Bill Ward has once again fired back at his former bandmates in BLACK SABBATH, insisting that it is “inaccurate” of Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne to suggest he was physically unable to play full shows with the group.
It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, something that Iommi confirmed late last month during a question-and-answer session about SABBATH‘s forthcoming “Ten Year War” box set.
“It would have been nice to do these last shows with Bill, but it just didn’t happen,” Iommi said. “And it’s silly, really, because it was over nothing. Even if he’d have played a couple of shows, it would’ve been great.”
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Iommi continued: “I don’t think he quite realizes how hard it would have been on him. So we wanted to bring another drummer just in case Bill ended up saying ‘I can’t do it’ for a couple of days or whatever. It’s too risky to go out and then have Bill say ‘I can’t do it,’ and you have to cancel [a show] on seventy thousand people, or whatever it might be. It’s very hard, and it’s not fair on the fans and it’s not fair on him.”
Earlier tonight (Friday, August 18), Ward released a statement via his Facebook page in which he disputed his former bandmates’ suggestion that he was not physically capable of touring and performing.
Bill wrote: “Again I feel in a position where I’m compelled to defend my actions in the period of 2011 up to, I suppose, today.
“Tony Iommi‘s comments and some of Ozzy‘s, remain in a place of disparaging remarks, which bring fault to my character as a person and a musician.
“I completely disagree with their comments. What they believe is quite opposite from my experience, especially in 2011 when no one spoke to me of being alarmed by my playing or my health. If they kept the info, which they so readily share now, to themselves in 2011, then let that be their shortcoming.
“How can I be judged that I could not do a tour when we were working on an album? How can I be judged in 2011 on health issues when none existed that would endanger a long-term tour? They all know very clearly how well I prepare to tour. I did not know I was being judged in 2011, if that is indeed their truth.
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“Tony‘s comment (and I’m assuming it was in reference to me touring) was, ‘I don’t think he quite realizes how hard it would have been on him.’
“How can Tony say that? I know what it takes to tour. I’ve helped to set the physical and playing bar that was metal then and today. What an undermining, self-centered thing for Tony to say. What an inaccurate thing for Tony to say.
“I had played all the Ozzfests and SABBATH tours after the reunion. Keep in mind, they did one tour without me first, I think just to see if it could work without me.
“I’m sorry and mean no malice in saying this, but it was their fear, their mistrust, and their rationale that put back-up drummers on the stage at the reunion and other tours. I disliked that they did that, but understood they wanted to. I got on with my work, playing drums in SABBATH. Never once was a back-up drummer required, and no, I did not validate the fears of those who had fears.
Via Blabbermouth.com