Drummer says he will not continue with comeback album and tour unless he receives a ’signable’ contract
Bill Ward has threatened to pull out of the Black Sabbath reunion. In an open letter on his website, the drummer said he will not continue with the planned album and tour unless he receives a “signable contract … that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band”.
Ward’s announcement throws the reunion into question. Despite Black Sabbath’s confidence in November, with the promise of a world tour and their first album in 33 years, doubts emerged last month after Tony Iommi was diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma. “[Tony is] determined to make a full and successful recovery,” the band said at the time, explaining they would continue recording in England, where Iommi is receiving treatment.
“Since the news of Tony’s illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the UK, I’ve spent every day getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave,” Ward wrote on on Thursday. “As I’ve tried to find out what’s going on with the UK sessions, I’ve realised that I’ve been getting ‘the cold shoulder’ (and, I might add, not for the first time).”
The problem, Ward said, is he has not signed Black Sabbath’s new contract. While he doesn’t detail the issues, the current terms are “unsignable”: “I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician,” he wrote. “My position is not greed-driven. I’m not holding out for a ‘big piece’ of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal … I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honour all that I’ve brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.”
Meanwhile, the rest of Black Sabbath are continuing with new material. According to an official update on 24 January, writing sessions are underway in Birmingham. “It’s just been amazing,” they said.
Ward said he is prepared to be replaced. “I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted,” he wrote. And yet if a suitable contract is put before him, the 63-year-old says he is “good to go”. “I grew up in a hard rock/metal band,” he explained. “We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady.”
For the moment, Black Sabbath’s comeback tour is scheduled to begin on 18 May in Moscow. Their only UK date so far is the Download festival in June.
Guitarist reveals he has early-stage lymphoma but intends to proceed with band’s long-awaited comeback
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has cancer. The 63-year-old musician is “upbeat and determined” after being diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma, and intends to proceed with his band’s comeback album and tour.
Black Sabbath announced Iommi’s illness on Facebook, explaining he is “working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan”. “[Tony's] bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time,” they wrote. “[He is] determined to make a full and successful recovery.”
The lymphoma diagnosis comes about two months after Black Sabbath announced the reformation of their original lineup, featuring Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. The heavy-metal legends still plan to complete a new album – their first in 33 years – with producer Rick Rubin. But they will relocate recording sessions from Los Angeles to England, allowing Iommi to participate while he undergoes medical treatment.
There remains the question of Black Sabbath’s forthcoming tour, which begins in May. For now, the gigs are still on, although Iommi may not be well enough to perform. “Further information will be released as it becomes available,” the band said.
Many of Iommi’s fans and friends offered support over Twitter. “Best wishes for a full recovery,” wrote Slash. “FUCK YOU, cancer!” declared Sebastian Bach. Or as Anthrax put it: “This really does suck. GET WELL SOON TONY!”
Death of Ronnie James Dio spurs bandmates to settle legal dispute over rights and royalties
Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi have settled their lawsuits over the Black Sabbath name. According to a statement, the pair have “amicably resolved their problems”, discontinuing court proceedings in New York.
Iommi, Black Sabbath’s only constant member, registered the US trademark for the band name in 2000. Osbourne only seems to have discovered this last year, when he launched a suit demanding a share of the rights and royalties. “Please do the right thing,” he asked the guitarist, who claimed that Osbourne had relinquished his right to the name, having quit the band several times before.
It took a tragedy to push the pair toward reconciliation: following the death of Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Osbourne in Black Sabbath, the singer was moved to patch things up with Iommi.
“Sharon took my car into town yesterday, and she found a cell phone of mine in the car that I never fucking use,” Osbourne told Kerrang in May. “There were two messages on it from Tony, one of them from the day Ronnie died. The message started with: ‘I have a bit of bad news.’ I’ll have to call Tony back soon.”
Although Iommi and Osbourne did not provide details of their court settlement, they are “glad to put this behind them and to co-operate together for the future”. “The issue was never personal,” they insisted. “It was always business.”
