Black Sabbath's answer to Bill Ward

Black Sabbath's answer to Bill Ward

Black Sabbath have responded to drummer Bill Ward's letter threatening to leave the band unless he is presented with a "signable contract."

In a statement on Facebook, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler indicated they they will carry on with their new album and reunion tour without him. "We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans," they wrote. "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open...We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll...See you at Download!!!".

Black Sabbath toured without Bill Ward when the original line-up reformed in 1997, but he joined up with the group the following year. In 2004 a contract dispute nearly caused him to not participate on that summer's Ozzfest tour, but he eventually wound up signing on. "After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract," Ward wrote in his recent letter.  "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".