The Black Sabbath reunion went sour last week when drummer Bill Ward announced he wouldn't participate because of reportedly unfair contract issues. And while the rest of the group have promised to go on without him, fans are standing by their Iron Man through a new online petition.
A Facebook campaign titled 1,000,000 Black Sabbath fans say yes to Bill Ward was created yesterday (February 8), and its intent is to rally behind the metal percussionist in order to get him back in the band.
"We all feel that any Black Sabbath Reunion must include original drummer Bill Ward," reads the simple mission statement.
So far, the group name is a bit of a misnomer, but in just roughly 36 hours, more than 30,000-plus devotees have joined the campaign.
Rock Guitar Daily blogger Tony Conley started up the page and can't believe the outpouring of support for Ward. Like many metalheads, he's hoping the fan-driven support system will bring both sides of the split back together.
"What we really want is for one of the three remaining Sabs to tell us exactly what is, and what has happened," he posted. "Let's get Bill back in the fold, and move on with 2012."
Despite the crusade, Conley does seem realistic that the petition may not sway the band to bring back their original skin pounder. There seems to be little hard feelings towards the rest of the band, just hopefulness towards a true reunion, and Conley expressed much well-wishing to lymphoma-stricken six-stringer Tony Iommi.
"Whatever happens between Bill Ward and Black Sabbath, let's all take a moment and have some good thoughts, feelings, mojo, prayer, whatever it is you do, and let's all serve them up to the health of Tony Iommi. All else be damned, let's send some healing thoughts Tony's way, OK?"
Thanks to the Daily Swarm for the tip.
A Facebook campaign titled 1,000,000 Black Sabbath fans say yes to Bill Ward was created yesterday (February 8), and its intent is to rally behind the metal percussionist in order to get him back in the band.
"We all feel that any Black Sabbath Reunion must include original drummer Bill Ward," reads the simple mission statement.
So far, the group name is a bit of a misnomer, but in just roughly 36 hours, more than 30,000-plus devotees have joined the campaign.
Rock Guitar Daily blogger Tony Conley started up the page and can't believe the outpouring of support for Ward. Like many metalheads, he's hoping the fan-driven support system will bring both sides of the split back together.
"What we really want is for one of the three remaining Sabs to tell us exactly what is, and what has happened," he posted. "Let's get Bill back in the fold, and move on with 2012."
Despite the crusade, Conley does seem realistic that the petition may not sway the band to bring back their original skin pounder. There seems to be little hard feelings towards the rest of the band, just hopefulness towards a true reunion, and Conley expressed much well-wishing to lymphoma-stricken six-stringer Tony Iommi.
"Whatever happens between Bill Ward and Black Sabbath, let's all take a moment and have some good thoughts, feelings, mojo, prayer, whatever it is you do, and let's all serve them up to the health of Tony Iommi. All else be damned, let's send some healing thoughts Tony's way, OK?"
Thanks to the Daily Swarm for the tip.
