WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 11: (L-R) Musicians Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath appear at a press conference to announce their first new album in 33 years and a world tour in 2012 at the Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Bill Ward responds to rumours of Black Sabbath reunion
“I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favourites”
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has responded to speculation that the metal legends could team up to play one final show together.
In recent months, rumours have suggested that the group could join forces for a one-off reunion show, with Ward back behind the drums for the first time in nearly two years. The group’s last run of shows which concluded in 2017 saw Ward’s place taken by American sticksman Tommy Clufetos.
Ward refused to join the metal legends when they reunited in 2012 due to what he deemed to be an “unreasonable contract”, before missing their final The End Tour, which finished in 2017.
Now, it seems he’s keen to be back as part of the group again.
“Bill Ward checking in regarding all the updates on a possible Sabbath show in England,” he posted on X/Twitter.
“I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favourites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time.”
“I’m not going to talk about my health publicly except to say, everyday I’m pretty good for 76 years old, I’m active musically every day, and I have a very busy and gratifying life,” he added. “Love you all, all the fucking time.”
Earlier this year, Ozzy Osbourne said he would “jump at the chance” to play a final show with Sabbath and admitted he felt “sad” that Ward was not part of the group’s final show in 2017.
Osbourne also told Rolling Stone UK last year that he had rekindled his friendship with Ward as a result of the singer’s prolonged health problems, explaining: “Even Bill Ward has been in touch with me. I said some things about Bill, and I don’t know why I said it, but when I came through my illness, he contacted me.”
In May, bassist Geezer Butler said that he and Osbourne had “agreed” to play one more show at Birmingham’s Villa Park before he truly retires.
“Of course there’s an interest [on my part to do it], but there’s a big ‘but’ — you’d have to speak to Bill [Ward] about it. Everybody wants to do it [but I don’t know if he is] capable [of pulling it off],” Butler said.
“I’m definitely up for it, to finish the whole thing off,” Butler added. “Me and Ozzy have agreed, but I’m not sure about anybody else.”
Osbourne also told Rolling Stone UK that he may have to “accept the fact” that a live comeback isn’t feasible.
“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” he said. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’
