BLACK SABBATH's Touring Drummer TOMMY CLUFETOS Praises OZZY OSBOURNE's 'Charisma'

BLACK SABBATH's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos, who also plays in Ozzy Osbourne's backing band, pays tribute to rock's Prince Of Darkness in a new video teaser for "Memoirs Of A Madman", the singer's solo career retrospective that was released on October 7.

Says Clufetos in the clip, which can be seen below: "Aside from the music, [Ozzy] has charisma, he's entertaining, it's in his blood. That's what separates him from so many entertainers from the past or nowadays — he has that charisma thing that the great entertainers have. Not jus the music, they have the other thing that draws people to them."

In a 2013 interview with Rhythm magazine, Clufetos explained why he took the BLACK SABBATH job despite fan disapproval, saying, "I look at it as an opportunity to play great music and experience something new. If I wasn't going to play drums, somebody else would have played… I understand all the mixed feelings and emotions. I totally get it. But I'm here to do the greatest job I can, and give people the experience of hearing those songs. I think I've done that. I think people have walked away enjoying what I've brought."

Clufetos did not play on the SABBATH reunion album, "13", a role that was filled by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk.

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that Clufetos was gong to play on the record until producer Rick Rubin stepped in. "Tommy was offered the gig until Rick Rubin came along," he said. "Rick Rubin didn't want Tommy, and nobody told… It was a bit of a communication breakdown. Tommy was on the side waiting, and it just didn't work out, you know. It works out in the end."

Although original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward was initially announced as part of the reunion in late 2011, he dropped out within a couple of months, saying he was offered an "unsignable" contract.

The members of SABBATH were reportedly concerned that Ward's health would not hold up on the road and allegedly asked him to accept the use of a second drummer on tour, which he refused.

In an e-mail to Billboard.com, Rubin explained that "Brad is a muscular drummer with great feel and understands the groovy nature of their music — RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE is a groovy rock band, not a metal band — so it was worth a try. When they played together the first time, it was obvious he would do a great job in the seat Bill left vacated. Bill's a great drummer and I'm sure it would have been an amazing album with him. We all wanted him to participate."