DRUMMER BILL WARD EXPLAINS HIS STATEMENTS REGARDING BLACK SABBATH’S “13”

As previously reported, original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was interviewed for the latest episode of Eddie Trunk’s podcast, Eddie Trunk Podcast and made a few statement’s about Black Sabbath’s latest album, 13.

Ward told Eddie, “I didn’t think [13] was successful at all. Well, in terms of live attendance, I think it’s gonna go, ’cause the band’s really well known. But I really didn’t… I was working on detachment — serious detachment — and I wanted to make sure that I went down the line and detached myself as much as possible. I had to stop loving them, because if you’re loving a dog as it’s biting you and ripping your insides out, it’s hard to love a dog that’s doing that. So, I actually stopped loving them, and I had to learn what we call detachment. So whatever they were doing, I could care less. I wasn’t interested in the f–king album 13. I’ve heard twenty bars of it — that’s all I’ve heard — and then I turned it off and said, ‘That’s a pile of shit,’ and that’s the truth. And I couldn’t care less what they were doing on tour.”

According to blabbermouth.net, after some web sites reported on the interview by using Ward’s “pile of shit” comment in the headline in reference to the “13” album, Ward took the opportunity on the latest edition of his radio show, “Rock 50“, to set the record straight. He said, “I found myself getting into trouble again this week in the press. [Laughs] Man, I just can’t seem to say the right thing without getting slaughtered by some of our friends in the press. It’s quite amazing.”

I did a nice interview with a friend of mine, Eddie Trunk, as you know, this week, and, of course, some of the contents of the interview has been taken out, and kind of out of context as well, and they are making headlines right now. NME, I believe, in Great Britain, and I think there was one in Classic Rock as well, that I called Black Sabbath’s album 13 complete shit or something like that. And it’s just, like, ‘Man…. Man…’ You know, it’s, like, ‘Ooooh…’

Let me get a couple of things straight here. I really, really love those guys. I am so passionate in my love for them. They are fantastic musicians. I never faulted their musicianship — ever. I’ve played with these guys since I was a teenager. And I just… I love them. I’m in a dispute with them.

…Let’s go back to 13 for a second, so I can make it clear for the record. I heard about twenty, twenty-four bars of one track — one track — on 13, and I listened to it, and I just didn’t like it at all; I just didn’t like it. And I have that right not to like it. Recently, at the Ivor Novello Awards, where I was with Tony [Iommi] and Geezer [Butler], Geezer mentioned to me that he bought, or he downloaded, my new CD, which was Accountable Beasts. I said, ‘What did you think of the album?’ He said, ‘I love it musically, but I can’t stand it vocally.’ It just so happens that Geez doesn’t like my singing. He has that right…. He has that right not to like it. But I’m f–ked if the press is gonna slam me up the wall or come out with some pretentious bulls–t about using headlines that are completely out… You know, it’s just, like, what the f–k is all that about?

I’m just saying it from my heart, if you’re listening out there: Hey, get a clue! I really dig these people that I’m talking about, and I listened to twenty-four bars. I haven’t heard the rest of the album 13. I haven’t heard it. And I never listened to it. One of the reasons I didn’t wanna listen to it was because I felt it would be quite painful to listen to. Not musically, but emotionally, it’s quite painful to listen to something that you wanted to be part of, but were unable to be part of, because I’m fighting for some principles in my life, and that includes the way that I interact with those three guys — Black Sabbath. It’s about principles, folks. That’s all it is, okay? So when these big headlines come out like that, then… Oooh. Man! Talk about fanning the flames… Man….

Anyway, just for the record, I love Tony, I love Geezer, and I love Ozzy Osbourne, and they are great musicians. And I am letting all the Ozzy fans know that as well.”

To listen to Eddie’s podcast with Bill Ward, please click here.