Black Sabbath have announced that the temporary tour replacement for their hospitalised drummer Bill Ward will be Vinny Appice. He will join the band for all the dates of the European leg of the Ozzfest ’98 tour.
Ward was rushed to hospital from rehearsals in Wales on May 19. There are still no details on the nature of his illness, but there are hints that he suffered a mild heart attack.
Appice is no stranger to Ozzy Osbourne and colleagues – he has previously spent time in the Sabbath drum seat, replacing Ward from 1980 to 1983.
Meanwhile, the full line-up of Ozzfest ’98 at Milton Keynes Bowl, June 20, has also been confirmed. The main stage hosts Black Sabbath, The Ozzy Osbourne Band, Foo Fighters, Pantera, Slayer, Progeny, Korn, Soulfly and Fear Factory, while the second stage features Coal Chamber, Life Of Agony, Entombed, Limp Bizkit, Human Waste Project, Neurosis, and Pitchshifter.
Tickets are still available, priced ‘27.50, from the credit card hotline 0800 138 8844. Coach travel information is offered on (0115) 912 9120.