Rock 50
March 12th Rock 50 Show Details
by Joe on Mar.09, 2005, under Rock 50
Traffic’s drummer, Jim Capaldi is remembered and highlighted on the next “Rock 50” show, March 12th. Bill will play a special segment of Jim’s work with Traffic and two tracks from the 40,000 Headmen Tour of 1998.
Also, while it’s short notice (blame the webmaster for being sick for the last week and a half), if you have any questions for Bill for Rock 50 show, email them to rock50@billward.com. Bill will answer some of them on the air!
Bill has a few words to add about Jim; check it out:
JIM CAPALDI
For those who don’t know, Jim Capaldi, songwriter, drummer/percussionist and vocalist extraordinaire, died recently on January 28th at a London clinic from stomach cancer.
Jim Capaldi, probably best known for his creative work with Traffic, was for me, an inspiration. As a teenager, I would sit next to the stage at Birmingham’s all nighters and study Jim’s technique. At that time, Jim played with a Worcestershire-based band called Deep Feeling, which also included Luther Grosvenor, later of Spooky Tooth, and Chris Wood, later of Traffic. Jim was a unique player, and back then at the all nighters he had a heart of many talents.
I got to know Jim, and he gave me a most precious gift. A gift that as a teenage drummer, I probably needed more than anything else. The gift was validation. He validated my playing. At that time, this meant a lot to me. During the heady days of the all nighters, Dave Mason would visit, and in what seemed no time at all, Traffic with Steve Winwood, was born. Traffic’s journey is rock history now.
I’ve admired Jim’s work over the years and up until today. Jim Capaldi was a giant in music. I believe he took musical risks that are so important to do. He knew how to play in a band, and that requires in part, listening techniques and selflessness. His rhythms were always cutting-edge, and his songwriting was powerful.
I thank you, Jim, and pay my respects to you. I will never forget what you gave me and how much you’ve brought to music.
On Saturday, March 12th, we’ll play some songs Jim wrote and recorded as a tribute to the man, legendary and very important to rock’s history.
Thanks, Jim.
–Bill Ward
What is your favourite Black Sabbath Song?
by Joe on Mar.08, 2005, under Rock 50
2005 marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Black Sabbath’s first two albums. To this, Bill wants to know what your favorite Black Sabbath song is. Please email it to him at rock50@billward.com – the votes will be tallied and will be divulged in a future Rock 50 show.
Bill wants your questions
by Joe on Jan.28, 2005, under Rock 50
As regular Bill Ward site visitors know, Bill has been doing a monthly radio programme over the Internet. Well, with 2005 being the 35th anniversary of Black Sabbath’s first album release, Bill wants to do something special with his programme.
To this, he wants to collect your questions via email and will read and answer some of them on his show. So, if you have a question for Bill Ward, please email it to the following address: rock50@billward.com. Just make sure the question is about Black Sabbath. 🙂
Then make sure to listen in to the February 5th edition of “Rock 50” and see if Bill reads your question on the air!
Bill will stop taking emails on Thursday Feb 3rd at 4PM EST, so get your questions in!
Bill’s Rock 50 reruns
by Joe on Jan.17, 2005, under Rock 50
For awhile now, Bill Ward has been doing a monthly radio program out of WPMD (a college radio station at Cerritos College in California). This morning comes word that Bill Ward’s previous programs will be rerun in a special programming block.
WPMD.org’s “alternative stream” presents a Bill Ward Marathon. Every “Rock 50” show that the Black Sabbath drummer has done on WPMD over the last three years will be played, in order and repeated, from February 1st through the 8th.
From February 8th through the 15th, the WPMD.org “alternative stream” will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the demise of the LA heavy metal legend — Pure Rock 105.5 KNAC-FM. The celebration will include full shows, special programs, special guests and historical tidbits from the final days leading up to the end on February 15, 1995, when KNAC-FM left the air. On February 15th the final 8 hours will play in the same time slot that closed out the station in 1995 — from 6am to 2pm. Special guests in those final hours include Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield of Metallica, along with air personalities from the entire history of “Pure Rock” 105.5 KNAC-FM.
For more information on Bill’s appearances on Rock 50, visit the “Rock 50 page“.
Bill’s Radio Show
by Joe on Jan.16, 2003, under Rock 50
I just got word that Bill Ward has agreed to a date for a new edition of his semi-regular radio show on radio station WPMD from Cerritos College in Cerritos, CA. The date he’ll be doing it is February 15th. Once I get more info, like the time of the show, I’ll report back
UPDATE: I got an update from the producer of the show. He sent me this: Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward returns to “Rock 50” on Saturday, February 15th at 11:00am Pacific Time. As always, Bill will be playing his favorite tunes and giving insight into his life over the last 30 years with the band that helped create and shape heavy metal music.
Bill on the Radio
by Joe on Oct.30, 2002, under Rock 50
On Saturday, November 2nd, Black Sabbath Drummer, Bill Ward will, once again, be the “in studio” co-host with Mike Stark for “Rock 50“, heard exclusively on WPMD Radio, Cerritos College from 11am to 1pm Pacific Time.
Following the release of his latest single “Straws” and a new Black Sabbath compilation – – “Symptom of the Universe,” Bill will be sharing his thoughts on a variety of subjects, spinning his favorite music and taking YOUR phone calls. Bill will also co-host “Rock 50” on November 30th. Don’t miss these very special programs from this heavy metal original.
During the shows, “first edition” copies of Mike Stark’s For the Record – Black Sabbath: An Oral History (now in it’s second printing), will be given away to selected callers to the program.
On the Steve Propes 45 Show (9am to 11am, Pacific Time), Steve welcomes Billy Cardenas, who was responsible to discovering the artists and producing the “Land Of 1000 Dances” East L.A. Sound of the mid to late 1960s along with some of the records
WPMD on the Internet and WPMD-AM 1700 originates from the campus of Cerritos College, Norwalk, California, home of the best college radio curriculum in Southern California. WPMD features an eclectic programming mix of news, talk, sports and music, presented by students, Cerritos College community members and radio professionals.
You can discuss Bill’s radio appearance on his forums here.
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Hi Everybody.
It’s Bill here. First off, I want to thank you all for the support you’ve given me throughout the years. I love to play– whether it’s playing drums in Black Sabbath, making music with my own band or working with other musicians, period. Being able to do what I love for my whole life, pretty much, has been an honour and privilege.
When I started playing in Sabbath, there was an energy of truth about us. We believed in what we were saying, the music we were making and the lives we were living. As time has moved on, I’ve nurtured and tried to save a lot of what I learnt playing in Sabbath. During the more recent years at the Ozzfest concerts, I’ve found myself immersed in the musical rewards of playing in such a unique and devastatingly, powerfully effective Metal band. Sabbath have been, and are, my greatest teachers, and I am forever grateful for the musical journey so far.
Today, I love what’s happening in music. I’ve been given the rare opportunity to play bands I like – Classic and newer Metal – on our Rock 50 radio show. These bands energize me.
I am humbled to know many of you. Music lives and brings and maintains life. Music has always brought me through.
Stay strong, safe and live. Enjoy the site.
Long Live Metal.
--Bill Ward
