Ozzy Osbourne added some clarity, and some levity to dark humored people, when he commented further on original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward being unable to tour and perform with the group for the original lineup's reunion: the percussionist is overweight.
"I don't think he could have done the gig, to be honest. He's incredibly overweight," Osbourne said. "A drummer has to be in shape. He's already had two heart attacks. I don't want to be responsible for his life."
Osbourne was more than willing to invite Ward back into the fold for the band's next term in the recording studio, granted he can get his act together. That is, if Ward doesn't get hurt feelings over being called fat.
"Maybe we can work things out by the next one," Osbourne said. "But it won't take another 35 years. I'm 65 now. There's no f-----g recording studios in the afterlife. We're all even closer for all this s---, so there's one positive, one f-----g silver lining."
The band reformed in 2012 for some light touring and then to record its first album in nearly 35 years, "13." The group is currently touring the United States in support of the album.
Osbourne wasn't alone in his criticism of Ward, nor was he the harshest. Guitarist Tony Iommi didn't hold back in suggesting that Ward wasn't up to snuff anymore.
"We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out," he said. "But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed, I thought 'F-----g hell, that's it - we've got to get a move on. I might pop off next year!' So I emailed him and said 'Bill, we can't wait any longer. We've got to get a move on with it'. And that was it."
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