Defenders Of The Faith, le forum Metal

Sonic Excess: BLACK SABBATH wrote new material, but nothing came of it. Will those recordings ever see the light of day, and if not, can you tell us SABBATH-heads what SABBATH album it's comparable to?

Ward: Well, it is true that there is a lot of material written and stored away in a very safe place. I don't know what SABBATH album it would be comparable to. We did all these jams in the spring, I think it was seven years ago. The songs have some brilliant riffs, obviously from Tony [Iommi, guitar], and my drumming has changed a little bit. My approach and Geezer's [Butler, bass] approach was a bit different in supporting Tony, I thought. Oz [Ozzy Osbourne, vocals] was cutting across with some really nice things as well. I think it was more mature, because we are more mature, even though we are kids at heart. I don't think I can compare it to any SABBATH album, but it sounded really, really, strong.

Sonic Excess: Why was it never released?

Ward: Politics. (laughs)

Sonic Excess: Well, I don't want to pry to much then, but do you think the songs will ever see the light of day?

Ward: I think the songs that we have, and there were quite a lot of them, they ought to [be released]. They deserve to see the light of day, but whether they will or not, I don't know. It would be very sad not to let them see the light of day, because there are some really good foundations and grooves, some real nice chops. It was our band playing. To me, in my opinion, they're perfectly great enough to make another BLACK SABBATH album. The music is very current. It's us, 40 years later slamming it out, ya know?

Sonic Excess: After the tragic death of Ronnie James Dio, the remaining members of HEAVEN & HELL will perform the Dio tribute show and won't carry on after that. Tony Iommi said, in a British newspaper, that there would be discussions between he and Geezer Butler about BLACK SABBATH. Can you give us any insight?

Ward: The only thing I know, and I have talked with Tony... Well, the only person I haven't spoken with is Geezer, but that is because he prefers e-mail to the telephone, and Ozzy called me yesterday. I think the statements have been made into a little bit of a cake. I saw the statements only last night on BLABBERMOUTH.NET, when I got home from the studio. Where Ozzy's at, with wanting to tour with BLACK SABBATH is that Ozzy has been in his place for a long time and says, "I'm never going to say never." I have the same attitude. My quotes would be, "I never want to say never." I'm in the same place. Tony has a completely open mind to the possibility of touring with SABBATH again. I think what's happening is that some people have hooked into that and written a story out of it. I think realistically, right now, I can't see where it would be a possibility, with Ozzy on tour for the next 18 months and having a new record out that's great. I've got a new record, and I know that Tony has other things he wants to do musically, and Geezer also. We might all agree to it, but when it would happen, I just don't know. Other than those few comments, I just don't know about a SABBATH tour anywhere near in the future. Tony has already stated that he doesn't want to talk about it until he finishes that concert for Ronnie in London. It would be great, but I don't know where any of it sits right now. It's like the press has gotten it and is kindling the fire before anything has been said. I talk to Ozzy all the time, and he hasn't mentioned shit to me about SABBATH.

Ozzy Osbourne visited the KNAC.COM studios this afternoon (Wednesday, August 4) to chat with Junkman about Ozzfest, Osbourne's new album ("Scream") and everything else going on in Ozzy-land.

When asked about his future plans, Ozzy remarked he wanted to write another book and possibly call it "I'm Still Ozzy". He also said he'd like to make a movie based on his current book, "I Am Ozzy", and joked that actor Denzel Washington could play him. He then added, "It's very, very possible that the original SABBATH [members] are gonna finally [get together and] do the ultimate SABBATH album. And we're gonna do a tour, I think. When, I don't know. I spoke to Bill Ward [original SABBATH drummer] yesterday, and we both say we never say 'never' anymore."

Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne told Kevin O'Hare of The Republican that he is considering reuniting with the other members of BLACK SABBATH's original lineup to record a brand new studio album. However, "It's not going to happen for at least a year or two because I've got my tour and an album to do," Ozzy said. "But it's not added to the realms of never ever."

He continued, "I would be a liar if I said to you I wouldn't want to do the ultimate BLACK SABBATH album...

"We never set down when we were kids and went like, 'This is going to be looked upon when we're (expletive) 60 as a milestone in music.' That was not our intention. But it kind of happened.

"I always wanted to be a Beatle and people said, 'Well, BLACK SABBATH is a heavy metal version of THE BEATLES.'

"But I would love to do, absolutely love to do a really great monumental BLACK SABBATH album. Whether we can, I don't know.

"I spoke to Tony Iommi [SABBATH guitarist] about three weeks ago, I spoke to Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] about a week ago, I speak to Bill Ward [SABBATH drummer] all the time. But I won't do it without the other three...

"BLACK SABBATH is four guys as far as I'm concerned. We all depend on each other."

Goldmine: What's next for BLACK SABBATH?

Ward: Well, everybody's off working, you know. I've been talking to Tony (Iommi) in recent months so … and I was with him and Glenn (Hughes) at the funeral for Ron (Ronnie James Dio). And I think Terry (Geezer) … Terry is just trying to get past the death of Ronnie and where it's gonna go next. Then Ozzy's embarking on a huge tour. He's going out on the road for quite a considerable amount of time. But I speak to him all the time.

Goldmine: What do you think about Ozzy's new album, "Scream", by the way?

Ward: What I like about his new album, is I like where his voice is at. His voice is as clear as a bell. He's coming through. he has conviction. and he's very clear and he's very precise on everything. His voice is really commanding throughout all the tracks. I think it's very good myself. But as far as SABBATH, BLACK SABBATH, as the original band. I'm not aware of any plans or anything but at the same time, I know we're all conversing to each other. I'm not aware of any walls or bad vibes with anybody. I always have the hope that if everything is okay and everything is amicable then we can tour again. I would love to do that, as long as everything's in order with me. I'd love to move ahead, not only tour but I'd love to make a new record as well, another SABBATH record. That, to me, would be the ultimate. But I would also love to do a longer tour. The last tour we did was nice, it lasted about three and a half months. But the thing is we were so settled in — and you got to get your joints back together and your muscles, all you have to do to get yourself really well-tuned — by the time we were half way between the last tour I felt really well-tuned and then in no time at all we had to stop, and I was just like, "Fuck!' Let's take this around the world, man. This is great." We had to stop and that was a bit of a pisser. That was the only problem. It takes quite a while to take a 62-year old body and get it to be ready to play in BLACK SABBATH. And me and Ozzy, we are really physical onstage, so we really have to be in shape. And all the reunion dates, as far as playing is concerned, had been beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, onstage it was just the best. I had a really good time. A really good time.

Bib a écrit :Et Ozzy redevient le meilleur chanteur du monde !

Hellbound.ca: What do you think of the chances are of BLACK SABBATH ever playing again with Ozzy?

Geezer: I don't know. You know it would be nice to finish the whole thing off with one last tour, I suppose. We're all getting a bit old now, so time is running out. It would be nice. I wouldn't say no!

On the possibility of a reunion with fellow original BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward:

"We're talking and that's a good sign. We're not at war with each other ... I was speaking to Bill Ward last night. I've got to speak to the other two. But it was in the last attempt where we just all met without saying anything to each other (after) quite a few years. I'm trying to get things done right, talking at least. I can't give any dates, 'cause I don't know anything. I don't know whether they want to do it with me, or whatever, but I'm starting to feel (things) ease up for it. To be honest with you, I would love to do a killer BLACK SABBATH album. It would make my life, my whole thing, round up perfectly for me."

BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL guitartist Tony Iommi has revealed to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine that he has begun work on new material with the hopes of launching the 'next phase" of his career alongside longtime SABBATH bandmate/bassist Geezer Butler. Whether or not this will be part of a BLACK SABBATH reunion or a new project remains unclear at present, but Iommi has said, "What I'm doing now is writing. I've gone mad, writing loads of riffs again. I'm really enjoying it, putting stuff together. We will be doing something. I'm in touch with Geezer a lot now and we’ve been talking about what the next phase is going to be. It'll be great to get out and do something again. I don't normally say this, but there's some great ideas coming out. That's all I've got to do right now. Sit and write riffs!"