“I'm so-so on the blastbeat. A couple of my mates play that style. I'm not a huge fan, no - and the only reason for that is because it distracts me from other elements of the dynamics. It's a little overpowering!”

English drummer, born 1948

Bill Ward, born William Thomas Ward, is an English drummer best known as the original drummer of Black Sabbath. He co-founded the band in 1969 with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, helping establish one of the defining groups of heavy metal. Beyond Black Sabbath, Ward has released three solo albums. His most recent, Accountable Beasts, appeared in 2015. He is associated with the hard-edged drumming and early sound that helped shape the band’s identity.