I know enough about the Sabs to be dangerous - enjoy their music but never geeked out on the members or band specifics. Sure, I know that Ozzy was booted for his problems in the late 70’s and that kerfuffle.
But this latest reunion, not only complicated by Tommy Iommi’s cancer treatments, but apparently the rest of the band have really treated original drummer Bill Ward like old news. Not part of the original decision-making for this reunion, offered to play for free to see how it goes, or play 3 songs then step back.
What is the context? Is Ward simply getting screwed? Has his playing deteriorated where the other Sabs are trying to be gracious and he is not willing to see that? Or have Ward and the other Sabs been pissy with each other for years, and this is just the latest thing - in which case, what happened?
I’m not an expert on the group’s history, but Bill Ward first quit the band around the same time that Ozzy did, has rejoined and re-quit five more times since then, and didn’t participate in the group’s most recent reunion tour with Dio back in 2009. My guess would be either that there’s just some bad blood between him and Iommi/Butler, or that those two just prefer Vinny Appice’s drumming style to Ward’s these days.
I don’t think anyone knows for sure. He keeps talking about “unsignable contracts” and the crappy offer he was given to play a few shows for free and see where it goes.
The other Brummies talk vaguely positive with “the door is open” type bs language, which sounds like someone who wants to be a team player talking in front of their boss would say.
In all matters Ozzy, my default assumption is that Sharon is at the heart of it.
Shame too- probably their last shot, and such a legendary band. Would’ve been nice to get a farewell album and a tour. Ah well, it’s nothing compared to being a GNR fan. (Which, sadly, I am as well.)
That may be, but he’s being very dignified about the whole thing- publicly supporting Bill being involved. Also, before Dio died, he was involved with Heaven and Hell, and put out a pretty killer album.
Perhaps I worded that too strongly. Vinnie is a fine drummer. I know nothing about him personally. Its just that Bill Ward is one of the all-time greats.
For what it’s worth, I caught one of the Heaven and Hell shows and I thought Appice was an awesome drummer. I’ve never seen Bill Ward live so I can’t make a comparison between the two.
Actually, Iommi ended up with all the Sabbath rights when they kicked Ozzy out of the band. Ozzy sued in 2009 and Iommi and Ozzy ended up working out an out of court deal. My guess is that Ward and Butler were not involved. So Iommi had all the rights to Sabbath until Ozzy and him worked out a deal. My guess is that Ward is asking for an amount as though he is still an owner of the Sabbath brand when, from a business perspective, he is a session player.
Sucks but there ya go.
Add in to that the fact that, for most people, missing Ward isn’t going to be a huge deal, and Ward has little power. Sabbath, to most people, is Ozzy and Iommi.
So I am not sure if Sharon is pushing this. Since Iommi took all the rights way back in the day I wouldn’t be surprised to find that he is a big part of this.
It sucks but it is a business. And it sounds like when all the shit went down, Iommi covered his ass and Ward didn’t.
My wager is that they’ll go with Vinny Appice if Ward doesn’t go along. But from what i’ve heard elsewhere, they’ve already cancelled all but a handful of shows as Black Sabbath due to Iommi’s lymphoma, and the rest of the tour is going to be billed as “Ozzy and Friends” - which at this point I assume probably consists of Ozzy’s solo band + Geezer Butler.