Bill Ward's Drum Setup on Black Sabbath's 'Never Say Die!' (1978) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Bill Ward use on Never Say Die!?

Bill Ward recorded *Never Say Die!* (1978) on the same Ludwig Standard Maple kit he'd used on *Technical Ecstasy* and *Sabotage* — a 22" bass drum, two rack toms, and a 16" floor tom in natural maple, paired with his Ludwig Supraphonic snare and Paiste 2002 cymbals. The gear stayed consistent across all three albums. For the full arc of Ward's gear through Black Sabbath's catalog, see the [Bill Ward drummer profile](/drummer/bill-ward).

What was Bill Ward's last studio album with Black Sabbath before he left?

*Never Say Die!* (1978) was Bill Ward's last studio album with Black Sabbath's original lineup. He continued to tour behind the record but departed the band in 1980 before recording began on *Heaven and Hell*, and was replaced by Vinnie Appice. Ward would not record another studio album with Black Sabbath until the band's later reunion-era work.

Did Bill Ward sing on Never Say Die!?

Yes — Bill Ward sang lead vocals on "Swinging the Chain," the closing track on *Never Say Die!* (1978). It was his second turn at lead vocals on a Black Sabbath album, following "It's Alright" from *Technical Ecstasy* (1976), and gave his original run with the band a fitting bookend.

What albums did Black Sabbath record with all original members in the 1970s?

Black Sabbath's original lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward recorded eight studio albums together in the 1970s: *Black Sabbath* (1970), *Paranoid* (1970), *Master of Reality* (1971), *Vol. 4* (1972), *Sabbath Bloody Sabbath* (1973), *Sabotage* (1975), *Technical Ecstasy* (1976), and *Never Say Die!* (1978). Ward left after the *Never Say Die!* tour, and Vinnie Appice replaced him for 1980's *Heaven and Hell*, the first Sabbath album with vocalist Ronnie James Dio. See the [Bill Ward drummer profile](/drummer/bill-ward) for the complete gear breakdown across all eight albums.