Bill Ward
Encyclopedia
William Thomas "Bill" Ward (born 5 May 1948, Aston
, Birmingham
, England
) is an English musician, best known as the original drummer
for the British
heavy metal
band Black Sabbath
.
In addition to playing drums as an original founding member of the band, Ward sang lead vocals for two Black Sabbath songs; "It's Alright" from Technical Ecstasy
and "Swinging the Chain" from Never Say Die!
. He also coined the term "downer rock."
Ward's drumming often closely doubled the bass and guitar riffs. An example of this is the song "Iron Man
" on the Paranoid
album.
played in a band called Mythology, and joined vocalist Ozzy Osbourne
and bassist Geezer Butler
, who had played in a band together called "Rare Breed".
Between 1969 and 1980, Ward played drums on every Sabbath album. He left the band to play in Max Havoc in August 1980 during a tour for the album Heaven and Hell. He sat out one album (1981's Mob Rules) before returning for 1983's Born Again. He once again left the band following the recording of that album, due to ill health. He was officially back in the band again in the summer of 1984, but the band did not record or tour then.
According to Tony Iommi
, he and the band would often set Ward's beard on fire and perform other harmful pranks on him. On one occasion, Ward even received third-degree burns.
Before the full Black Sabbath reunion, Ward and the original Sabbath had re-united twice for short sets, first for Live Aid
in 1985 and then at a Costa Mesa
, California
Ozzy Osbourne show on 14th November 1992. Sabbath, with Judas Priest
singer Rob Halford
, replacing the recently-departed Ronnie James Dio
, opening the show for Osbourne. The Ozzy Osbourne band (Osbourne, Zakk Wylde
, Mike Inez
, Randy Castillo
and John Sinclair
) then did a full set before Osbourne was reunited with Iommi, Butler and Ward for four numbers.
Ward made a brief return to the band for a South American tour in 1994, before finally rejoining the band for the two shows at the Birmingham NEC, England on 4 and 5 December 1997, which made up the Reunion album. When what was billed as the original line-up reunited for the Ozzfest
tour in 1997 Mike Bordin played drums. Ward then had to skip all but the last two band appearances in 1998 while he recovered from a heart attack
suffered during the tour rehearsals that May. As was the case in 1980, he was again replaced at short notice by Vinny Appice
, although this time it was always intended to be a temporary absence for Ward, health allowing. He was well enough to return for good in 1999 and has remained with Sabbath ever since.
Since mid-2002, Ward has done a monthly internet only radio show named "Rock 50" on radio station WPMD from Cerritos College in California. Ward plays a variety of metal, hard rock, and some classic rock.
In October 2006 news leaked that Ward would be reuniting with Tony Iommi
, Geezer Butler
and Ronnie James Dio
for a tour though under the moniker Heaven & Hell. However, Ward later decided not to participate in the tour or continue participation in the band due to musical differences between himself and "a couple of the other bandmembers".
Ward has two sons, Nigel and Aron, and one daughter, Emily. Ward maintains a vegan diet.
drumsticks and Gibraltar
hardware.
Tama Imperialstar drums
AA and Hand Hammered Sabian cymbals
He inspired drummers including:
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English musician, best known as the original drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
In addition to playing drums as an original founding member of the band, Ward sang lead vocals for two Black Sabbath songs; "It's Alright" from Technical Ecstasy
Technical Ecstasy
- Personnel :* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Tony Iommi – guitar* Geezer Butler – bass guitar* Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "It's Alright"* Gerald Woodruffe – keyboards- Release history :-Other resources:...
and "Swinging the Chain" from Never Say Die!
Never Say Die!
-Band:*Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals*Tony Iommi – guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Geezer Butler – bass guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "Swinging the Chain", backing vocals on "A Hard Road"-Additional musicians:...
. He also coined the term "downer rock."
Ward's drumming often closely doubled the bass and guitar riffs. An example of this is the song "Iron Man
Iron Man (song)
"Iron Man" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their second studio album Paranoid released in 1970. It was later included on their initial greatest hits compilation We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll , as well as all subsequent greatest hits compilations.-Writing and...
" on the Paranoid
Paranoid (album)
Paranoid is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, the album was the only one by the band to top the UK Albums Chart, and as a result is commonly identified as the band's magnum opus...
album.
Biography
Prior to the formation of Black Sabbath, Bill Ward and guitarist Tony IommiTony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
played in a band called Mythology, and joined vocalist Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and bassist Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
, who had played in a band together called "Rare Breed".
Between 1969 and 1980, Ward played drums on every Sabbath album. He left the band to play in Max Havoc in August 1980 during a tour for the album Heaven and Hell. He sat out one album (1981's Mob Rules) before returning for 1983's Born Again. He once again left the band following the recording of that album, due to ill health. He was officially back in the band again in the summer of 1984, but the band did not record or tour then.
According to Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, he and the band would often set Ward's beard on fire and perform other harmful pranks on him. On one occasion, Ward even received third-degree burns.
Before the full Black Sabbath reunion, Ward and the original Sabbath had re-united twice for short sets, first for Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
in 1985 and then at a Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Ozzy Osbourne show on 14th November 1992. Sabbath, with Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
singer Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
, replacing the recently-departed Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
, opening the show for Osbourne. The Ozzy Osbourne band (Osbourne, Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
, Mike Inez
Mike Inez
Mike Inez is a rock musician best known for his role as the bassist of Alice in Chains. Inez has also worked with other popular musical acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, and Heart. Inez is of Filipino ancestry.-Career:...
, Randy Castillo
Randy Castillo
Randolpho Francisco Castillo was best known as Ozzy Osbourne's drummer during the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, and later as drummer for Mötley Crüe, from 1999-2002.-Early years:...
and John Sinclair
John Sinclair (musician)
John Sinclair is a keyboardist who has played for bands such as The Babys, Heavy Metal Kids, Savoy Brown, The Cult, but is probably best known for his time in Uriah Heep and playing for Ozzy Osbourne's band...
) then did a full set before Osbourne was reunited with Iommi, Butler and Ward for four numbers.
Ward made a brief return to the band for a South American tour in 1994, before finally rejoining the band for the two shows at the Birmingham NEC, England on 4 and 5 December 1997, which made up the Reunion album. When what was billed as the original line-up reunited for the Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
tour in 1997 Mike Bordin played drums. Ward then had to skip all but the last two band appearances in 1998 while he recovered from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
suffered during the tour rehearsals that May. As was the case in 1980, he was again replaced at short notice by Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice
Vincent Samson Appice , also known as Vinny Appice is a rock drummer of American Italian descent and the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice...
, although this time it was always intended to be a temporary absence for Ward, health allowing. He was well enough to return for good in 1999 and has remained with Sabbath ever since.
Since mid-2002, Ward has done a monthly internet only radio show named "Rock 50" on radio station WPMD from Cerritos College in California. Ward plays a variety of metal, hard rock, and some classic rock.
In October 2006 news leaked that Ward would be reuniting with Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
and Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
for a tour though under the moniker Heaven & Hell. However, Ward later decided not to participate in the tour or continue participation in the band due to musical differences between himself and "a couple of the other bandmembers".
Ward has two sons, Nigel and Aron, and one daughter, Emily. Ward maintains a vegan diet.
Equipment and influence
Ward uses Tama drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic FirthVic Firth
Vic Firth is an American musician and is the founder of Vic Firth Company , a percussion stick and mallet manufacturing company that he started in 1963. The company bills itself as the world's largest manufacturer of drum sticks and mallets...
drumsticks and Gibraltar
Gibraltar Hardware
Gibraltar Hardware is a maker of drumset and percussion hardware. It's most famed for making drumset frames and cages, but it also makes everything from hi-hat stands to drumset thrones...
hardware.
Tama Imperialstar drums
- 13"x15" Tom
- 16"x16" Floor Tom
- 16"x18" Floor Tom
- 8"x14" Snare Drum
- 5"x14" Snare Drum
- 14"x26" Bass Drum
- 14"x26" Bass Drum
- 14"x20" Gong Bass Drum
- Octobans
AA and Hand Hammered Sabian cymbals
- 14" AA Rock Hats
- 10" AA Mini Hats
- 20" AA Medium Crash
- 29" AA China (custom)
- 22" Hand Hammered Raw Bell Dry Ride
- 14" Hand Hammered Sizzle Hats
- 22" Hand Hammered Medium Crash
- 14" Hand Hammered Mini China
- 22" Hand Hammered Power Ride
- 21" Hand Hammered Medium Crash
He inspired drummers including:
- Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
(KissKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
) - Dale CroverDale CroverDale Crover is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, and for a brief time, drummer for Nirvana. He is also guitarist and vocalist for Altamont...
(The MelvinsThe MelvinsThe Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
, The Men of PornThe Men of PornMen of Porn, sometimes typeset as Porn and now simply known as Porn, is a San Francisco band consisting of founder Tim Moss, Dale Crover, and Billy Anderson....
, NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
) - Les BinksLes BinksJames Leslie Binks , is a Northern Irish heavy metal drummer, who is most notable for having been the drummer for Judas Priest.-History:...
(Judas PriestJudas PriestJudas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
) - Chuck BiscuitsChuck BiscuitsChuck Biscuits is a Canadian-born drummer, now a U.S. citizen, who is best known as an original member of the heavy metal/hard rock band Danzig. Most recently, he was a member of the punk rock band Social Distortion in the late 1990s...
(DanzigDanzig (band)Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
) - Mike BordinMike BordinMike Bordin is the co-founder and drummer of rock band Faith No More. He is also known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. As a left-handed drummer, he notably plays with a right-handed kit with his ride cymbal on the left...
(Faith No MoreFaith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
) - Matt CameronMatt CameronMatthew David "Matt" Cameron is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the American rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden...
(Pearl JamPearl JamPearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, SoundgardenSoundgardenSoundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
) - Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
(NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Them Crooked VulturesThem Crooked VulturesThem Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
) - Chris Stocking (Chris Stocking)
- Vinnie PaulVinnie PaulVincent Paul Abbott, also known as "Vinnie Paul" is a heavy metal drummer and producer who is currently a member of supergroup Hellyeah, but is best known for being a member, and co-founder, of the heavy metal band Pantera...
(PanteraPanteraPantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, HellyeahHellyeahHellyeah is an American heavy metal supergroup, consisting of Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett, Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla, and former Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul. The idea to form a supergroup originated in 2001 on the...
) - Lars UlrichLars UlrichLars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
(MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
) - Alex Van HalenAlex Van HalenAlexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
(Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
) - Arnold Downey (Our Modern Disease)
- Sim CainSim CainSim Cain is an American drummer probably best known as a member of the hard rock group Rollins Band from 1987 to 2000...
(Rollins BandRollins BandRollins Band was an American rock band led by singer and songwriter Henry Rollins.They are best known for the songs "Low Self Opinion" and "Liar", which both earned heavy airplay on MTV in the early 1990s...
) - Igor CavaleraIgor CavaleraIgor Graziano Cavalera is a Brazilian musician. He is best known as the former drummer for Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura.-Biography:...
(SepulturaSepulturaSepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
) - Jean-Paul GasterJean-Paul GasterJean-Paul Gaster is the American drummer for rock band Clutch.-Style and influences:Jean-Paul Gaster has learned to play drums growing up on 1960s and 1970 heavy rock bands like Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Black Sabbath. Favorite drummers of Gaster are artists such as legendary jazz drummers Elvin...
(ClutchClutch (band)Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio...
) - Brian Dixon (CathedralCathedral (band)Cathedral are a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group forged a link between early doom metal and a 1990s extreme metal aesthetic, making doom slower and heavier. Their debut album, Forest of Equilibrium, is considered a classic of the genre. They later on changed their doom style,...
) - Brendon Cohen (Vision of DisorderVision of DisorderVision of Disorder is a hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York, US. Vision of Disorder disbanded in 2002, but reunited from time to time over the next six years. In October 2008, they announced that they would record a new studio album...
)
1970s
- 1970 - Black Sabbath - Black SabbathBlack Sabbath (album)Black Sabbath is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released on 13 February 1970 in the United Kingdom, and later on 1 June 1970 in the United States, the album reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart and has been recognised as the first main album to be credited...
- 1970 - Black Sabbath - ParanoidParanoid (album)Paranoid is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, the album was the only one by the band to top the UK Albums Chart, and as a result is commonly identified as the band's magnum opus...
- 1971 - Black Sabbath - Master of RealityMaster of RealityMaster of Reality is the third album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in July 1971. It is sometimes noted as the first stoner rock album...
- 1972 - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Vol. 4
- 1973 - Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody SabbathSabbath Bloody SabbathSabbath Bloody Sabbath is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in December 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music by strings, keyboards and more complex orchestral arrangements.-Recording:Following the 1972–1973...
- 1975 - Black Sabbath - Sabotage
- 1975 - Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' RollWe Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' RollWe Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll is a compilation album by Black Sabbath, originally released on December 1, 1975 in the UK and then on February 3, 1976 in the U.S.-Album information:...
- 1976 - Black Sabbath - Technical EcstasyTechnical Ecstasy- Personnel :* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Tony Iommi – guitar* Geezer Butler – bass guitar* Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "It's Alright"* Gerald Woodruffe – keyboards- Release history :-Other resources:...
- 1978 - Black Sabbath - Never Say Die!Never Say Die!-Band:*Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals*Tony Iommi – guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Geezer Butler – bass guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "Swinging the Chain", backing vocals on "A Hard Road"-Additional musicians:...
1980s
- 1980 - Black Sabbath - Heaven and HellHeaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
- 1980 - Black Sabbath - Live at LastLive at Last (Black Sabbath album)Live at Last is a live album by Black Sabbath. Despite its wide distribution, it was released without any permission or knowledge from the band, and is thus considered "unofficial" in some quarters. However, the release was legal within Europe and ads were carried in the UK music press. In the US...
- 1983 - Black Sabbath - Born Again
1990s
- 1990 - Bill Ward - Ward One: Along the WayWard One: Along the WayWard One: Along the Way is the debut solo album from Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward. Originally released January 10, 1990, and features a wide array of guest musicians, including then-former Black Sabbath band member Ozzy Osbourne.-Track listing:...
- 1993 - Ozzy Osbourne! - Live and LoudLive and LoudLive & Loud is a live album recorded by Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 28 June 1993 . At the time, it was to be Osbourne's final album....
- 1994 - Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black SabbathNativity in BlackNativity in Black is the name of two Black Sabbath tribute albums that came out in the 1990s and 2000s. The albums were recorded with various heavy metal bands paying tribute to Black Sabbath for their influence on the heavy metal genre of rock music....
- 1997 - Bill Ward - When the Bough BreaksWhen the Bough Breaks (Bill Ward album)When the Bough Breaks is the second solo album from Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward. Originally released April 27, 1997 on Cleopatra Records. It is currently out of print.-Track listing:#"Hate" – 5:00#"Children Killing Children" – 3:51#"Growth" – 5:45...
- 1997 - Ozzy Osbourne - The Ozzman ComethThe Ozzman ComethThe Ozzman Cometh is a compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne released in 1997. It is his second greatest hits collection and its initial, limited edition 2 CD pressing contained five previously unreleased songs...
- 1998 - Black Sabbath - Reunion
2000s
- 2000 - Tony Iommi - IommiIommi (album)Iommi is a heavy metal album by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and myriad guest musicians and vocalists, including:*Henry Rollins of Black Flag and Rollins Band*Skin of Skunk Anansie*Brian May of Queen*Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters...
- 2002 - Black Sabbath - Past LivesPast Lives (album)Past Lives is a live album released in 2002 by Black Sabbath. It peaked at number 114 on the Billboard 200. The first disc was previously known as Live at Last, an album not put out by Black Sabbath's record company, and therefore not an official Black Sabbath album...
- 2002 - Bill Ward - "Straws" (single)
- 2002 - Black Sabbath - Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978 is a compilation album released by heavy metal band Black Sabbath in 2002.All songs are remastered...
- 2003 - DioDio (band)Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
- Stand Up and Shout: The Dio Anthology - 2004 - Black Sabbath - Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath is a collection of the first eight albums by the heavy metal band and a DVD. The set contains the albums recorded with original singer Ozzy Osbourne, who was fired in 1979 after completion of the band's Never Say Die! tour and a DVD of 4 videos...
- 2006 - Black Sabbath - Greatest Hits 1970-1978Greatest Hits 1970-1978Greatest Hits 1970–1978 is a compilation album from Black Sabbath, released in 2006.This album features only the original line-up of Black Sabbath with all the albums Ozzy Osbourne worked on presented. This compilation features songs from 1970's self-titled debut album to Never Say Die!.The album...
- 2007 - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath: The Dio YearsBlack Sabbath: The Dio YearsBlack Sabbath: The Dio Years is a 2007 compilation CD of material from recordings made during vocalist Ronnie James Dio's tenure in the band. The CD contains full album length, remastered tracks culled from all three studio albums; Heaven and Hell , Mob Rules , Dehumanizer , and the live album Live...
- 2008 - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath: The Rules of HellThe Rules of HellThe Rules of Hell is a collection of four albums by the heavy metal band Black Sabbath featuring Ronnie James Dio on vocals in remastered form. The albums included in the set are:*1980 Heaven and Hell*1981 Mob Rules*1982 Live Evil...
Disc 1:Heaven and Hell