Decades after their music carved a permanent niche in the halls of rock and roll history, the legendary band behind it all still grapples with a lingering “what if”.
In a recent interview on Full Metal Jackie’s radio show, bassist Geezer Butler revealed a shared regret that echoed the sentiments of his former bandmate, the iconic Ozzy Osbourne.
Both men expressed a deep yearning for a different outcome during their final tour – the presence of drumming powerhouse Bill Ward whose absence left a noticeable void. Butler’s comments ignite a deeper look into why this missing piece held such significance.
“We Were All Sad About It, That He Couldn’t Really Do It”
On the radio show, Butler reflected on Black Sabbath’s history. When Jackie mentioned Ozzy Osbourne’s regret about Bill Ward’s absence during their final run, Butler echoed the sentiment.
“Well, obviously,” he said. “I’d love Bill to have been on the final album and the final tour that we did. I think Bill was a very proud person and he didn’t want to come along and just do three or four songs. He insisted on doing the whole set and the whole album.”
Butler acknowledged concerns about Ward’s health. “And I think people said he wasn’t up to it health-wise,” he explained. “And we couldn’t risk booking a whole worldwide tour and then having to cancel it after a few days. And so we respected that. We were all sad about it, that he couldn’t really do it.”
Butler on the Enduring Thrill of Creativity
In the interview, Geezer also discussed the ever-present creative spark in a musician’s life.
“[The challenge is] seeing what I can come up with,” he said. I’ve got a little studio in the house. Only when I feel like it, I’ll go in the studio, just come up with something. It could be anything, just to please me, not for like general release or trying to get a record deal. Just to be able to sit down in my studio and just come up with stuff to see what I can still come up with.”
However, Butler acknowledges a shift in his lyrical inspiration. “there’s not a lot of things that inspire me these days,” he shared. “It’s just a lot of bad things happening in the world, it seems, which isn’t very inspiring. So yeah, it’s more of a hobby now to me than anything else.”
Geezer Dives Deep “Into the Void”
Butler sat down with Full Metal Jackie on her radio show to promote his recently released memoir, Into the Void. The conversation spanned a wide range of topics, offering a glimpse into Butler’s life and experiences.
One fascinating segment involved his encounters with future rock legends before they achieved superstardom. Butler revealed his ability to spot potential stars even in their early days. The interview also explored how his views on religion have evolved over time and why the 1960s were such a crucial period for shaping his worldview. He even shared his parents’ reactions as his musical career took flight.
Beyond his personal story, Butler discussed his time with Black Sabbath during the Tony Martin era, reflecting on the one album he recorded with the vocalist. He also shared his current perspective on music and the creative spark that continues to drive him.