Original BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals) and Geezer Butler (bass) have released the following statement:
“At the request of [original BLACK SABBATH drummer] Bill Ward, through his attorney, so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current BLACK SABBATH lineup, we have temporarily removed Bill Ward’s images from the main pages of the BlackSabbath.com official website. In accordance with Bill Ward’s attorney’s request, we are doing so for the duration of the forthcoming shows.”
BLACK SABBATH played a hometown concert in Birmingham, England earlier tonight (Saturday, May 19) as a warm-up show for the band’s appearance at the Download festival at Donington next month. Tommy Clufetos, a member of Ozzy’s solo band, is filling in for original SABBATH drummer Bill Ward, who is sitting out the group’s reunion shows due to a contractual dispute with his bandmates.
A furor erupted online in 2007 after photos of Michael Anthony at the official VAN HALEN web site were either removed or replaced by an image of guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang, who played bass on the group’s recent album and tour. The photos were restored less than two days later.
Source: www.blabbermouth.net