Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi to shirtless Bill Ward: 'Blimey, you look like Gollum!'
Bill, of course, couldn't care a jot
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi says he joked to Bill Ward that he “looks like Gollum” when he took his shirt off behind the drum kit.
77-year-old powerhouse drummer Bill Ward performed shirtless for most of Black Sabbath’s thunderous set at Back to the Beginning, the first time he had shared the stage with Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler in 20 years.
In a new interview with Eddie Trunk about the historic Villa Park concert last Saturday (5th July), Tony was asked if he was “impressed” that Bill took his shirt off during Sabbath’s performance.
"Oh my God. I'll tell you one funny story,” Tony replied. “When we had a break on one of the rehearsals, we went in to eat at the studio and Bill got his shirt off and Geezer was just about to have a sandwich. He went, 'Oh, Bill put your shirt on. You're putting me off the sandwich!'
“But it's typical Bill. He is always taking his shirt off every time. I mean, in the old days, he'd always take his shirt off. I said to Bill, 'Blimey, Bill, you look like Gollum.' And I don't think he knew who Gollum was. He's always been the same, Bill. He just doesn't care. He goes on and does what he wants, which is great. That's always been Bill.
“Immediately, of course, all the jokes started again as soon as we were together, having a go at each other. It was really fun, actually. It was great. The communication carried on from years ago."
Elsewhere during the interview, Tony said Black Sabbath rehearsed six songs for Back to the Beginning, but it was eventually whittled down to four.
"Well, we started with 'Fairies Wear Boots', and then we'd done 'Black Sabbath' an=nd it was a little difficult for Bill because he hadn't played them for so long.
“Geezer and I, of course, we played them on the last tour. And, of course, Bill hasn't toured for a long time. So, we could have done six (songs), but we ended up doing four."
Earlier this week, Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello revealed that the concert had raised $190 million (£140 million) for three charities.
Planet Rock has been informed the figure isn’t accurate and the final tally will be revealed by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne in due course.
Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert in photos:
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
A giant inflatable Ozzy greeted fans arriving at Holte End of Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning host Jason Momoa and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler pose in an empty Villa Park as gates open.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Atlanta, Georgia metal monoliths Mastodon were the first band to take to the Back to the Beginning stage.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Thrash legends Anthrax pose in front of the Villa Park crowd after their performance at Back to the Beginning. Wearing matching 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirts, Anthrax played their own song 'Indians' and a fiery cover of Black Sabbath's 'Into the Void'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, wearing a 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirt with 'Iommi 666' on the back, at the Back to the Beginning concert.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Yungblud belts out Black Sabbath's 'Changes' at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. Performing as part of Supergroup A, Yungblud dedicated the track to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed as part of 'Supergroup B', singing on 'The Train Kept A-Rollin'' and 'Walk This Way / Whole Lotta Love'
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello with Steven Tyler at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
An inflatable Ozzy Osbourne ball in Aston Villa colours bounces in the crowd at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Although he didn't appear at Villa Park, Tenacious D's Jack Black performed Ozzy Osbourne's 'Mr. Crowley' on the screens with a young band that included Scott Ian's son, Revel.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Tom Morello wore a Randy Rhoads T-shirt with 'Sabbath Rules' taped to the back of his guitar.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
In character as Papa V Perpetua, Ghost leader Tobias Forge sang 'Bark at the Moon ' with Vernon Reid, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
One of the surprise performers, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood played on The Train Kept A-Rollin' as part of Supergroup B.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo in front of the glorious Villa Park crowd at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert on Saturday 5th July.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's Lars Ulrich at Back to the Beginning. The metal titans' six-song set included covers of Black Sabbath's 'Hole in the Sky' and 'Johnny Blade', plus their own Metallica classics 'Creeping Death', 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', 'Battery' and 'Master of Puppets'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
As he took to the stage on his bat throne, Ozzy Osbourne told the adoring Villa Park crowd: "It's so good to be on this stage... You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy Osbourne flips the bird at photographer Ross Halfin.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Prince of Darkness on his bat throne.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy sang five solo tracks - 'I Don't Know', 'Mr. Crowley', 'Suicide Solution', 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' and 'Crazy Train' - before he was joined on stage by his Black Sabbath band mates Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi one last time.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The concert at Villa Park was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's last-ever live performance.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Hand of Doom himself Tony Iommi at Black Sabbath's final concert at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning