Geezer Butler, the bassist of BLACK SABBATH, recently talked about his upcoming autobiography Into The Void: From Birth To Black Sabbath – And Beyond in an interview with Houston Press. When asked about the absence of original SABBATH drummer Bill Ward from the group’s final album and reunion tour over a decade ago, Butler stated that he has no inside information regarding the matter.
Geezer said: “We asked him if he’d do two or three songs a show or whatever he felt comfortable doing. And he said he’d do the whole show or nothing at all. And I totally respect that. If they told me to do two or three songs on bass and go away, I’d have told them where to go. All I know is Bill was in the band, then me and my wife went to Hawaii for a week, and when we got back, Bill wasn’t in the band anymore.”
When the reunion of SABBATH was first announced over a decade ago, Bill Ward was initially on board but withdrew shortly after. The drummer claimed that he didn’t participate in the recording and touring sessions due to unfair contractual terms.
However, the band members have hinted in other interviews that he may not have been physically capable. Although all four original members were present when the reunion was announced in 2011, Ward left the group in 2012, citing an “unsignable” contract. Despite this, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Butler continued with their 13 LP and extensive international touring, produced by Rick Rubin, without him.
BLACK SABBATH played their final concert on 4 February 2017 in Birmingham. The final song was streamed live on the band’s Facebook page and fireworks went off as the band took their final bow. On 7 March 2017, SABBATH announced their disbandment through posts made on their official social media accounts.
