In the summer 2013 issue of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne spoke candidly about what happened with original drummer Bill Ward
BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne held a press teleconference on July 10 with around two dozen writers to discuss the band's recently released comeback album, "13", and the upcoming North American tour. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
On performing new songs alongside BLACK SABBATH classics on the current tour:
Ozzy: "We recently went to New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, and we did a couple of the new songs. We said they're all new. God, you'd think it had been released as a single or a first track off album, and so that… I remember when we played two shows in Auckland, New Zealand. The first night they didn't really respond much to it. The second night they're all singing the lyrics with me. I'm going, I can't even remember them that good. I mean, it's good for us as well to do new stuff, because you know, we're all tuned into 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', and all of the old classics, but instead, it gives us as a band something refreshing to put into the show, and so I'm just glad that people have bought into the new songs."
On whether BLACK SABBATH made a conscious effort during the writing process for "13" to come up with vocal lines that Ozzy could reproduce live:
Ozzy: "Well, after keeping the people waiting for as long as we did, I certainly — I can still get the range, but I can't do it
According to The Pulse Of Radio, BLACK SABBATH's new album, "13", is such a success for the reunited band that singer Ozzy Osbourne wants to make another one — and hopes that original drummer Bill Ward can join the group in the studio this time. When asked by NME about the chances of Ward returning, Ozzy answered, "It's a strong possibility. We would have loved to have Bill on this album. Maybe we can work things out by the next one. But it won't take another 35 years. I'm 65 now. There's no fucking recording studios in the afterlife. We're all even closer for all this shit so there's one positive, one fucking silver lining."
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk played drums on "13"after Ward sat out the sessions. While money was believed to be an issue, Ward was reportedly also upset that the group wanted another drummer around anyway to back him up if he was physically unable to get the job done.
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