hennemusic

The day before Black Sabbath’s first show in 7 years happened in their hometown of Birmingham on Saturday, original drummer Bill Ward’s images were almost completely removed from the band’s official website.

The Sabbath online presence now primarily features pictures of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler; Ward’s profile has been reduced to the band’s “history” section, as he’s been removed from the site’s wallpaper, and photo gallery sections.

The move was part of a drama-filled week that began with Ward issuing a statement detailing his failed efforts to renogitiate the terms of his contract offer for the group’s planned reunion this year.

Read Ward's full statement here.

No explanation for the changes to the band’s website had been posted at the time of the change, but Sabbath did release a comment just hours before they hit the stage.

"At the request of 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