Bill Ward

It was a contractual dispute that supposedly kept Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward from joining his mates for their upcoming tour and album, but Ozzy Osbourne says there is another side to the story. The singer questions if Ward was physically up for touring and recording.

Black Sabbath are playing shows with Tommy Clufetos behind the kit this summer, but Ozzy Osbourne says that there’s still a shot that original drummer Bill Ward could return.

Black Sabbath sounds determined to keep recording its next album without drummer Bill Ward — in fact, they may have already lined up his replacement. But disappointed fans who had been looking forward to a full reunion of the band’s original lineup aren’t taking the news lying down.

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has dropped a potential bombshell on the band’s recently announced original line-up reunion, stating that he will sit out of both the group’s recording sessions and tour plans unless he is offered a “signable” contract that financially reflects his contributions to the band’s history.