Black Sabbath, Bill Ward Photos: Band Removed Pictures of Drummer From Website At His Request

On the main page of the official Black Sabbath website, fans will find links to news, multimedia and an online store, but for the time being, there's one thing they won't find: photos of Bill Ward. The drummer has been feuding for months with the pioneering British metal band, and he's evidently opted to take himself out of the picture -- literally.

"At the request of Bill Ward, through his attorney, so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current Black Sabbath lineup, we have temporarily removed Bill Ward's images from the main pages of the blacksabbath.com official website," the group -- singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler -- said in a statement yesterday (May 19). "In accordance with Bill Ward's attorney's request, we are doing so for the duration of the forthcoming shows."

This latest flare-up in Ward's fight with his former bandmates came the same day Sabbath played their first show in seven years. The group performed at the O2 Academy in their hometown of Birmingham, England, where they blazed through 20 songs in preparation for their appearance at the Download Festival.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Birmingham," said Butler afterward, according to Blabbermouth.net. "Best fans ever -- you brought out the best in us. It was a privilege playing for you tonight. Tony was a hero -- you were the best medicine he has had. Proud to be a Brummie."