Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne says he wanted his solo drummer, Tommy Clufetos, to play on the band’s new album, “13,” while producer Rick Rubin ultimately went with Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine to fill the seat vacated by original member Bill Ward.
"The way it was dealt with wasn't very fair on Tommy,” Ozzy tells Billboard. “Rick Rubin just didn't want to work with him for reasons I don't know. He's a great drummer, and he's been with me for awhile now and I just felt that nobody discussed the decision about Brad to me, and it's not fair to Tommy. Tommy was promised the album... It's not because he was my drummer and my ego wanted him. It was just the fact the way it was dealt with. It just got me a bit, it got me pissed off about it. It's alright now. He's a great drummer. I don't know what the problem was."
In the article, Osbourne did not elaborate on who “promised” the “13” album sessions to Clufetos, or why his manager, wife Sharon Osbourne, was unable to assist in securing the gig for him on the singer’s behalf.
Ozzy does, however, feel that Wilk "did a good job. I don't have anything bad to say. He's a very nice guy."
"Brad is a muscular drummer with great feel and understands the groovy nature of their music - Rage Against The Machine is a groovy rock band, not a metal band - so it was worth a try,” wrote Rubin in an email to Billboard for the story. “When they played together the first time, it was obvious he would do a great job in the seat Bill left vacated. Bill's a great drummer and I'm sure it would have been an amazing album with him. We all wanted him to participate."
Clufetos toured with Sabbath for their three shows in 2012 and is handling drum duties on the “13” tour.
Fan interest in the mostly-reunited Black Sabbath has helped “13” secure a #1 debut in the band’s native UK – for details, click here.
The band are reportedly also headed for their first US No. 1 album with the record – the chart will be revealed on Wednesday.
“13” debuted at #4 in Australia, giving the band their first top 10 in the country in 40 years – read all about it here.
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Black Sabbath debut at top of UK album charts