BLACK SABBATH’S IOMMI EXPLAINS WHY HIS CANCER DIAGNOSIS STOPPED THE BAND’S NEGOTIATIONS WITH DRUMMER BILL WARD
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
The elephant in the room is the fact that sadly, there will likely never be another tour with the original 4 members again. As a musician myself, I regard Bill as an integral part of the Sabbath sound. His jazz & soul background gave Sabbath an underlying swing feel that has never been duplicated. A perfect comparison is Phil Rudd of AC/DC. Why do you think the Young brothers chose to have him back in the band over amazing drummers like Simon Wright, Chris Slade, etc? One word, feel. In their words, he was the right fit for the band. Bill will always be the best fit for Sabbath.
Having had a wife twice diagnosed with cancer, and thankfully recovered, I can understand Tony’s need to say fuck it and soldier on. Nothing quite reorganizes ones priorities than facing death. The fact that Bill was holding out obviously shows he wanted more money,but as Don stated we don’t know what any of them are making. That said, it’s impossible to pass judgment on any of them. Would it have been great for them all to be together? Absolutely. Does the show still go on? It will, and it will be awesome.
don you are an asshole to say bill ward is not a great drummer i don`t know what the fuck band you been you listening to but i suggest you take the shit out your ears my man.
How eloquently put Jackie. The fuckin band I’ve been listening to is Sabbath – since the day they came out. And the drummer I’ve been listening to is Bill Ward. I love all you guys who come out here and jump to his defense without knowing shit about whats gone on behind the scenes. Read my original post asshole. And as for you Mr. Kotch, calling Bill Ward unique as a drummer is like saying Ringo Star was unique as a drummer. If you don’t get that one, I’m not surprised dumbass. Hilarious that most of you bitch that if Bill isn’t there, its not a reunion, but then belittle Ozzy and wish Ronnie the replacement was still singing for Sabbath. You guys must’ve all gotten into them in the 80’s. Don’t look at the Ozzy Osbourne you see today. Try and remember, if you can, the Ozzy Osbourne who along with the other 3, brought Sabbath to the fore front of Rock n Roll. Now get back in your Mom’s basement and shut up.
All respect to Tony, that is horrible being dealt the cancer card, and I can see his desire to get things moving, but with Yoko I mean Sharon involved in things, I can’t help but feel that this is a just “PR” way to spin the whole thing to make Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer look like the victims of Bill the Greedy drummer, rather than Bill being the victim of shitty Sharon made up deal that was probably worse than the “hired guns” deal Ace and Peter got when they rejoined KISS in 1995/96. I’m not even a huge Sabbath fan, and I was disappointed to hear they went on without Ward. Health and many more years of living for Tony.
It is revisionist and quite dishonest to suggest that Bill Ward was not influential force, or whatever, in Black Sabbath and the founding of Heavy Metal. Listen to a song like War Pigs. You’re going to say that Ward is not talented?
I’m going to suggest that if a Black Sabbath ‘reunion’ is not possible because of Bill Ward not being there because of his so-called many contributions, that in itself is laughable. If all you can do is bring up one song in a bands 40+ year career, you’ve proven my point. And seriously, War Pigs? You call that great drumming? Again you rest my case for me. Like I said originally, the original 4 would be the ultimate. Everyone has their right to either accept this reunion or walk away from it. I want to see Iommi play in Sabbath with Ozzy before something reoccurs with his Cancer. A whiny Bill Ward doesn’t have the right to stop that.
Good point Van halen reunion same scenario. Michael Anthony was 1/4 that bands sound!!!! They took him out of the equation. Is it really a reunion NO!!!!!!!
I agree Tito. I’d rather have MA back in VH instead of Wolfie. But the truth is without Wolfie playing with his Dad, there would be no VH right now – Eddie has stated that. He wants to play with his son. So I would rather go see and enjoy VH if this is the only version I could get. Again if people don’t like it, I get that and everyone has their right to listen to them or not. Its the harsh reality that we as music fans now go through. The bands we worshiped years ago aren’t the same anymore. Bill Ward is the same scenario. I get it if people won’t buy the new Sabbath cause Bill isn’t there. But I also get people who will buy it with or without Bill. Take it or leave it. I don’t think there’s a wrong or right here.