Black Sabbath Responds to Drummer Bill Ward's Announcement that He Won't Be Playing with the Group

ABC News RadioBlack Sabbath has issued a statement responding to founding drummer Bill Ward's announcement earlier this week that he wouldn't be playing with the band at its three scheduled reunion concerts this year.

The message reads, "We have decided not to make any detailed comment on Bill's latest statement.  There are two sides to every story."

The note also says that Sabbath has "been working hard at rehearsals making excellent progress after" guitarist Tony Iommi's cancer treatments, and reveals the group has hired a drummer to replace Ward at the upcoming concerts.

Sabbath's 2012 tour dates are scheduled for this Saturday in Birmingham, England; June 10 at the Download festival in Donington Park, England; and August 3 at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Ward released a lengthy statement Tuesday explaining he was official dropping out of the reunion gigs because he wasn't able to reach an agreement with Sabbath management on a contract that he felt fairly compensated him.

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