Photo: WENN
Ozzy Osbourne has responded to former Black Sabbath bandmate Bill Ward's accusations about "insults and false remarks" as well as an "unsignable contract" - asking him "what the fuck are you on about?"
Although seemingly frustrated by having to conduct band business so publicly, Osbourne explains his feelings towards Ward's health.
"Wow, Bill, what the fuck are you on about?," he wrote. "I cannot apologize for comments or opinions I may have made about you in the press during SABBATH's '13' album and tour — physically, you knew you were fucked. Tony [Iommi, guitar], Geezer [Butler, bass] and myself didn't think you could have done a two-hour set with a drum solo every night, so we made the decision to move on. With Tony's condition, we felt that time was not on our side."
Osbourne also responded to Ward's claims about committing to the tour. "Bill, stop this smokescreen about an 'unsignable contract' and let's be honest. Deep down inside, you knew you weren't capable of doing the album and a 16-month tour."
Osbourne then cites specific incidents where this has occured. "Unfortunately for you, our instincts were correct as you were in hospital several times during 2013. Your last hospitalization was for a shoulder surgery that you now say you've only just recovered from. This would have meant that our world tour would have been canceled. So how is all of this my fault? Stop playing the victim and be honest with yourself and our fans."
Osbourne to his credit wants this out of the press and to be resolved quickly. "Bill, we go back a long way, let's stop this now before it gets out of hand. God bless you. Love Ozzy".
As previously reported, Ward had sought a full and public apology from Osbourne for his comments in the press. "Because I was chastised publicly, I would want him to amend publicly in his words, and not through an Ozzy representative, the nature of the wrongs," he wrote. "I would not want to continue on with him without this seemingly [impassable] dilemma being addressed. I don't think previously strong relationships can remain strong after dispute by just sweeping the offensive stuff under the carpet, or by saying a puny sorry, or 'Oh, that's all over now.' It doesn't work like that for me. Righting of wrong works, and that's what I want if I'm ever going to be his friend again."
The drummer will shortly release his own LP Accountable Beasts with the Bill Ward Band.
Ozzy Osbourne confirmed the end of Black Sabbath late last year, stating that he will be returning to solo material. The rock veteran told Billboard that whatever the band does now will be "our last hurrah...then it's no more Sabbath at all. We're disbanding the name and everything. They don't want to tour anymore. I get it. But I love it. I'm gonna continue my solo thing".
Black Sabbath will release their final album in 2015 with further details yet to be announced.
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