Artist News

Bill Ward says a full Black Sabbath reunion still unlikely

By | Published on Friday 17 April 2015

Black Sabbath

Bill Ward, original drummer with Black Sabbath, has issued another long statement about his relationship with his former band, following the news that a “farewell” concert from the other three founder members was being axed in favour of an Ozzy Osbourne solo set at Ozzfest Japan in November. The note also comes as Ward prepares to release a record through his Bill Ward Band album project.

As previously reported, back in 2012 it looked, for a time, like a full original line-up reunion of Sabbath could be on the cards, but then Ward said he’d been handed an “unsignable” contact. As a result the subsequent reunion shows went ahead without the drummer, though the other band members said “the door was always open” to Ward.

In the new statement, Ward has repeated his previous line that while the door may always be open, that doesn’t mean he is being offered what he considers to be a fair deal. And, three years on, the drummer says that for any full reunion to occur in the future, Osbourne would have to undo damage done by various comments he has made regarding his former bandmate.

Ward writes: “I would want Ozzy to amend his opinions and exaggerations. I would want him to be forthcoming about his unrealistic viewpoints. And because I was chastised publicly, I would want him to amend publicly in his words, and not through an Ozzy representative, the nature of the wrongs”.

He goes on: “I would not want to continue on with him without this seemingly impassable dilemma being addressed. I don’t think previously strong relationships can remain strong after dispute by just sweeping the offensive stuff under the carpet, or by saying a puny sorry, or ‘oh, that’s all over now’. It doesn’t work like that for me. Righting of wrong works, and that’s what I want if I’m ever going to be his friend again”.

Returning to ‘the deal’, he goes on: “Still undone and faraway is a ‘signable’ contract. I would require a ‘signable’ contract before moving one step toward a pathway that could lead to us all playing together again. I want a contract I can approve. That’s my truth. That’s my stand. I’ve listened to nothing but insults and false remarks, and if as a band or as individuals they wish to continue along the same lines, then any notion of an original Black Sabbath line-up will continue to fade away. Put simply, it’s up to them”.

You can read Ward’s full statement, where he also discusses his upcoming projects, here.



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