black Sabbath’s 13 will be released on will be released on June 11th.
Black Sabbath North American Tour Dates
Jul 25th Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jul 27th Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Jul 29th Tampa, FL Live Nation Amphitheatre
Jul 31st W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
Aug 2nd Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Aug 4th Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 6th Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug 8th Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug 10th Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Aug 12th Boston, MA Comcast Center
Aug 14th Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Aug 16th Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug 18th Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center
Aug 22nd Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Aug 24th Seattle, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
Aug 26th San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
Aug 28th Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 30th Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center
Sep 1st Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
Sep 3rd Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Sports Arena
*Previously announced date.
^On sale Friday, May 3rd
+On sale Saturday, May 4th
~On sale, Friday May 10th
>On sale TBD
additional source: classicrockmagazine.com
methinks Sharon is making Tony say this. I’m sure Bill doesn’t forget about the times his Sabbath mates stepped in to save him from pickling himself. I’m sure that if Bill truly knew Tony’s health may have been in jeopardy and that Tony wished for a quicker end to the red tape, he would have worked with all to get the show on the road. Is it possible that Bill’s share of the deal was THAT horrible that he just couldn’t get himself to accept it? I like Eddie’s comment some time ago at the beginning of all this: how hard is it to just split this up 4 ways, everybody wins (and wins A LOT), then each can go their separate way. It’s NOT a reunion without all 4. All 4 are of equal value in a REUNION, no?
I’ve been fairly critical of this iteration of Sabbath without Bill Ward. It seems somewhat preposterous to me that a founding member has to beg for scraps from the dinner table. With that said, this resonated with me. I can’t imagine getting this shot to do something one last time and suddenly being faced with your own mortality. Suddenly business seems less important and getting the show on the road seems to be more important. I suppose the case could be made that in light of that he could have just adjusted his own cut to just get Bill on board. But I’m not going to criticize him for not doing that.
Have you ever heard of KISS? Yeah, beg for scraps? How about flat out screwed out of your own persona…It is sad that in any of these bands be it KISS, Black Sabbath, Crue, etc that these guys fight over BS like money. First and foremost, to do it right, come to the table with an equal split for all. No nonsense, no ego, just split the damn ticket and be done. It is best for all. Songwriters credits and royalties are a whole different area, but for the basis, equal. It’s a shame things boil down to that when they are all filthy ass rich and wouldn’t lose any sleep over a decent agreement like that.
I don’t think you should use KISS as an example.Peter,Ace were paid equal shares years after leaving/fired though they didn’t contribute anything at that time.They sold their shares/rights.Maybe in a perfect world for the re-union stint they could of received = shares,but it was Gene,Paul who kept the KISS machine on track for all these years.Ace,Peter were paid well without the headaches.They didn’t have to do it.If their contributions/work ethics were significant I’m sure they could have re-negotiated their contracts instead of leaving again.
Really? You know how the business was done for Kiss after Ace & Peter left??
I would think that impending mortality would be an impetuous to reach an equitable contract with your original drummer, not be used as an excuse to throw him under the bus. Poor show Mr. Ward, for shame.
*Edit* Poor show Mr. Iommi.
None of us know what Bill was or wasn’t offered. So jumping on Ozzy or Tony is rather ludicrous when you just believe what Bill is saying and nobody else. In all factual honesty, Bill Ward wasn’t a massive creative force in Black Sabbath. Hell he isn’t even that great a drummer. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want him there, but doesn’t mean I can’t go on listening to new Sabbath without him either. If one of the other 3 weren’t there, I’d have issue based on their contributions to the band. That maybe hypocritical, but just like any of these other ‘reunions’, you can take it or leave it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it or go to the shows. If you like it, then enjoy and more power to ya.
That’s actually total nonsense. Bill was a much greater creative force in the original Sabbath than Ozzy.
Bill Ward wasn’t a massive creative force in Black Sabbath? He isn’t even a great drummer? How do YOU know what Bill did/didn’t contribute behind closed doors? As far as a drummer, Bill’s drumming is completely unique when compared to a lot of drummers that play in heavy rock/metal bands…. his jazz influence is completely unique – and while others just bash away, his fills are extremely tasteful and well thought out….. you – sir – are a regular jackass
T o say Bill Ward is not essential in Sabbath is not a fair statement. His contribution to Sabbath is huge, by him not being there is not a reunion, would Sabbath ever reunite if Ronnie didn’t pass? I don’t believe so.