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ELP’s Carl Palmer: “Black Sabbath wanted me to replace Bill Ward”

Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Carl Palmer has revealed that he turned the chance to become Black Sabbath's drummer when they reformed in 2011. Palmer, who is also a member of Asia, said he was approached by guitarist Tony Iommi to join the band when they got back together two years ago after original drummer Bill Ward refused to come on board.

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Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Carl Palmer<.strong> has revealed that he turned the chance to become Black Sabbath‘s drummer when they reformed in 2011.

Palmer, who is also a member of Asia, said he was approached by guitarist Tony Iommi to join the band when they got back together two years ago after original drummer Bill Ward refused to come on board.

He told WENN: “Tony and I did talk when they were looking for drummers to make the album and he put me forward. I couldn’t do it because I was off with Asia, we were touring and then something else came up. I couldn’t have done it but I would have loved to. It just wasn’t on the cards.”

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Palmer added: “I was classically trained but basically I’m a rock drummer and I’ve never been in a true out-and-out guitar band like Black Sabbath, where it’s just big riffs – very simple but very dynamic. It would be extremely invigorating. The older I get the more I appreciate that music. I was late to come to heavy metal. Asia had a bit of that but we were a little bit more corporate rock and melodic.”

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