BILL WARD Talks About 40th Anniversary Of BLACK SABBATH's 'Paranoid' Album

June 19, 2010

Classic Rock Revisited recently conducted an interview with BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward about the 40th anniversary of SABBATH's "Paranoid" album. The chat is now available for streaming in four parts below.

On June 28 in the U.K. and June 29 in North America, Eagle Vision will release the "Classic Albums" DVD of BLACK SABBATH's legendary second album, "Paranoid". An e-card for the release is available at this location.

Fans will be able to go into the studio with the band — singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — and get a first-hand account of the making of the album featuring the iconic tracks "Paranoid", "Iron Man" and "War Pigs". The DVD also features interviews with the original engineers, demonstrations, archive videos and use of the original multi-track tapes.

Released in the autumn of 1970, "Paranoid" is regarded by many as the finest heavy metal releases of all time, is hugely influential and has come to define the genre.

The album was produced by Rodger Bain and was recorded at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, England.

According to Wikipedia, the album was originally titled "War Pigs", but allegedly the record company changed it to "Paranoid", fearing backlash from supporters of the ongoing Vietnam War. At the time, the band felt that the song was lighter, with the potential to become a single. Additionaly the studio felt the title track was more marketable as a single. However, the band's visual interpretation of a "war pig" was still featured on the cover; a distorted, eerie photograph of a man with sword and shield jumping out from behind a tree.

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

Interview Part 3:

Interview Part 4:

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