"I don't think he could have done the gig, to be honest. He's incredibly overweight. A drummer has to be in shape. He's already had two heart attacks. I don't want to be responsible for his life."

Bill Ward left Black Sabbath during their 1980 tour in support of 'Heaven And Hell' due to a severe drinking problem. He returned to the group off and on throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but was replaced by Faith No More sticksman Mike "Puffy" Bordin in 1997. Bill Ward said he learned of his exclusion on MTV. The band brought him back onboard later that year and he participated in all their tours from that point until the group quietly split in 2005.

The band's 2012 reunion album '13', Black Sabbath's first release with Ozzy Osbourne at the helm since 1978's 'Never Say Die!', features Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine on drums and percussion. Black Sabbath played their reunion show at New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center earlier this month with drummer Tommy Clufetos.