Black Sabbath's founding drummer, and the jazz player who gave heavy metal its swing. Slingerlands tuned high, a Ludwig Supraphonic snare and Paiste cymbals — a small kit making the biggest records of the era, then a double-kick monster by the mid-seventies.
Villa Park, 5 July 2025 — the original four together for the first time in twenty years, a mile from where the band formed, and the last Black Sabbath performance. Ward was 77 and played like it did not matter.
The 2025 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Double-bass kittwin kicks and a full tom bank, in the seventies configuration⤷ who plays this
By the mid-seventies the kit had grown into the double-bass monster the era demanded: twin 26" kicks, multiple snares including an 8"-deep drum, and a bank of toms. Sizes here are as commonly reported by collectors rather than from a factory spec.
The 1975 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
The kit behind the records that started a genre, and it is smaller than anyone expects: a plain four-piece Slingerland in white marine pearl, tuned jazz-high. The Slingerland snare was swapped for a Ludwig Supraphonic early on, which is much of the crack on this record.
The 1970 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Slingerland 3-ply kitwhite marine pearl — 22" or 24" kick, 12"/13" rack, 16" floor⤷ who plays this
Ludwig Supraphonic 14"x5" snarechrome over brass, swapped in for the Slingerland snare⤷ who plays this
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