Black Sabbath have confirmed they are rehearsing with a substitute drummer after Bill Ward revealed he will play no part in the recently reunited band’s comeback shows.
Black Sabbath are due to play a homecoming gig at the Birmingham Academy next week ahead of a headline appearance at this year’s Download festival, but will not be joined by their original sticksman who has now withdrawn after citing contractual issues as a major obstacle to him taking part.
And earlier this week Ward claimed he had been offered the chance to appear with the band in Birmingham, but had not been given any further guarantees of playing a full concert at Download. “I was not willing to participate in that offer,” he said. “I was not prepared to watch another drummer play a Sabbath set, while I was to play only three songs.”
“We have decided not to make any detailed comment on Bill’s latest statement,” the remaining Sabbath members have said today in response. “There are two sides to every story. We have been working hard at rehearsals making excellent progress after Tony’s treatments and we have engaged a substitute drummer for the forthcoming shows. See you at Download.”