Ozzy Osbourne Offers Curt Response To Bill Ward's Black Sabbath Statement
Friday, 17 April 2015
Written by Huw Baines
Ozzy Osbourne has offered a curt response following Bill Ward’s call for an apology to possibly set in motion his return to Black Sabbath.
In a message posted to Facebook, Ward asked for Osbourne to “right wrongs” over what he perceives as “often inaccurate statements about me as a person and as a musician”.
Ward was absent from Sabbath’s comeback album, ‘13’, and subsequent tour due to a contract he described as ‘unsignable’. Osbourne, though, called into question Ward’s ability to deliver.
He described the drummer as “incredibly overweight” in an interview with the New York Daily News and continued: “A drummer has to be in shape. He’s already had two heart attacks. I don’t want to be responsible for his life.”
Now, in response to Ward’s latest message, Osbourne has posted a statement on his website:
“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”
Sabbath’s status has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks following the announcement and subsequent dismissal of a ‘farewell’ show at Ozzfest Japan later this year.
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