Black Sabbath drummer hints that Rage Against the Machine are recording

Black Sabbath drummer Geezer Butler may have accidentally revealed that Rage Against the Machine are working on a new album.

The band haven't released an album in thirteen years, and frontman Tom Morello recently told Billboard that they had "no plans" to record a fifth album.

However, in an interview with Metal Insider, Butler said that Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk may not be able to tour with Sabbath, as he could have other commitments.

Black Sabbath have currently been recording with both Wilk and Tommy Clufetos. When asked which drummer would be going on the road with them, Butler responded, "We're not sure yet [which drummer we will use].

He continued, "We don't know because I think Brad's got commitments with Rage Against the Machine ... It'll probably be either Tommy or Brad, depending on their commitment."

However, Wilk doesn't have any touring commitments with Rage Against the Machine, as the band don't currently have any scheduled tour dates - leading fans to speculate that they could be recording.



Rage haven't played live since November 2011 and Morello told Rolling Stone that they have no plans to do so again.

He said, "I consider them brothers and brothers-in-arms, and whether or not we ever play music again in any capacity is unknown. There's no plans, no current direction of anything."

source: gigwise.com

Black Sabbath Pledge To Carry on Without Drummer Bill Ward

Black Sabbath have responded to drummer Bill Ward's open letter pledging to leave the band unless he is presented with a "signable contract." In a statement on Facebook, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler indicated they they will carry on with their new album and reunion tour without him. "We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans," they wrote. "We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open...We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll...See you at Download!!!"

Tony Iommi was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, causing the band to move their recording sessions from Los Angeles to England, where the guitarist is receiving treatment. They reportedly backed out of a planned headlining slot at Coachella and their European summer tour seemed to be in jeopardy, though the above statement makes it clear they plan on performing at the Download Festival on June 10th.

Black Sabbath toured without Bill Ward when the original line-up reformed in 1997, but he joined up with the group the following year. In 2004 a contract dispute nearly caused him to not participate on that summer's Ozzfest tour, but he eventually wound up signing on. "After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract," Ward wrote in his recent letter. "I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning."

He also addresses the possibility that the group might replace him. "If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans," he wrote. "I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact."

It's unclear who the group plans to bring in to play drums on their new projects, though in the past Faith No More's Mike Bordin and Vinny Appice have played in Black Sabbath when Ward was unavailable.

source: rollingstone.com