When Black Sabbath officially called it quits back in 2017, they did so via a sprawling farewell tour. But they also did so minus founding drummer Bill Ward — a move that singer Ozzy Osbourne seems to deeply regret. In fact, Ozzy seems to regret it so much that he's open to the idea of reuniting Black Sabbath for one more final show featuring Ward behind the kit.
Osbourne opened up about the end of Black Sabbath in a new interview with Kerrang!, admitting that he wished Ward would have been onboard for the band's farewell tour. As previously reported, Ward did not take part in the tour due to what he called an "unsignable" contract, leading Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler to go on the tour without him.
"I didn't like the fact that Bill Ward wasn't there, for a start," Ozzy said. "People put that down to me, but it wasn't me, honestly. We didn't have the fucking time to hang around, we had to get going, but I'm sorry it didn't work out with Bill."
He added: "[Replacement drummer] Tommy [Clufetos] did great, but the four of us started this, and it should have been the four of us ending it. Those final gigs in Birmingham were bittersweet because you think of how far we came, and how much we did, and it would have been good to have shared that together. Maybe one day there'll be one last gig, I don't know."
The idea of one last Black Sabbath concert with Ward isn't completely out of the question. After all, Ozzy is still touring at the moment, though his recent health troubles have caused some serious disruption.
Black Sabbath originally formed in 1968 and consisted of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. "The End Tour," however, featured Osbourne, Iommi and Butler, with Tommy Clufetos filling in on drums amidst a very public feud between the band and Ward.
Osbourne opened up about the end of Black Sabbath in a new interview with Kerrang!, admitting that he wished Ward would have been onboard for the band's farewell tour. As previously reported, Ward did not take part in the tour due to what he called an "unsignable" contract, leading Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler to go on the tour without him.
"I didn't like the fact that Bill Ward wasn't there, for a start," Ozzy said. "People put that down to me, but it wasn't me, honestly. We didn't have the fucking time to hang around, we had to get going, but I'm sorry it didn't work out with Bill."
He added: "[Replacement drummer] Tommy [Clufetos] did great, but the four of us started this, and it should have been the four of us ending it. Those final gigs in Birmingham were bittersweet because you think of how far we came, and how much we did, and it would have been good to have shared that together. Maybe one day there'll be one last gig, I don't know."
The idea of one last Black Sabbath concert with Ward isn't completely out of the question. After all, Ozzy is still touring at the moment, though his recent health troubles have caused some serious disruption.
Black Sabbath originally formed in 1968 and consisted of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. "The End Tour," however, featured Osbourne, Iommi and Butler, with Tommy Clufetos filling in on drums amidst a very public feud between the band and Ward.
