Ozzy Osbourne spoke with Mojo magazine about original drummer Bill Ward’s decision not to participate in the band’s reunion.
The drum tracks on Black Sabbath’s first LP with Ozzy since 1978, 13, were recorded by Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilk while Osbourne’s touring drummer Tommy Clufetos filled the seat during Sabbath’s three shows last year and is currently on the road with the band in Australia.
According to blabbermouth.net, Ozzy explains Ward’s absence to Mojo, “I guess it’s to do with finances or something. But there was also another side to it. When Bill came along, we all had to ask, ‘Can he do an hour-and-a-half, two-hour gig? Can he cope?’ My suggestion was that we run through a set and see how he got on because he was so out of condition and the drummer is the most demanding job in the whole band. We looked at Bill, and he couldn’t remember what the fuck we were doing. But he didn’t come clean and say, ‘I can’t cut this gig, but can we work something out, guys, where I’ll come on but with another drummer backing me up?’ Or, ‘I’ll come and play a few songs.’ That would have been cool.”
He continued, “I get where he’s coming from, though. His pride was hurt and I get it. I really do get it. The guy will always be a dear, dear friend and a brother to me, but … He can’t be surprised that he didn’t get the gig. … You know them yellow fucking stick-on memo notes? He had them all over his fucking drums. I was like, ‘What the fuck’s that for, Bill?’ He said, ‘I can’t remember what I’m doing.’ I go, ‘How are you gonna remember out of those 500,000 bits of paper stuck all over your kit, which one you’re looking at, Bill?’ (He said) ‘I’ll know.’ Ah, OK great. I’m not gonna give Bill a hatchet job, but at the same time we haven’t got the patience to deal with it.”
Read more in latest edition of Mojo Magazine.
Who knows the truth, either way its not the full band any way you slice it. Personally im about sick of all things Ozzy and his over exposed wife whose only claim to fame is being Ozzy’s wife… The only reason I ever paid attention to Ozzy from the very beginning was the guitar players he had in his band.
Personally, I am glad they’re doing a new album, but it’s not a full reunion without Bill Ward. If he really couldn’t play up to par or have the stamina, then by all means he shouldn’t be involved. Also, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear that Rick Rubin was producing. The tracks I’ve heard so far sound better than I expected, but after hearing Metallica’s Death Magnetic album he did some time ago, I wasn’t impressed with the production. They should have gotten Roy Z to do it, who is a far better producer and understands metal better than most. The guitar tones on Death Magnetic were shit for a metal album. But regardless, I’m glad for the diehard Sabbath fans who are getting their fix.
It’s not even going to be close to what they did when they got back with RJD. Look up the videos on you tube.Dio still sounded great at 66-67 years old only a year before he passed.Look at the fan videos though,that way no one can claim they were fixed. Ozzy hasn’t had it in years,I’m glad I got to see him in his prime,now Sharon just props him up and collects the money.
ozzy probably would have gone along with th post its if they were taped together in sequence and scrolled through like old time movie credits. what a hypocritical heap of shit. god bless ozzy osbourne? fuck off ozzy osbourne! sharon, go finger yourself!
Wow! This topic’s pretty hot. I guess I’m going to be the voice of optimism here. “God is Dead” is a good track, and it’s eerily reminiscent of “Black Sabbath,” which gives all with the ears to hear a foothold on the Sabbath sound and faith that this album will fit in the rest of the Ozzy-era catalog. That said, I believe Ozzy is being straight with the fans. Ward is a great fellow, and anyone who has kept up over the years knows Ozzy and Bill have a great, brotherly relationship. Respectfully, Bill has not aged well, and it shows. God bless him and his health going forward. Additionally, I’m in Rubin’s camp on this one. Sabbath needed a strong, Ward-like backbeat that was compatible with Geezer and could be the solid, no frills undercurrent of what Iommi and Ozzy do to capture the songs in the recording process and redeliver them as expected live. The goal is achieved, and fans are not being short changed. In passing the comparison to VH or Kiss is apples to oranges. Michael Anthony is rhythm+vocal accompaniment+a face and voice in the band, albeit more subtle than the other two alpha egos. As for Kiss, it’s a more overt deception, but everyone knows that going in the arena. The Sabbath effort seems genuine enough and the thrill of finishing your final years on your own terms, playing what you want, when you want, and with whomever you want–I can respect that.
The bottom line is, whether it be Sabbath, VH, or KISS – if you aren’t happy that the originals are all there, then don’t buy tix or albums. If you’re good with what they are doing, then more power to ya and enjoy. Speak with your wallet. I’m good with some reunions like the ones mentioned, and not ok with others like GnR. But if you like the current GnR line up, I say enjoy. Like it or not, these guys have all earned the right to do whatever they want with their legacies – be it enhancing them or tarnishing them. There’s too many people with superiority complexes posting on these sites like they know more than others and thus their points are of higher validation than others.