Bill Ward confirms he will sit out Black Sabbath reunion shows

The recently reunited original line up of Black Sabbath are set to headline this summer's Download and Lollapalooza Festivals, with a warm up show this weekend in Birmingham the question of who will behind the drum kit has been buzzing around the internet for a while.

Earlier this week, drummer Bill Ward shocked fans by revealing he was sitting out the recording sessions with the band citing issues with contracts, followed by the bands response that they would go forward without him.  

Fans recently had hopes for Ward to join the band on the three upcoming shows when he was re-added to the bands line up on Facebook.

However, last night in a statement on his official website, Ward confirmed it will not be him behind the drum kit at their intimate show this weekend in Birmingham.

In the post he explains, "I sincerely regret to inform you that after a final effort to participate in the upcoming Sabbath shows a failure to agree has continued. At this time I have to inform you that I won’t be playing with Black Sabbath at the Birmingham gig dated May 19th, 2012, nor will I be playing at Download on June 10th, 2012. Further, I will not be playing at Lollapalooza on August 3, 2012.

It is with a very sad heart that I bring you this news. I am sincerely passionate in my desire to play with the band, and I’m very, very sorry that it’s fallen to this. This statement is even more painstaking to write, as I was particularly excited to play alongside Tony Iommi after the recent treatments he underwent. I wanted that to become a reality."

The drummer continues in the lengthy post to explain his reasons and apologise to the fans and reveals, that last month he'd "Been asked to participate “minimally” in the Download festival. I believe I’d been offered no more than three songs to play while another drummer presumably played the rest of the show with Black Sabbath. I was not willing to participate in that offer. I was not prepared to watch another drummer play a Sabbath set, while I was to play only three songs."He also adds he only found out about the bands show this weekend at the end of April through an internet advertisement.

Read Bill Ward's full post here.

No news on who will play drums for Black Sabbath have yet been revealed.  Details to follow from www.blacksabbath.com 

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