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October 28, 2005
Ozzfest 2005 Backstage Photos
A special thanks go out to Richard Johnson, who provided Bill with several behind the scenes pictures he took during several Ozzfest 2005 gigs. There's plenty to check out, so click on the thumbnail below to view the photo gallery.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:57 PM
New Bill Ward Interview Online
There's a new interview with Bill Ward online now. It's with the website allaboutjazz.com, and you should definitely check it out, as Bill talks about his career playing the drums and how it felt to be influenced by the blues growing up in Birmingham, England. Here's a few quotes from the article:
AAJ: At what age did you start playing?BW: I think I might have been about four, four or five, because my mother told me that they thought there was something wrong with me because I continually kept tapping on furniture. They thought I had something which, in Birmingham where I was born—or actually I was born in Aston which is in Birmingham—they said that I had Saint Vitus's Dance, and Saint Vitus's Dance is a common term in the midlands for somebody who can't sit still.
AAJ: How would you say the group's creative approach differed in the early days as compared to later albums?
BW: That's a tough question actually. I think it comes in several parts. The first three albums or four albums, for me at least, I felt like they came out of big jams because we literally would sit in a room and just jam and a song would come from that. Giving credit where credit is due, I think that Tony would jam a little bit more than everybody else [Laughs], definitely work more on the arrangements and spend a lot more time with the song.
“Being influenced by dynamic music, I felt quite suited for blues and jazz which is pretty much what we really liked to play, especially more traditional blues.”
You can check out the full interview over at the All About Jazz site here.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 8:43 AM
October 26, 2005
Bill Ward's 2005 Drum Kit Revealed
We often get many requests here at billward.com asking what Bill plays. What snare drums, what cymbals, etc... Well, we finally have an answer to these requests online. Below is a thumnail for a diagram showing Bill's kit that he used on tour with Black Sabbath in 2005. The diagram was done up by Tony Moon (Bill's drum tech).
All the drums are Tama Imperialstar (circa 1980) unless otherwise noted.
All the cymbals are Sabian.
Check out a larger version of the kit here, or by clicking on the thumbnail.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:31 PM
October 20, 2005
Special Rock 50 episode
This Saturday's Rock 50 episode will be a special edition. It features interviews with the band "The Haunted" as well as with Craig Nunenmacher of Black Label Society. You won't want to miss this.
For more info on Rock 50 including links on how to listen in, check out the Rock 50 page here on billward.com.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 7:14 AM
October 6, 2005
Ronnie Ciago's Drum Clinic Dates
Bill Ward Band drummer Ronnie Ciago has some upcoming drum clinics in October and November. These follow up the successful clinics given over the last couple of months. If you're in the area, and are a drummer, you might want to check 'em out.
October 11th @ 7PM
■ Guitar Center, Covina CA
■ Full Address: 1054 N. Azusa Ave, Covina CA 91722
■ View Interactive Map here
■ Store's Telephone Number: 626-967-7911
■ Store Website: Click here.
October 22nd @ 4PM
■ Sam Ash, Westminster CA
■ Full Address: 14200 Beach Blvd Westminster CA 92683
■ View Interactive Map here.
■ Store's Telephone Number: 714-899-2122
■ Store Website: Click here.
November 2nd @ 7PM
■ Sam Ash, Torrance CA
■ Full Address: 19800 Hawthorne Blvd Torrance, CA 90503-1523
■ View Interactive Map here.
■ Store's Telephone Number: 310-214-0340
■ Store Website: Click here.
November 9th @ 7PM
■ Sam Ash, Rowland Heights, CA
■ Full Address: 18031 E Gale Avenue, Rowland Heights, CA 91748
■ View Interactive Map here.
■ Store's Telephone Number: 626-839-8177
■ Store Website: Click here.
If you've attended any of Ronnie's drum clinics and have taken pictures or would like to say a few words about the clinics, please contact Joe Siegler at siegler@billward.com. Thanks.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 9:33 AM