Less than 24 hours after issuing a response to Bill Ward’s statement advising fans that he has chosen not to participate in the planned Black Sabbath reunion, the band has removed almost all of the images of their original drummer from its 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.
No explanation for the changes to the band’s website has been posted.
The three original Sabs are moving ahead with a series of live shows and the recording of an album with producer Rick Rubin under the Black Sabbath banner, without Ward’s involvement, as he advised fans this week.
“Since Spring of 2011, I’ve waited patiently and hopefully for a signable contract, you know the rest,” wrote Ward. “I stand for the boy in the U.K., for the coming drum student, for all the drummers, who write their parts out and get stiffed on the publishing, I stand with the Sabbath fans chanting ‘Bill Ward’ and asking ‘why?’ and I stand with Tony and Geezer and Ozzy.”
The three Sabbath members will play their first hometown show in 13 years at Birmingham’s 02 Academy this Saturday; they have hired a substitute drummer to handle Ward’s duties.
Semi-Sabbath will follow-up their hometown show with dates at Download (June 10) and Lollapalooza in Chicago (August 3).
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath – Hand Of Doom
Olympia Theater – Paris, FR – December 20, 1970
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