Bill Ward, the legendary drummer for Black Sabbath, has announced that he is on the verge of releasing two new solo albums, signaling a period of creativity and artistic liberation. Speaking on his new ongoing show as part of the LA Radio Sessions on 99.1 KLBP-FM, Ward revealed that the recording process is largely complete, with release plans forming in the coming months.
“We’ve been living in the studio, is what we’ve been doing,” Ward shared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “And we’ve got two albums that are nearly finished.” He detailed the final stages of production, noting, “We’ve gotta go back in the studio in about another week. And we’ve got four days left to finish our final overdubs for the newest album that’ll be coming out. And we haven’t got it mixed yet. But we’ll get that done too.”
Ward described a newfound approach to songwriting, characterized by an unfiltered and deeply personal expression. “I’ve just let everything go. I basically don’t give an ‘F’, and I think it shows up in the record,” he stated, emphasizing a desire to create music that truly resonates from within. “I wanted to play something that plays in my heart and then comes out of my soul. I wanted to play some things that keep me awake at night.”
The upcoming material showcases Ward‘s expanded musicality, with the drummer taking on significant roles beyond his primary instrument. “I’ve tried to grow more as a pianist and grow more as a drummer and grow more as a bass player,” he explained. “So I’ve basically written a lot of the bass work and all the piano work on the new songs.” He also hinted at a more adventurous, genre-defying sound, incorporating “a little more jazz” than previous efforts, alongside a candid lyrical approach. “I’m swearing a lot. I’m using a lot of profanity on this new record, on these new records. But the profanity seems to work really well. It’s just, like, yeah, this is what I’m saying about whatever’s in my life.”
These albums represent Ward‘s willingness to take creative risks. “I’ve abandoned my critical self. I feel like I’ve abandoned the person that needs to be possibly afraid not to step out a little bit,” he reflected. This experimental spirit is evident in tracks like one featured on the second of the two albums, where Ward explores his childhood memories of playing in the graveyards of Aston Church—a location coincidentally near Villa Park, where Black Sabbath‘s original lineup is set to play its final concert in July.
The albums also feature collaborations, with Ward expressing his love for working with guest musicians. Notably, Slayer‘s Dave Lombardo contributes drums on one track, as Ward acknowledged: “There was some drumming that I knew Dave could play a lot better than I could, so I don’t mind backing away sometimes.” While he plays drums on approximately 80 percent of the new material, these interactions with other guest players, bassists, and guitarists are “a blessing.”
Ward clarified that the new music will be released simply under his own name, Bill Ward, rather than the Bill Ward Band, though he mentioned that unreleased Bill Ward Band material still exists and may see the light of day in the future. As Ward prepares to release these deeply personal works, his upcoming final performance with Black Sabbath‘s original lineup—singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler—at Villa Park on July 5th for the “Back To The Beginning” charity show, further highlights his enduring legacy in rock music.
