H! Everyone,

Rock 50 Halloween show will air on Saturday, October 28^th, 2017. We’ve got all the usual Hardcore Metal bands, kicking ass for you, and I’ve thrown in some twists and turns, and new stuff, too.  Check us out – if you like Metal, Hard Rock and just plain great songs, Rock 50 has it for you.

Have the kids wear something bright if you’re out trick-or-treating so the cars can see them, and we can see them too.  Have a spooky, safe night.

Rock forever and ever,

Bill

Hope you had a chance to tune in last weekend and hear Bill’s return to Rock 50. If you didn’t, or if you just want to replay the fun, we have a few tidbits for you.

First off is the full playlist.  Download this Word document, and you’ll have the same notes used by Bill’s production staff in the studio. The playlist includes such wide ranging artists as Testament​, Sepultura​, Dimmu Borgir​, Arch Enemy​, Annie Lennox​, Jimi Hendrix​, Sting​, Led Zeppelin​, Queen​, The Rolling Stones​, and many more.

Secondly, is the Spotify playlist.  If you have Spotify, you can play all of the songs that Bill played on the show.

We hope you enjoy – hope to see you next month on Rock 50!

Statement About Black Sabbath – Response to Tony Iommi

Hi Everyone,

I hope this day finds you all in good spirits and good health.

Again I feel in a position where I’m compelled to defend my actions in the period of 2011 up to, I suppose, today.  Tony Iommi’s comments and some of Ozzy’s, remain in a place of disparaging remarks, which bring fault to my character as a person and a musician. I completely disagree with their comments.  What they believe is quite opposite from my experience, especially in 2011 when no one spoke to me of being alarmed by my playing or my health.  If they kept the info, which they so readily share now, to themselves in 2011, then let that be their shortcoming.  How can I be judged that I could not do a tour when we were working on an album.  How can I be judged in 2011 on health issues when none existed that would endanger a long term tour.  They all know very clearly how well I prepare to tour.  I did not know I was being judged in 2011, if that is indeed their truth.

Tony’s comment (and I’m assuming it was in reference to me touring) was, “I don’t think he quite realizes how hard it would have been on him”   How can Tony say that.  I know what it takes to tour.  I’ve helped to set the physical and playing bar that was metal then and today.  What an undermining, self-centered thing for Tony to say.  What an inaccurate thing for Tony to say.  I had played all the Ozzfests and Sabbath tours after the reunion.  Keep in mind, they did one tour without me first, I think just to see if it could work without me.  I’m sorry and mean no malice in saying this, but it was their fear, their mistrust, and their rationale that put back-up drummers on the stage at the reunion and other tours.  I disliked that they did that, but understood they wanted to.  I got on with my work, playing drums in Sabbath.  Never once was a back-up drummer required, and no, I did not validate the fears of those who had fears.

I missed a European tour after my one and only heart attack in 1998.  I can appreciate that Black Sabbath’s interests needed to be protected for the sake of future commitments to the fans, promoters, and all involved.

Ozzy said the saddest thing is that he/Bill needed to own up to that.  Own up to what in 2011.  What was I supposed to own up to, when I felt exhilarated, confident, and strong.  Own up to, I’m not up to this, I’m sick and can’t play; those failings didn’t exist in me, they still don’t exist today.  I had nothing to own up to, nothing to confess.  The fact that Oz had reacted with sadness tells me he was already sold on his own judgement of me.  And that is very sad to know.

Tony commented, “and it’s silly really because it was over nothing.”  I have to confront that statement.  I can’t let that wash into my life and my family’s life, and the lives of all those affected by an original band failure.  It was something.  It meant everything to thousands of people including me.  It will always be something and it will always ring with truth, and actual correct accountability.  By saying it was nothing, dishonours the credibility of our fans, and insults the very heart of what we all clung to, Black Sabbath.

I will have my experience in the time period of 2011 and Tony and Ozzy will have theirs.  And, it’s plain to me, we’re as opposite and opposing  as ever.

I won’t forget Ozzy’s last phone call of January 23^rd or so 2012, asking when I would arrive in England to commence rehearsals.  Why would he say that if my performance level of 2011 had already been judged.

I regret the loss of Ozzy’s friendship.

I regret the loss of Tony’s friendship.

Finally, and I’ve defended this many times, I couldn’t play one gig or a couple of gigs here or there with a back-up drummer or no back-up drummer.  To do that one gig would put me in an elitist position, and I can’t do that for all the other fans who couldn’t see that one gig.

I’m honoured to have been a part of Black Sabbath, and to have played with Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler.

Long Live Black Sabbath.

Bill Ward

Hope you had a chance to tune in on Saturday and hear Bill’s 69th Birthday Episode of Rock 50.   If you didn’t, or if you just want to replay the fun, we have a few tidbits for you.

First off is the full playlist.  Download this Word document, and you’ll have the same notes used by Bill’s production staff in the studio.

Second is this video clip of Bill in the studio from the show.

Finally, is the Spotify playlist.  If you have Spotify, you can play all of the songs that Bill played on the show.

We hope you enjoy – hope to see you next month on Rock 50!

H! Everybody,

Our radio show airs on May 6^th 2017.  It’ll be my birthday show.

I’ll be playing early, early rock influences, songs that were important to me as a kid thru my teens.  Some Jazz, Blues, early Rock-n-Roll, up to my favorite Metal bands today.  The show may be a little bit longer than normal.

Check us out, we rock!

Stay safe, stay strong, forever and ever and ever.

–Bill

H! Everyone,

Our radio show airs on Saturday, April 15. Metal, some “Best of 2016,” and a special goodbye for an old friend, Sib Hashian of Boston fame. We’ll throw in a couple of curveballs for you too. Check us out if you’ve the mind to.

Stay safe, stay strong, forever and ever.

Very sad with the news of Sib’s passing.  Excellent musician.  Laughter, tears, so many fond memories.  We traversed wildly from time to time, and shared our frailties from time to time.  Thanks for the love, Sib.  Never to be forgotten.

Our sincere condolences to the Hashian family, so sorry.  RIP Sib, forever and ever and ever and ever.

Love,
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ward

When my grandchildren ask, what was rock ‘n’ roll?  I will open my scrapbook to a time when a guitarist, singer and songwriter played and influenced untold thousands of musicians.  Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, I would hold onto his coattails while he illuminated a reachable path to my wildest dreams.

I’ll show my grandchildren a picture of this suited up man dancing and playing on one leg and strutting across the stage.  I’ll play the first 30 seconds or so of “Johnny B Goode.”   That’s what rock ‘n’ roll looks and sounds like, kids.  And when they ask who this man is, I’ll tell them smiling, Chuck Berry, kids, Chuck Berry.

Thanks, and RIP Mr. Berry.

Our condolences to his family and fans.

Respectfully,

Bill Ward and family