Listen to the covers
In response to a recent interview with Tony Iommi , the founding drummer of Black Sabbath posted a lengthy statement on his personal Facebook page. Ward says he felt the need to respond to Iommi, who said last week that Bill Ward wouldn't know how tough the tour would have been for him:
"Once again, I find myself in the position of having to defend my actions from 2011 until today.".
Tony Iommi's comments and some of Ozzy's comments continue to be incorrect statements, which ultimately place the blame on me, both as a person and as a musician.
I completely disagree with their comments. What they believe is the complete opposite of what I went through, especially in 2011 when nobody spoke to me about being alarmed by my health. If what they did was keep it to themselves in 2011 and didn't speak up as they do now, that was a mistake.
How can they judge that I couldn't do a tour when we were working on an album? How can I be judged in 2011 for health problems that didn't exist or that could jeopardize a long tour? They know very well how I prepare for tours. I didn't know I was being judged for this in 2011, if that's even true.
Tony's comment (which I assume was about me touring) was 'I don't think he understands how difficult that would be for him'.
How can he say that? I know what touring is like. I helped shape what playing metal is in the beginning and still does today. What a humiliating and self-centered thing for Tony to say. How incorrect.
I've played all the Ozzfests and Sabbath tours since the reunion. Keep in mind, they did a tour without me before, just to see if it would work without me.
I'm sorry to say this and I don't mean to sound mean, but it was their fear and distrust that made them want to put a backup drummer on stage at the reunion and other tours. I was sad that they did that, but I understood that they wanted to. I continued with my work. A backup was never necessary, and no, I didn't validate their fears.
I missed a European tour after my only heart attack in '98. I understand that Black Sabbath wanted to protect their interests so as not to jeopardize future commitments with fans, producers, and everyone else involved.
Ozzy said, 'The saddest thing is that Bill needed to accept this.' Accept what in 2011? What was I supposed to accept? When I felt excited, confident, and strong? Accept that I don't want to, that I'm sick and can't? That didn't exist in me, and it still doesn't. I had nothing to accept, nothing to confess. The fact that Ozzy reacted with sadness tells me that he already had his own judgment of me. And that's sad to know.
Tony said, 'It's silly because it was nothing.' I have to confront that. I can't let that go on my life, my family's life, and everyone who was affected by the failure of the original band.
It was something, yes. It meant a lot to a lot of people, including me. It will always be something, and it will always be something close to the truth. To say it's nothing is to dishonor the credibility of the fans and insult the heart of what we're here for, Black Sabbath.
I will have my experience regarding the 2011 period, and Tony and Ozzy will have theirs. And to me, it's very clear that they are completely opposite.
I'll never forget Ozzy's last call on January 23rd or something like that, asking when I would arrive to start rehearsals. Why would he ask that when my 2011 performance level had already been judged?
I'm saddened by the loss of Ozzy's friendship.
I am saddened by the loss of Tony's friendship.
Finally, and I've argued this many times, I couldn't play just one show or a few shows with a backup drummer. Doing just one show would put me in an elitist position, and I can't do that to the other fans who couldn't see this show.
I feel honored to have been a part of Black Sabbath and to have played with Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler. Long live Black Sabbath!