Drummer Bill Ward tried to listen to '13,' the album Black Sabbath recorded without him following a contract dispute, but he had to stop after only a few difficult moments.
Metal pioneers Black Sabbath were reaching beyond their heavy musical roots by the time they recorded their fourth album in 1972, coming up with an amalgam of classic heavy riffing, a growing sense of melody, and even some touches of progressive rock. The album endures as a classic today - even though it was almost derailed by the band's growing substance abuse.
A live DVD release will close out what has been a very, very good year for fans of Black Sabbath. The band has announced they'll release 'Black Sabbath: Live ... Gathered in Their Masses' on Nov. 26. The footage comes from two Black Sabbath tour dates from this past spring. And it's probably not a coincidence that the announcement comes on Friday the 13th.
The creative director of Universal Studios Hollywood caught up with Black Sabbath in Austin recently and showed Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler what 'Black Sabbath 13 3D' -- a new attraction at the annual Halloween Horror Nights based on the group's music and recent album -- will look like. Fans also get a preview of the scares in the above clip.
With Black Sabbath concluding the U.S. leg of their world tour next week, guitarist Tony Iommi has taken time to reflect on the year the group has had. In a new interview, he expressed his wonder at the band's continuing -- even growing -- success.
We knew Rick Rubin floated the idea of bringing in Ginger Baker to replace Bill Ward in Black Sabbath, but it turns out the band considered some other famous names too.
Snap up those tickets where you can find them, Black Sabbath fans! If Geezer Butler's hunch is right, this is your last chance to see the band on tour.
Word to the wise: If Ozzy Osbourne tells an interviewer he isn't going to "slag you off" because you're "a very dear friend," you might want to cover your ears for whatever he says next.
This year, Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights will feature a maze based on the darkest lyrics from Black Sabbath’s biggest hits as well as scenes inspired by their recent No. 1 album, '13.'
Last week, Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward disputed Ozzy Osbourne's claims that Ward's physical problems were the main reason he wasn't part of Sabbath's reunion. Instead, Bill said, there was a contractual dispute.
Now Ozzy's firing back, saying not only is Bill unhealthy, he's fat, too.
For original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, there's a simple explanation as to why he didn't record or tour with his bandmates. "I was offered a contract, and I couldn't sign it," he said in a recent interview. He refutes suggestions that he wasn't physically up to the task.