BREAKING: Black Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward Vo…read more.
The rock world continues to mourn after the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice of Black Sabbath, who died at the age of 76 on July 22, 2025. Among the many voices paying tribute is Bill Ward, Black Sabbath’s founding drummer and longtime friend of Ozzy, who released a deeply moving statement in the wake of the news.
“Ozzy was more than a bandmate,” Ward shared. “He was my brother. We came up together, lived through hell and glory together and we always had love for each other.”
A Bond Forged in Sound and Chaos
Bill Ward was there from the beginning when four young musicians from Birmingham stumbled onto a sound that would forever change music. Alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne, Ward helped create the thunderous backbone of Black Sabbath, drumming behind some of the most powerful songs in rock history.
“Those early days, we were just kids making noise,” Ward said. “But Ozzy had this voice, this scream, that shook the walls. It gave our madness a purpose.”
He recalled the rough years and breakthrough moments, the endless tours, and the shared struggles all of it tied to a man whose presence could be chaotic, hilarious, and deeply soulful.
Saying Goodbye on Stage
Just weeks before his passing, Ozzy performed one final time at Back to the Beginning a farewell concert in Birmingham that reunited Black Sabbath’s original lineup. Though frail in body, Ozzy’s voice still carried the weight of decades of music and emotion.
Ward, who had remained away from live performances due to health issues in recent years, made a special appearance for the final show.
“It was a gift to play one more time with him,” Ward said, his voice heavy with emotion. “We knew what it meant not just to us, but to the fans. That night was sacred.”
The show was a culmination of everything they had built, and a moment Ward said he would hold onto forever.
Remembering the Man Behind the Legend
While fans knew Ozzy as the Prince of Darkness, Ward remembered someone much more layered.
“He could be wild and unpredictable, sure. But there was a tender side too thoughtful, deeply loyal, and kind,” he shared. “He had his demons, but he also had the biggest heart.”
Ward recalled long talks during tours, nights filled with laughter, and moments of quiet reflection between two men who had seen each other at their best and worst.
“He’d say something silly and have us all crying with laughter, then turn around and deliver a vocal that cut to the bone,” Ward said. “That was Ozzy all contradictions, all brilliance.”
A Final Salute
As tributes pour in from across the music world, Ward encouraged fans to celebrate not just Ozzy’s music, but his spirit his fearlessness, his honesty, and the legacy he leaves behind.
“The world feels emptier today,” Ward said. “But every time someone picks up a Sabbath record or screams those lyrics at a show, Ozzy’s there. He always will be.”
He ended his message with a deeply personal farewell:
“Thank you for the music, the madness, and the memories. Rest well, my brother. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Though Ozzy Osbourne’s voice has fallen silent, his impact echoes louder than ever not only in the music he created, but in the lives he touched. And to those like Bill Ward, who stood by him through it all, that legacy is not just remembered it’s cherished.
