The Trap Set team is taking some time off to enjoy the holidays, so we've decided to share one of our very favorite early conversations with the inimitable Bernard Purdie. Originally aired two and a half years ago as two episodes, we've combined the conversation into one long episode for your enjoyment. For those of you who are new to the show, this is a can't-miss episode with one of the greatest drummers of all time!
In this bonus mini-episode, Bill Ward answers listener questions ranging from Black Sabbath to his favorite meal. Be sure to listen to last week's episode (#150) featuring Bill's full, in-depth interview.
As a child in working-class Birmingham, the only career options presented to Bill Ward were working in a factory or enlisting in the military. Against all odds, he escaped that bleak destiny and co-founded the paradigm-shifting Black Sabbath. Bill tells Joe about his journey from choir boy to unhinged rock legend; the inner workings of Black Sabbath; his road to sobriety; fatherhood; learning to love himself; and why he is at peace with the world. This is a can’t miss episode with one of the all time greats! Stay tuned next week for a bonus episode featuring Bill's answers to listener questions.
Despite a deceptively unassuming stage persona, Bryan Devendorf's cleverly deconstructed beats are central to The National's sonic identity. He tells Joe about: growing up in Cincinnati, straddling the worlds of punk rock and jam bands, parenthood, white privilege, self improvement, and the intimate relationships at the core of The National.