Bill Ward posted a statement today regarding his non participation in Black Sabbath. He also spoke a bit about his upcoming solo album, Accountable Beasts. Thinking we need to send out a search party for “Beyond Aston”, or at least put it on the side of a milk carton. Anyway, I’ll just copy Bill’s statement here, and let you read it.
UPDATE: Ozzy responded to this, and kind of in a way you’d expect. Go look at the bottom of the story for that.
Dear Friends,
I hope you’re well and in good spirits. I have not made any public statements regarding my relationship with Black Sabbath since February 2012. Today, I want to address that relationship in this formal statement. Thank you.
I have neither severed nor discontinued my relationship with Black Sabbath, however, since 2012, the often inaccurate statements about me as a person and as a musician have caused me to be guarded and be especially detached emotionally and spiritually from Ozzy. His rhetoric above all has brought me the most discord. The continuing misguided information about me has established a necessity on my part to confront these issues. And now, with the imminent release of a new Bill Ward Band album, and the flurry of rumors about new Sabbath projects, I feel it appropriate to speak in a truthful and an un-cynical way.
There is always speculation about a true, original Sabbath lineup for the next tour or record. With a sad heart, I have to say I will not participate in any musical undertakings until a righting of the wrongs spoken against me has been achieved. I must admit, I have little to no expectations of this happening, but in the order of first things first, I’m looking for an honest accountability of all of Ozzy’s statements that I felt were untrue. 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. I would not want to continue on with him without this seemingly impassible 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.
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 lineup will continue to fade away.
Put simply, it’s up to them. I have dearly missed playing with them and as people, I have been heartbroken over the loss of who I thought we were. And now you know where I stand.
Very soon my band, BWB will release a new album ironically called “Accountable Beasts.” I re- kick-started it in May 2012, and in an off and on journey to record, we have reached our final destination – a good mix, and a well mastered record. At this time we are putting the final touches on the digital booklet.
There are other multiple projects in different stages of progress, and I hope to bring more definitive news about them as things unfold this year. I have been very happy writing new songs, playing drums and working with other musicians. I have been blessed with musical visions and the ability to harness them. I’m moving into the future with an optimistic outlook.
For our many Sabbath fans, I love you all dearly. You are extremely special people. You fucking rock. I have been in deep regret since January 2012 that a true union was denied. I’ve remained faithful to you and honest with myself. Had I not been honest throughout I would have perished long ago. My hand is within yours, and I am encouraged to know you better. Stay safe and stay strong.
Now it is time to meet the circumstances of my statement and attend to what else is ongoing and before me.
Love,
Bill Ward
On Apr 16th, Ozzy posted a response to all of this. You can read Ozzy’s response below, the original version is available on Facebook here.
I never wanted to discuss this in a public forum but Bill’s statements left me no option to but to respond honestly.
Wow Bill,
What the fuck are you on about? I cannot apologize for comments or opinions I may have made about you in the press during Sabbath’s “13” album and tour– physically, you knew you were fucked. Tony, Geezer and myself didn’t think you could have done a two hour set with a drum solo every night, so we made the decision to move on. With Tony’s condition we felt that time was not on our side.
Bill, stop this smokescreen about an “unsignable contract” and let’s be honest. Deep down inside you knew you weren’t capable of doing the album and a 16 month tour. Unfortunately for you, our instincts were correct as you were in hospital several times during 2013. Your last hospitalization was for a shoulder surgery that you now say you’ve only just recovered from. This would have meant that our world tour would have been canceled. So how is all of this my fault? Stop playing the victim and be honest with yourself and our fans.
Bill, we go back a long way, let’s stop this now before it gets out of hand.
God bless you.
Love.
Ozzy
I don’t think Bill is coming from a place of power when demanding Ozzy suffer a public lashing.It’s sad that they aren’t best buds anymore but as all men of a certain age know even the best of friends can become the best of enemys.
I am so deeply saddened that money and greed (from the ‘sabbath camp’) has it’s toll over the magic and power of the music, and over friendships. I would so love to see Bill where he belongs, for just one more time. I feel blessed I had the chance in 2005.
Why musicians are so often manipulated by greedy promoters and managers, is just out of my understanding. They have the power, and they should take control, because music is what counts.
We love you Bill!
And that, as they say, is that.
I would like nothing more than to see Bill play with Sabbath again but I respect Bills stand even more. If he feels he has been genuinely insulted and offended then he has the right to point that out and ask for an apology. I will look forward to hearing the new album from the BWB, I will buy this and im sure I will enjoy it also. Bill is obviously the most open and honest person out of the four if them, he wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid of speaking his mind. I hope this does get sorted out and they can all at least be friends again if nothing else. As Bill signs out – stay safe stay strong and…Never Say Die!
I think the four of them should just hang out for a couple hours and it would fix itself. No doubt the love they feel for each other. I am guessing lack of communication during reunion negotiations brought them to this point. I am also guessing Ozzy’s comments were on the cuff and speculative, not mean spirited towards Bill. I believe all Bill needs is to feel some love from the other 3. God Bless Black Sabbath
ozzy will apologize. This is a ploy. Theyre going to release the rest of the unfinished songs left from 13 and tour one last time together with the number one album again…Bet me and lose.Sabbath are the epitome of the underdog champions and they love the drama.It sells.And Iommi is one of the smartest guys alive
Kudos to Bill for standing up for himself and doing what he feels is right. That said, they should be able to discuss this among themselves. Tony, Geezer, Bill, and Ozzy ONLY. WITHOUT attorneys and individual managers getting in the way. At the end of the day, the buck stops with the BAND! Gentlemen, do the right thing, for each other and the FANS. Enough said.
I loved “13” but it will always bear the stigma of not having Bill Ward on drums. That’s no disrespect to Brad Wilk in any way shape or form but I’m sure even he’d agree Bill should have been apart of the album and tour. If the next album truly is the last, it should be preformed by the first.
Oh dear. Well, Ozzy has spoken. Doesn’t sound good. It’s too bad that things have degenerated to the level of making public statements on the internet instead of talking to each other. Welcome to 2015, I guess.
Everyone has read Ozzy’s response to Bill’s statement I’m sure. There have been implications elsewhere that Sharon wrote it, due to the fact that it is pretty damned coherent. I’ll give Ozzy 100% credit for the sentiment, if not the actual words. If Sharon did write it, I’m glad. She is not a stupid woman. She is not a devious woman. Far from it. It’s fair and accurate and Ozzy isn’t so helpless that it would go out without his knowledge or consent. I am sick to bloody death of Bill Ward and his complaints. He reminds me of
Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown all the time. Every time he claims he’s on board for a record or a tour or even two fucking songs like on ‘The Dio Years’, he’s off again. He is sullying the name and legacy of Black Sabbath every time he pulls one of these stunts.
Bill Ward is replaceable. Tommy Clufetos has proven that, the album ’13’ has proven that. There will always be a hole in the hearts and minds of Ozzy, Tony and Geezer when it comes to the fact that Bill isn’t with the band. Only Ozzy, Tony and Geezer know just how big that hole is…or isn’t. This ridiculous charade has been going on for thirty-five years now, three times as long as Bill actually played in Black
Sabbath! We all know just how frustrating this is and has been for us fans; I can’t begin to imagine the level of frustration Ozzy, Tony and Geezer must be experiencing. I more or less lost the faith in rock & roll in general when we first started hearing about founding members of monster fucking rock bands having to sign contracts in order to play on albums and go on tours with monster fucking rock bands these individuals helped to found in the first place! This contractual bullshit didn’t start with Black Sabbath and it won’t end there; I’m not pointing fingers at them.
I’m surprised Tony and Geezer haven’t lost their minds completely, what with things going so well with Dio and Heaven & Hell, then Dio getting cancer and dying, the original Sabbath re-forming and Bill pulling out (again), then Tony getting cancer and getting saddled with limitations he wouldn’t normally have just when things are getting exciting once again… Shit. Just…shit. I’m happy with the band and the music they have made and are making. Thanks guys. Bill, tend your fucking garden, man.
The album ’13’ bears no stigmata; it’s a kick-ass album by Black Sabbath and I’d love to hear more. It can sit very comfortably next to any one of their first five records, and surpasses ‘Sabotage’, ‘Technical Ecstasy’ and ‘Never Say Die’.
While I love Bill Ward’s drumming, I agree with your post completely, until the last sentence. Craig, give ‘Sabotage’ another listen. It’s a monster of an album. Absolute classic.
I love Bill’s playing too and do not wish him ill by any means. He seems to sabotage himself from time to time; I can’t go on too much about that because I do the same thing sometimes. I’ve been listening to ‘Sabotage’ since I first heard it in either 1978 or 1979. Over the years, some of the albums retained their listenability and a few didn’t, ‘Sabotage’ being one of them. The live gigs, especially the Asbury Park show, are another story. Incredible. Including all the ‘Sabotage’ songs. So I guess it’s the studio versions I’m less than enamored with. The production on the album is great so that’s not the problem. Some bands go on stage night after night and attempt to re-create the sound and performance of their studio albums…and fail miserably in the attempt. Others go on stage and just blow their albums away night after night. Sabbath has always been the latter. That’s not a slagging off of the studio material but a validation of it, since you have to have great material to begin with in order to be a great live band. That’s pretty much why the ‘Technical Ecstasy’ and ‘Never Say Die’ material never really worked on stage.
Since you took the time to suggest it, I’ll take the time to listen. Thanks.
I completely agree with you. I love Bill and I respect him for standing his ground, but as a fan, I’m really sick and tired of being teased. He is like Lucy pulling the football away. It’s like, either join the band or go away and do your own thing, you know? No more of this, I’m in the band, nope, now im not. I’m onboard for this new album, oh wait an unsignable contract. Im ready for the tour, oh but I cant… It’s like, make up your fucking mind already. Either you’re in the band or you’re not. It’s like that couple in high school that was constantly on again off again, that sort of thing. It’s annoying. Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited to hear Accountable Beasts because I thought it would never happen and I am still a Bill Ward fan and all, but this whole battling sabbath thing, it’s just gotten old. I don’t mind hearing about Bill, but not in his relationship with Black Sabbath, that just frustrates me at this point. I’m looking forward to hearing good things though, like what everyone thinks of his new album.
I hope we will see Orginal lineup for a final record and final World tour (and this time I hope they will come Turkey too)
First… this is what “getting old” is all about… it’s full of bodies breaking down, egos bruising easier than they once did, decisions being made based on limited time frames and tempers being shorter than they once were all while seeing the dollar as more important than it might once have been. Just the way it is… hate it if you want but one day, you too will be old…
I tend to believe what everyone is saying, at least in general, because it doesn’t seem to have changed each time they speak about it. Sabbath camp doesn’t think Bill can physically hold up so they want to cover their bases by slicing his pay in order to cover the additional expenses of having a backup drummer on call. On the other hand, Bill believes he can hold up and wants full pay. It really seems to boil down to this conflict.
My question would be what concessions were granted Tony given his condition. I’m sure they would have cancelled the tour if his health had taken a turn for the worse and I seem to recall he had to go back to England for treatment during part of the tour. While the health issues may be drastically different, considerations must have been made.
Since Ozzy noted that Bill had shoulder surgery and Bill has been able to complete a solo album, maybe it’s time for them to sit down and talk again. I think it now boils down to Bill’s ego (can he get by w/o an apology… doesn’t look promising) and Ozzy’s ego (will he apologize… he doesn’t seem like he’s the type to do so). TALK IT OUT GUYS!!!! I don’t recall every hearing Ozzy say much more than Bill wasn’t in shape for tour, so seems he could say, “Look, Bill… I didn’t mean to offend you… I’m truly sorry if I did…” and Bill accepts that this was about how THE OTHER GUYS perceived his health and given they were stakeholders in the issue, they had a right to make business decision. But… what’s done, is done… maybe it’s time for the next chapter?
In the end, I sure hope to see the 4 original members for at least one more show… I ask them, PLEASE… If 13 was about “Is God Dead?” then do your best to make 14 about “Is Forgiveness Alive?”
Sabbath, Sabbath, SABBATH, SABBATH, SABBATH…
No Iommi, no Sabbath, so the ‘conditions’ are simple really, providing Iommi can handle it! Ward can & has been replaced many times in the past, the same as some of their vocalists at different times, for whatever reason! As you stated, this is what getting old is all about in many ways. A lot of ‘older’ bands opt for a younger drummer, more stamina obviously & this is not a dig at Bill Ward at all. It is unfortunate.
Lee Kerslake was out of Uriah Heep a few years ago for health reasons also! It happens & vocalists & drummers are the most ‘vulnerable’ in rock bands, the human body can only take so much! Jon Anderson from Yes was treated like crap by Howe & Squire when he was seriously ill & dumped from the band. No contact at all from those two as to Anderson’s health either, as he lay at ‘deaths’ door! They still haven’t contacted him after 7 years & Anderson was & IS an integral member of Yes in all aspects!
Great post. I think Ozzy’s ego would give way before Bill’s pride or sense of entitlement. Weird though, he’s actually, to a degree, entitled to that sense of entitlement. Founder member, he put in his work with the rest of the guys, made a good number of albums revered the world over and created a playing style that is distinguishable from 99% of the rest of rock drummers/percussionists (if you must). And he was there during the ‘hungry days’ and beyond. He has been out of the band far longer than he was in, and in this increasingly litigious world he has to protect himself and the other three have to protect themselves too. That sucks. All the goodwill, the camaraderie, the shared triumphs and all the rest…all gone. You pretty much nailed it.
“I tend to believe what everyone is saying, at least in general, because it doesn’t seem to have changed each time they speak about it. Sabbath camp doesn’t think Bill can physically hold up so they want to cover their bases by slicing his pay in order to cover the additional expenses of having a backup drummer on call. On the other hand, Bill believes he can hold up and wants full pay. It really seems to boil down to this conflict.”
So 3 guys want insurance on 4th guy. 4th guy says it’s not necessary. The fair solution would have been this : A 5th guy is hired. If he’s not needed, the 3 guys pay for him. If he is needed, the 4th guy pays. Totally fair.
Such a shame the comments right from day one from any band member, have gone public, but as we know in today’s world, it’s hard for it not to end up ‘out there’!
In regards to Ward’s history with Sabbath from 1980, he has been in & out of the band at many different times, according to what we have read. He initially dropped out for the original Heaven & Hell touring, joined again for the Born Again recording & ‘dropped’ out again. Didn’t he get on board for some concerts for the Forbidden tour, or Cross Purposes? One of those, I cannot remember & I have been corrected here before for this, so I should remember or at least look it up again!. Joined the original reunion in late 90’s & suffered health problems, a heart attack (that cannot be helped of course) whilst recording the 2 studio tracks, one ended up with a drum machine on it, correct me if i am wrong! Replaced for Ozzfest gigs by Mike Bordin if i am correct!
Wasn’t he going to allegedly be involved in the original Dio reunion in 2005? Then he opted out, predictable that one as far as I could see.
Then the original 2011 announcement of the reunion to end all reunions! Anyone with any inkling of both Ozzy & Bill’s ‘health’ issues at that time, could see that they both would struggle for a ‘world’ tour. Osbourne gets through with the help of certain things, Bill cannot. Ward hasn’t played live for how long? It is predictable & that is where all this crap ‘soap opera’ rubbish is even more pathetic. He still could have recorded the album though, couldn’t he? I may be wrong there also, but at least if he was fit for the recording sessions, he would be on the album! That has to be better than not being on it, surely! Forget the band Black Sabbath now, they are finished, we had the good ’13’ album & a successful tour, it’s over, please let the beast free to wander, into the abyss!
I try not to harbor strong opinions over anything that I was not actually present to see with my own eyes. I respect the opinions of others though. Even if the implication by so many that it was all about greed etc…from the Sabbath camp seems really absurd to me. Are people implying they had Bill on board , then got together and figured they’d get a little more coin in they just did something like a 30-30-30-10 deal?
That is ridiculous. The sort of thing a child would come up with. I guess I lied when I said I respect everyone’s opinion!
I love Bill’s work. But this is a fact- he has had serious health issues that hospitalized him since that whole debacle. They were right in their instincts about him. It is sad it has been such a fallout. But some people, no matter how much you love and respect them, are not going to accept one’s reasoning. Bill seems like he would need near constant support and encouragement, etc….on top of the health issues and they had enough on their plate, especially with Iommi being sick.
But aside from all that, why would people who want to think the worst about Black Sabbath even be on this site? If I thought for a moment they were just greedy bastards I would find another band to follow.
With regards to ‘greed’, I was obviously referring to promoters pushing this and many other bands from the 60 and 70’s (who said Queen?) to go out again and tour the world. It’s obvious that those guys don’t need the money…and they don’t even need to tour the whole damn world each time!
I’m fine with Ozzy’ idea that Bill was not fit for a whole tour…so why not doing just a few shows, in a few major markets, or in some special venues, and have Bill in there? And share those magical moments with the fans once again! That’s why I talk about greed going in the way of relationships between men
The legacy of Black Sabbath didn’t deserve this despicable dirty laundry washing in public. Whatever there was to be discussed was already discussed during the recording and the subsequent 13 tour. The damage was already done, Sabbath already recorded the album and toured without Bill, it’s over.
I am wondering if Ozzy can appreciate the perverse irony, in fact the sheer hypocrisy, of his statements regarding Bill and his health. I attended three shows on Sabbath’s 2013 Australian tour (both nights in Melbourne and the night in Adelaide). Ozzy was very hit and miss but no one really cared because we were watching Black Sabbath with the original vocalist. On one of the nights in Melbourne he was terrible, frequently off-key (especially when they had a crack at ‘Electric Funeral’ – I understood why that was dropped the following night), and did not venture far from his teleprompter. However, it must be said that in Adelaide he was much better and I simply assumed that his medication had been appropriately tweaked that night as he acted 10 years younger than he did in Melbourne. It should also be stressed that Tony and Geezer were note-perfect every night (just like they were on the Heaven and Hell tour).
My point is that the person slinging so much nastiness at old Bill is the only other person in the band that has also lost their abilities over time (to the point that one should flip a coin to see if he is going to be on form at any given gig). Even on those bad nights I didn’t care. I just wanted to see my all time favourite band live with as many original members as there could be. I was aware that I was watching a band of old men and did not expect them to be the same as the legendary Paris 1970 video footage. That is why so many fans like myself would love to see Sabbath with Bill on board, at least in some fashion, for the next album and tour (I never understood why Ozzy’s concerns about Bill’s health prevented him from recording the album???). Sure Bill may not have it anymore to play like it is 1970, but neither has Ozzy.
And for any of you who wish to leap to Ozzy’s defence over this, please watch the classic 1970 footage and tell me if you think Ozzy has been even close to sounding as good and performing as amazingly at any stage in the past two decades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1uUMFK74JY
I don’t expect Ozzy or Bill to perform and sing like that anymore. I am not even concerned that Ozzy needs a teleprompter to remember the lyrics Geezer wrote for him in the 70s. I will still spend lots of my hard-earned money on their albums and travelling to see them live. They are my favourite band and those three nights that I saw them in 2013 were just magic.
With best wishes to all,
Mike FB
Infernal Noize Radio (Australia)
I don’t know why, but your post made me laugh. That is not an insult. Somewhere in there I got the image of Ozzy being powered down and packed in dry ice and stuck in the cargo hold of the plane taking the band to the next gig. Then the roadies dust him off and power him back up just in time for the show. Where all that came from I’ll never know. But it’s funny as hell.
Just read this Rolling Stone interview with Bill Ward!
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/black-sabbaths-bill-ward-i-dont-know-if-im-a-member-20150417
Things to get ‘off his chest’? God, that’s pretty tasteless…very funny too. I’m gonna catch hell for this, but a lot of stuff Bill says when talking about his relationships with the band members and all the stuff he needs from them (verbally) in order to ‘move on’ (I HATE that fucking phrase) is very firmly and deeply entrenched AA dogma. Yes, fucking dogma. I’m an ex-Catholic and I can tell dogma from dogshit. And I’m hearing BOTH in equal measure from Bill. That said, I am in AWE of Bill, thirty two years of no drink or drugs. Probably no one wants to hear it after all the shit I’ve been talking, but that is truly an incredible achievement and I have a great deal of respect for Bill for that reason. I’ve lost respect for him from a musical angle, but…credit where it’s due, always.
I really would like to know how one can come back from a tour basically ‘broke’ as Bill mentioned in the interview. He ostensibly had a contract that gave him X amount of dollars upon completion of the tour. Unless the hotel rooms, transport and per diems were all given on credit against his contract money, I don’t see how that is possible. Who in their right mind would sign such a contract?
I am trying not to take sides in this argument but its difficult not to. The more I do research on Ozzy the less I like the man and the more I wish he was not the massive superstar that he is. I could never call him the Prince of Darkness, there is nothing scary and dark about the old geezer unless you consider that he was partly responsible for the death of Randy Rhodes, cheated with Lita Ford (she is responsible too) when Iommi was engaged to her and also let Sharon take most of the credit of Bark at the Moon from Jake Lee and give it to Ozzy. Aimee has said before that he is not a very good Father also so its hard for me not to take Bills side on this.
I really don’t give a toss what anyone does off-stage, never have and never will. Unless it’s made public by one or more of the involved parties, then opinions can be realistically formed and comments made. But, we will always be missing the pieces of the puzzle that are available only to the band members themselves and those that bore witness to whatever goings-on are in question. I can’t comment on his abilities as a father or his faithfulness to Sharon or what degree of responsibility he has for Randy’s death. That last one is particularly repulsive to even consider. I don’t believe it…and I wasn’t there. I don’t KNOW any of this stuff to be factual.
Bill, on the other hand, is…what’s the phrase…sticking his head above the parapet? Over and over and over again. He’s throwing slow softies down the middle and we are all taking it in turn to smash them back and over the fences.
OK HERE IT IS BOTTOM LINE… W T F SPECIFICALLY WERE THE TERM/S IN THAT CONTRACT THAT MADE IT UNSIGNABLE…NOW THAT WE ARE GETTING SICKENINGLY INTIMATE WITH THIS .. PUT THAT FUKING CONTRACT UP ONLINE AND LET’S ALL GET A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT THE FUSS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.
ALL THIS C R A P FEELS WORSE THAN THIRD GRADE TO ME. THEN WE’LL SEE WTF REALITY LOOKS LIKE!
I’m more interested in the possibility of new Ward solo stuff then this on-going shit-slinging….I really hope Accountable Beats comes out soon but as usual I won’t be holding my breath….
http://www.joelgausten.com/
I concur with those who question why Bill couldn’t have drummed on the “13” studio tracks, and left the touring to someone else. If it was all about the fans, Bill could have (and I would expect this given his overall demeanor) turned the other cheek and played in studio for 10 days PRO BONO, if it meant getting a new Sabbath album into our hands after 35 years apart of MK I Sabbath. Having said that, Ozzy’s response if juvenile, and only continues things in public that will only be solved face to face…this is how intimate relationships are healed, regardless of how public any of the members want to make it. I still believe “13” should have been an all-four-or-nothing proposition. Most comments are correct that Ozzy’s not himself anymore on stage, but for some reason singers get a free pass, but if the beat is crap in concert, fans probably wouldn’t like that. And given the Tommy Clufetos drum-by-numbers style, it’s clear that the band wanted the music to be coherent and make up for Ozzy’s shortcomings. God forbid a situation where Ozzy’s vocals are off, Bill can’t keep pace, and Tony has some sort of episode…leaves a lot on Geezer’s shoulders…that’s what they wanted to avoid on tour.
But for the “15” album, or maybe it’s “16” or “18”, I hope to have Bill in studio. Forget a “signable” contract…if he offers to play for free on the album only, and the band still won’t have him, we have an entirely different situation, don’t we? I’d support Bill greatly for pushing it that far.
Why on earth would Bill have wanted to play for free on the ’13’ album? I don’t understand what you are getting at. What would entice him to do that? A piece of the publishing? If Bill had come onboard to do the album and let the tour be handled by someone else, either the band would have to be rehearsing with Tommy in between recording sessions, which puts a hell of a lot of strain on everyone, or they’d have to be doing long soundchecks on the road in order to get the new drummer up to speed in any areas of weakness he might have had. The conditions would be considerably unfavorable to anyone and everyone involved.
I have been asking myself why I am taking the bands side and not Bills. Be sure I am one of the loyalist fans and about 45 now. Love you all very very much. But I operate in the business world and what pisses me off the most in business is when global company’s are not honest about intentions. I see alot of parallels here. I can help not being pissed off at all the managers and with Bill the most because publicly the indentations were made by Ozzy and the band over and over to come see them but Bill didnt.
Whats almost as bad is that they keep there mouth shut about all of this shit. Example, here is Bill….well its been since 2012…….come on man. Why did have to be since 2012? The whole fucking modern world is hyper connecting and this is going on with you guys? I am 45 and I can understand some of this but come the fuck on all of you! Bill WTF didn’t you learn enough seeing Ronnie pass away? You cant just let these things go and then say I wanted the show to go on! Ronnie wanted the show to go on and look at his Sacrifice! You guys have been doing this longer than most on this planet could do what you guys are doing and I mean THE LIFE. If there is some regret to be had here it is obvious to this fan that your communication to each other and your fans has not gotten better Bill. Hells bells, you used to talk for the band in the early days. Now all this ….well its been since 2012! Bill we love you and you got to talk to us!
If this was really all about uncertainty over Bill being able to make it through a tour, they should have done it this way: Put a backup drummer on retainer. If Bill falters, he pays for the backup out of his share. If Bill makes it through the tour, the other three guys have to pay for the backup guy. The “band” wanted insurance, but wanted Bill to pay for it regardless of necessity. That was bullshit.
I am 43 and play bass in two metal bands in Hull UK. Neither are famous, neither are signed, neither earn any big money, we are very DIY – but we gig regularly and both are very well respected. I am very happy with what we do. My point of all this is all the band members do this for the love of playing gigs, the love of creating music, the love of the whole adventure of the musical journey. Great friendships have made and will continue through the metal brotherhood. We dont have bucket loads of money, no contracts, no egos, no bullshit attitudes – I’m sure the early days of Sabbath were much the same before fame greed abuse and the almighty dollar took hold. I am glad of my position and our small victories along the way. Long live the simple love of performing metal music as a driving force without the above listed contaminants!