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.
47 Responses
The show must go on. Got to give credit for these guys doing it. I’ll be in philly to see them. If Ward can’t do it god bless him to let it out. The other guys love him as a brother. Bill at 65 doing metal for 2 hrs. not easy for anyone. Love him and the rest of the guys . I followed them for 38yrs.
Sure its about money. If RJD were still alive, he’d still be singing great. He didn’t abuse himself completely as Ozzy has done. His voice was always razor sharp. I saw maybe 20+ RJD shows, Elf, Rainbow, Sabbath, and solo. He always hit the notes. Can’t say the same for Ozzy. Hypocrite? Yes, he is. None of them can claim they were all totally clean 100% of the time all those years. Just my 2c.
ozzy should s a t o
Should have gotten Rondenelli back. Cross Purposes Live has killer drumming.
It’s 35 years too late and 3/4 of Sabbath is not Sabbath so I’ll be saving my money! More power to the old farts to back up the Brinks truck and rob the fans of their money that’s capitalism at its finest. I’ll be staying home when they play Florida but I respect anyone that wants to give their hard earned money to this cash grab!