Bill Ward vs. Black Sabbath: The Saga Continues

As a quick recap, in May 2012 Ward officially pulled out of Black Sabbath’s reunion tour because he was not given a “signable contract.” The other original members of the band – Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer and Tony Iommi – went on to tour without the drummer and released Black Sabbath’s nineteenth studio album, 13, in 2013.

That summer Ozzy told the New York Daily News that he didn’t think Ward would have been able to record the album anyway because his former bandmate is “incredibly overweight. A drummer has to be in shape. He’s already had two heart attacks.”

Ward checked in with fans on Facebook Wednesday, saying the timing was right to bring up the topic with the “fluffy of rumors about new Sabbath projects” and a new Bill Ward Band album due out.

“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,” Ward wrote.

The drummer pointed out that he still needs a “signable” contract before agreeing to team up with the original Sabbath lineup for a new tour or record. Ward also wants a public apology.

“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,” Ward said, noting that he has little expectation of that happening.

He added, “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 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.”

Well, what do ya know, Ozzy doesn’t want to say sorry. Here’s the full message he posted on Facebook Thursday:

“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“