Bill Ward

Bill Ward (born May 5, 1948, Birmingham, England), is the drummer for the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath.

Prior to the formation of Black Sabbath, Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi played in a band called "Mythology", and joined vocalist Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler, who had played in a band together called "Rare Breed". Between 1970 and 1980, Ward played drums on every Sabbath album. He left the band for personal reasons in August 1980 during a tour for the album Heaven and Hell. He sat out one album (1981's Mob Rules) before returning for 1983's Born Again. He once again left the band following the recording of that album (although he was officially back in the band again in the summer of 1984, but the band did not record or tour then). Before the official re-union, Bill Ward and the origional Sabbath has re-united twice for small sets. The first being Live Aid 1985 and then at a Costa Mesa Black Sabbath show on November 15th, 1992. Sabbath with Dio opened up the show for Ozzy in honor of it being his last show ever. Then the Ozzy Osbourne band did a full set featuring Bill Ward. After the show, all four origional members played a short set since all four members were there (just in two different bands), it was meant to happen. A few years later, Ward made a brief return to the band for a South American tour leg in 1994, and rejoined the band in 1997 when the original lineup reunited for the Ozzfest tour. Ward had to skip most of the 1998 Black Sabbath tour due to health reasons. As was the case in 1980, he was replaced by Vinny Appice. He returned for good in 1999 and has remained with Sabbath ever since.

Ward has dealt with alcoholism and drug abuse during his career, as well as severe depression. After leaving the band, Ward tried to commit suicide three times but failed. In 1997, Black Sabbath had a reunion tour with all four original members. In early June 2004, he agreed to return to the band for another "reunion" tour featuring all the original members.

In addition to playing drums, Ward has sang lead vocals for two Black Sabbath songs; "It's Alright" (from Technical Ecstasy), and "Swinging The Chain" (from Never Say Die!).

Ward's drumming style is pretty unique in the fact that he often plays the same thing the bass or guitar is playing, while also keeping a rhythm. An example of his style can be heard easily in the song "Iron Man" off the Paranoid album. He often plays quick drum rolls in between riffs, also.

Discography

1970s

1970 - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
1970 - Black Sabbath - Paranoid
1971 - Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
1972 - Black Sabbath - Volume 4
1973 - Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
1975 - Black Sabbath - Sabotage
1975 - Rinky Dink & The Crystal - Cameo Roles
1975 - Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll
1976 - Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy
1978 - Black Sabbath - Never Say Die!
1978 - Dean Friedman - Well Well Said the Rocking Chair

1980s

1980 - Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
1980 - Black Sabbath - Live At Last
1982 - Dean Friedman - Rumpled Romeo
1983 - Black Sabbath - Born Again

1990s

1990 - Bill Ward - Along the Way
1992 - The Knack Retrospective - The Best Of The...
1993 - Ozzy Osbourne - Live and Loud
1994 - Leni Stern - Words
1994 - Nativity In Black: A Tribute To Black Sabbath
1994 - Bill Evans - Push
1994 - Jim Beard - Lost At The Carnival
1995 - Blues By Nature - Blue To The Bone
1996 - Black Sabbath - The Sabbath Stones
1996 - George Russell - Living Time / It's About Time
1997 - Bill Ward - When the Bough Breaks
1997 - Jim Beard - Truly
1997 - Ozzy Osbourne - The Ozzman Cometh
1998 - Black Sabbath - Reunion
1999 - Bruce Graitsch - Lyre in a Windstorm

2000s

2000 - Tony Iommi - Iommi
2002 - Black Sabbath - Past Lives
2002 - Black Sabbath - The Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978
2003 - Dio - Stand Up and Shout: The Dio Anthology
2004 - Black Sabbath - The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)
2006 - Black Sabbath - Greatest Hits 1970-1978
(TBA) - Bill Ward - Beyond Aston