Black Sabbath are ready to go on tour without drummer

Black Sabbath released an official statement saying that they are ready to go on a reunion tour and record new album without drummer Bill Ward. Earlier this week Ward claimed that he is going to quit the band because he is dissatisfied with the terms of contract he was offered.

"We were saddened to hear via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans. We have no choice but to continue without him although our door is always open", says the statement by Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath announced their reunion at the special conference that has taken place on November 11 2011. Ozzy Osbourne and his bandmates added that they would make their first comeback performance at this year's Download Festival, joining such acts as System Of A Down, Linkin Park, Def Leppard and others.

Black Sabbath formed in Birmingham in 1968. The band released eight albums with original line-up – Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master Of Reality, Black Sabbath Vol. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! – before Ozzy Osbourne left in 1973.