Black Sabbath : new album 13, new drummer Brad Wilk

OKAY crossword fans.

Black Sabbath drummer ... two words.

B--- W---

Yep, that’s right.

Brad Wilk.

The Rage Against The Machine drummer has been shipped in to replace Bill Ward on the new Sabbath album, which will be titled simply 13.

News of the switch was released on the 13^th of January, as in 13.1.13.

And it’s unlucky for Bill who, you’ll recall, was locked in a bitter dispute with former bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne when he was left out of the big reunion.

No doubt more legal letters will be flying.

But the good news is that Tony is back on track, still battling cancer but reportedly writing some of his best music ever.

Sabbath have recorded the new album primarily in Los Angeles and were joined at the sessions by drummer Brad, one of the best in the business.

And if you thought that his work with RATM doesn’t particularly suit Sabbath’s more bruising Brummie riffs, then listen again to the three albums he made as part of supergroup Audioslave.

Wonder if the Sabs might do a cover of Cochise when they hit the road?

Produced by seven-time Grammy winner Rick Rubin – who has a track record of reviving careers – 13 will be released on Vertigo.

That’s a nice touch because it was on the label that Sabbath first made an album, and remained with then until 1978’s Never Say Die.

Since they started, by the way, the Sabs have shifted more 70 million albums together.



In advance of the album’s release, Tony & Co will head to New Zealand, Australia and Japan for live performances, with more to be announced. Don’t be surprised to see them at a major UK festival.

The dates so far are:

April 20 & 22 – Vector Arena, Auckland

April 25 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia

April 27: AllPhones Arena, Sydney, Australia

April 29 & May 1: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia

May 4: Perth Arena, 
Perth, Australia

May 12: Ozzfest, Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan