VINNY APPICE: It Would Be 'Hard' To Turn Down Opportunity To Play With BLACK SABBATH Again

Former BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL and current KILL DEVIL HILL drummer Vinny Appice says that it would be hard to turn down the opportunity to play with BLACK SABBATH again if he was asked to replace original SABBATH drummer Bill Ward , who announced two weeks ago that he could not participate in the planned reunion of the band's founding lineup without what he called a "signable" contract. "Well, obviously it would be a hard thing to go, 'Nah, I don't wanna do it,' Vinny told Loudwire when asked if he would accept the offer. "First of all, it's not just the opportunity. I love Tony [Iommi, guitar] and I love Geezer [Butler, bass]. I just played with Geezer in December at a Dimebag benefit — me and him played 'The Mob Rules'.

He continued, "They're like family in a way and I know Ozzy [Osbourne] pretty well — we haven't played together much, but it's part of my history and part of my family, too. It would be a hard thing to say 'no' to. I just wouldn't want it to affect my band [KILL DEVIL HILL]. If it happened, we'd be have to incorporate it and make that a springboard for KILL DEVIL HILL too, you know? Make it work both ways."

He added, "I'm shocked by all the news, too — I don't know what's going on. I thought Bill was in, and I thought it was a great thing. It's kind of sad to see it have an issue like this. So I don't know any more than everybody else knows. I don't know what they're really thinking. My main concern is for Tony. When I heard about [his lymphoma diagnosis], it devastated me — and losing [former BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL singer] Ronnie [James Dio, who passed away in May 2010 following a battle with stomach cancer], you know, I'm still getting over Ronnie."

As previously reported, Bill Ward's son Aron has gone online to defend his father. In a lengthy message posted at Facebook, Aron wrote in part, "The press is spinning this shitstorm to read as if my dad has quit. This is not true. The guys know that. That's why they said the door is ALWAYS open. My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with BLACK SABBATH or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion."

Addressing accusations that his father is being "greedy," Aron wrote, "He is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy . . . sadly, the current 'SABBATH' statement reads as if someone would rather see the remaining members play in front of thousands of disappointed, confused and resentful fans then give my dad a dignified agreement."

After defending his father against the "idiots slagging off my dad" — presumably fans not taking his side — Aron concluded with a message to SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Terry "Geezer" Butler, writing, "To Terry (my godfather),Ozzy (my friend when I was little) and Tony (towering hero),I hope that you will listen to your fans. They want all of you together. As YOU are BLACK SABBATH so is my Dad. I hope you guys can work it out."

The other three members of SABBATH have already announced that they will move forward without Ward, with Ozzy's solo band drummer Tommy Clufetos rumored to be already in the studio with them.

The reunion of the original lineup was announced last November, along with a new album and tour. Iommi's current battle with cancer has put prospects for a full world tour in question at this point.