Rick Ward played drums in Distant Thunder, the band featuring former Helstar and Destiny's End and current Seven Witches frontman James Rivera. The lineup is completed by Symphony X bassist Mike LePond, Z-lot-Z's guitar duo, Gregg Gill and Eric Halpern (also former Helstar and Destiny's End guitarist).



2005 saw Rick Ward hit the skins in Houston, Texas-based melodic power metal band Azrael's Bane.



In 2006 Rick Ward also appeared on ProgPower USA VII as lighting engineer.