Black Sabbath and unusual time signatures

Odd time signatures don't make something "prog". 

Bill Ward always had a certain looseness and swing that you didn't hear much in rock. And you can hear the influence in unexpected places sometimes. For sure Jussi Tegelman of Finnforest was digging Bill's groove.

I worked with Bill Ward (in his personal management company) during his Ward One: Along the Way recording, in 1989 (released in 1990) which became quite progressive, in my opinion.  According to Bill, the BS boys liked to play jazz to warm up for rehearsals (of course, he's not playing with them right now).  And it is correct that he had a grounding in jazz drumming, as did many of his era.

Bill's awesome. One of the best drummers of the '70s, that's for certain.

just to resurrect an old thread. the live version of 'wicked world' on 'live at last'/'past lives' has an extended jazz section that rocks. 

I love the dramatic tempo change halfway through "Megalomania" from the Sabotage album. Almost 40 years later, I still headbang to that epic monster of a song.

Don't know anything about odd time sigs but the Wizard reminds me of a 'blues rave up' and something that The Yardbirds with Beck and Page might have done.

"The Wizard" swings and there are many times when Bill Ward will be accenting significant hits during his rolls or what drummer used to call back then..."Roundhouses". This is a drum technique applied during the "Swing era" Ringo Starr used to play like this in 64' and 65' where it's clearly demonstrated on early recordings of The Beatles..that he has the ability to play "Big Band Jazz". I like the harp playing. It's a very interesting "dark" kind of Rock song and not just some fly by night attempt to sound heavy and dark with copy cat elements.

^Agreed. Good point.

Moved to the prog related part of the forum.