Former Black Sabbath touring drummer Tommy Clufetos told Kaaos TV in a new interview that ‘95%’ of fans expected and wanted Bill Ward to play drums on the final tour. Black Sabbath Drop Randy Rhoads Death Bombshell.
“I was very proud of how I played, I was very proud of how I conducted myself on stage. And it’s one of those situations – I was playing with people who were better than me and I feel that I rose to the challenge.
“I wasn’t trying to outdo anybody or show off. I’m this drummer, I wanted to be a member, even though I would never be a member of that band, be a part of the unit that is Black Sabbath up there.
“So I held that very important as I always do, but with those three guys, 95% of the people are expecting to see somebody else back there, right? The great Bill Ward.
“Unfortunately for him, and everybody, and whoever wanted him, it didn’t happen.
“That being said, it was my goal to make people look past that and have a great concert experience. And I think I did that. If you were at a concert, and you didn’t walk away blown away by the band’s performance, I don’t think your ears or your eyes were working.
“I’ve played with a lot of people, and I’ve done a lot of concerts, and I’ve seen a lot of concerts, and we kicked ass. That cannot be denied.
“The four guys up there kicked ass, and that was an amazing, awesome pleasure. It was my pleasure to be involved with that.
“And that’s why it was so great because all the guys up there were one unit. And I think we really kicked ass, and the music sounded as it should, it sounded fresh, it was alive.
“When you see Tony Iommi, and you see Geezer [Butler], and you see Ozzy, and I was a part of it also, we were all going in one direction – to go in that crowd and grab you, and take you by the shirt collar, and take you with us.
“That music really has legs, and when those people started jumping on ‘Children of the Grave’ or whatever it may be, it was a powerful thing. And that was such a pleasure and an honor to be a part of.
“Was I sad when it was over? Of course, you’re always sad when you don’t think you’re going to get to play. You’re always sad when a tour is over and you don’t know if you’re ever going to get to play with those great, great musicians. That I will miss.” Ultimate-Guitar transcribed his comments.
