The Devilry of Sharon Osbourne

Alteredmindeath

Alteredmindeath

Wasteland Survivor
Mar 5, 2003
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Underneath your bed
C'mon its the original drummer of Black Sabbath! How can't they cater to this mans simple needs?!? Unbelievable, this Black Sabbath reunion has been plaqued with all kinds of downfalls so far. What's next? Reactions from Bill Below...






BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has posted the following message via his official website:

"Dear Sabbath Fans, Fellow Musicians and Interested Parties,

At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a “signable” contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band. Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony, Ozzy and Geezer. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another “unsignable” contract was handed to me.

Let me say that although this has put me in some kind of holding pattern, I am packed and ready to leave the US for England. More importantly, I definitely want to play on the album, and I definitely want to tour with Black Sabbath.

Since the news of Tony’s illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the UK, I’ve spent everyday getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave. That involves something of a task, and as I’ve tried to find out what’s going on with the UK sessions, I’ve realized that I’ve been getting “the cold shoulder” (and, I might add, not for the first time). Feeling somewhat ostracized, my guess is as of today, I will know nothing of what’shappening unless I sign “the unsignable contract.”

The place I’m in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician. I believe in freedom and freedom of speech. I grew up in a hard rock/metal band. We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady, I am real and honest, fair and compassionate.

If I’m replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact.
So here I am. I lay my truth down before you. I’m good to go IF I get a “signable” contract. I don’t want to let anyone down, especially Black Sabbath and all the Sabbath fans. You know I love you. It would be a sad day in rock if this current situation fell to the desires of a few.

My position is not greed-driven. I’m not holding out for a “big piece” of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I’d like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago. After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I’ve brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.

That’s the story so far.

Stay safe and stay strong.

I love every single one of you."
 
Read about this earlier. How come it's Sharon's fault though? Not that I'm saying that she's a saint cause clearly there's no fucking way that woman can amount to a decent person, but maybe it could be because of another factor in the situation?
 
Sabbath will stopped by all kinds of roadblocks and this tour won't start up until the 21st of December, then the world will end because will they will have ripped it asunder.
 
Well whoever made the contract is an asshole. To disregard Bill Ward, and treat him like an anonymous session member is just fucked up. Do Tony and Ozzy want to do this for any reason besides money? Makes me wonder because if they cared they would say Yes to Bill anything you need. They basically said F-you we're going on without you, we don't need you.
 
thrasherdave said:
Very easy to point the finger at Sharon, but I don't think she's got anything to do with this. Say what you will about her, she's a fucking incredible businesswoman.
Click to expand...

And she probably thinks she can get away with giving Vinnie less money than Bill. Wouldn't be surprised if she was actually behind this. She has managed Ozzy for his entire career. She's shrewd. She's also a total fucking bastard.
 
To hell with the Osbournes. I decided a long time ago, when their bullshit reality show was on tv, that they would never receive another dime of my money.
 
Breaking news:
MetalTalk.net have just been informed by a reliable source that Sharon Osbourne has fired Bill Ward. If this turns out to be true, as fully expected, then it won't go down well with the Metal community.

MetalTalk.net understands that Bill's replacement will be Tommy Clufetos from the Ozzy Osbourne band.

We'll find out more as soon as possible.

Stay posted for more information as we have it...
 
Aron, the son of original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward, has posted the following message on Facebook regarding his father's recent announcement that he could not participate in the group's reunion due to his unhappiness with the contract he was offered:

"The press is spinning this shitstorm to read as if my dad has quit. This is not true. The guys know that. That's why they said the door is ALWAYS open.

"My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with BLACK SABBATH or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion. As he stated, his bags are packed and he's ready to go. He says it loud and clear, he definitely wants to play on the album and he definitely wants to tour. I know he's been committed to this project from the beginning all the way to the point everyone else flew off to the U.K. When I saw him over the summer, he had this little CD case with him that had all the rehearsals and song ideas. Each CD was Sharpie scrawled with rough titles and ideas they had been working on.

"About a month ago, my dad called me to let me know that Tony [Iommi, guitar] had been diagnosed with cancer. He said they were all flying over in the next couple of weeks to continue recording the album in the U.K. and begin rehearsals for the summer tours. He'd been rehearsing more than I've ever known him to.

"Up 'till about three weeks ago, he was working extremely hard and close with the other three on this album/reunion tour. He was in very good spirits and sounded excited to be writing with Tony, Geezer [Butler, bass] and Ozzy [Osbourne, vocals] again.

"I know if they sort this shit out, you guys won't be disappointed.

"I've always stayed out of my dad's business and would like nothing more than for everything to be worked out swiftly between the guys. Unfortunately, it's become personal with all these idiots slagging off my dad, so this is for the fucking morons saying, 'Get over it, Bill': My dad has 'gotten over it' again and again. He's risen above this bullshit thing called showbiz for the last 30 years. He's respected because he's real and honest, not just because he's a complete bad-ass on the drums. He's been there for other musicians. In all kinds of circles — punk rock, hardcore, metal whatever. He was one of the first to get his head screwed back on after the '70s and get cleaned up. He's given so much support to so many people trying to pull themselves out of the hell called addiction. He tries so hard to stay in touch with the fans. He'll talk your ear off if you get a chance. He is humbled by your support and loves you.

"'Can't believe he needs to make this public' or 'it's not the first time': you're an idiot and have no idea what the hell's really going on. Just shut the fuck up and keep the speculation and lies to yourself. What my dad posted was from his heart, on the level and as usual completely honest. He wants you to know what's really going on. That he has been given a contract that he can't sign. Nothing more to it. No hidden agenda. Disappointingly, someone else is trying to shroud everything in some kind of X factor 'yeah, it's full steam ahead — we have no choice' bullshit. Of course they have a choice.

"'Don't be so greedy': he is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy. Wake up. He lives in a modest home in Southern California. Pays rent like the rest of us. In case you're still blind, look at it this way — sadly, the current 'SABBATH' statement reads as if someone would rather see the remaining members play in front of thousands of disappointed, confused and resentful fans then give my dad a dignified agreement. Additionally, the record sales will be severely affected because it isn't the promised original lineup. All this because of someone's inability to respect him as the committed founding member he is. This has derailed the fans' hopes of seeing the original lineup and strongly divided the fans. What a way to fuck up such a powerful, influential and inspirational legacy for the rest of time.

"'Who cares? It's just a bunch pensioners': I'm just as cynical about old rock legends getting back on the road 'one more time' as anyone, but this is BLACK SABBATH. They've never been a conventional band. Thing is, I know these guys have been rehearsing loads. Over the last couple months. When I've caught up with my dad, he's been talking about how heavy the jams have been and how hard he's been playing. Do you think people were looking at Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman or Max Roach going, 'Man, these guys are boring and old?' No! It's the music that's important, played by the masters themselves. That's what we want. They're here to teach us, inspire us and make us flip out.

"I saw the (CAPTAIN BEEFHEART) MAGIC BAND recently on tour and they were clearly the definite article. Legends. Completely schooled any new, hip shiny, processed, hyped out mush you've been exposed to in the last couple years. There's no doubt that there are loads of new heavy as fuck bands out there, but to me, BLACK SABBATH are still totally relevant. It's pointless to bitch about their age. They will kick serious fucking ass. Trust.

"To Terry ([a.k.a. Geezer] my godfather), Ozzy (my friend when I was little) and Tony (towering hero), I hope that you will listen to your fans. They want all of you together. As YOU are BLACK SABBATH, so is my Dad. I hope you guys can work it out."
 
How old is he? Fifteen? He hasn't kept a very cool head here, I think if he'd have restrained himself somewhat I'd have a bit more sympathy.

It's not that Bill doesn't deserve it, he really does, but his son jumping to his defense is kind of... well, err.... yeah.
 
Now that we know it's not Sharon, we are starting to run out of reasons why Bill can't be in the reunion. It's probably the work of the promoters, they need to make a repectful contract and quit trying to screw the drummer.
 
This whole mess is unacceptable. I haven't seen Black Sabbath live and from the looks of it, I never will. Fuckers.

My opinion is that Bill handled this in an amateur way verging on the sly. I simply cannot believe they announced a tour and an album without the contracts being signed first.

Having said that, the picture floating around that says "No Bill Ward, No Black Sabbath" is absolutely fucking true, his drumming is unique and without him it just ain't the same deal. I am pretty sure that throughout his career he always received less money than the songwriters and lyricists, so in order for him to raise the issue means he is getting substantially less money.

And right now, looking at the situtation from a fan's perspective... scratch that, from a decent human being's perspective, they are old people, probably on their last chance to do something huge with the name Black Sabbath. Last chance to record, last chance to tour globally, last chance to see basically, tomorrow any of them could be dead. Old people, long history of abuse, Tony is battling cancer ffs.

At this point in their life, I expect them to act like a fucking band that honours their history, split the gigantic cheque evenly (25% each), which roughly translates to 40 fucking million dollars each, enough to feed their grandchildren, who are already taken care of, dudes are all millionaires, especially the dudes who give Bill the crappy contract. Instead, they are worried that the contracts reflect the value of their brand name, that "the "drummer" can't get whatever Ozzy is getting, be real!" and all that shit.

I am sure Sharon is being the mega-manager she is and playing the Ozzy card "without Ozzy, this reunion is shit and he doesn't need you". I guess that's to be expected. What I did not expect and I am actually pretty dissapointed by is Tony and Geezer. They agreed, Bill was fired.

Fuck that.
 
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