Earlier this month, former Sabbath star Tony Martin expressed cynicism in the whole Bill Ward/Black Sabbath drama, chalking it up to a mere publicity stunt.

A few weeks has passed and Martin isn’t changing his tune, as he still can’t wrap his head around the mess.

Martin tells Born Music Online that all the commotion surrounding his former band could very well be to generate newfound interest, and has serious doubts of its sincerity.

“They love him, so why didn’t they go the extra yard to make it work? They’ve got nothing bad to say about him, or at least I never heard it. It sounds a bit like a publicity stunt to me – like they’re keeping him for the ‘real’ reunion in a year’s time, so they can do the reunion stuff all over again.”

When asked if its possible that Ward just doesn’t want to hit the road again for a tour, Martin said that he simply isn’t buying that idea.

“It really doesn’t matter because he was the original drummer, and they’re among the few bands that age who are still all alive. They’ve got enough money to do anything…I don’t get why they wouldn’t go that extra bit and help him out if they have to hire a backup drummer or something.”

Question For You: Let’s assume that Black Sabbath announces a full-scale tour for 2013: If it’s penned as a “reunion” tour, but without Bill Ward, would you still buy tickets to see it?

Andrew Celani — WZLX.com

See also:

• Ozzy: “Rockers Are Like Schizos”
• Zakk Wylde Talks (Black) Sabbath
• Is The Black Sabbath/Bill Ward Drama Merely A Publicity Stunt?
• Ozzy Osbourne Cancels Concert Over “Vocal Concerns”