BREAKING: Black Sabbath Legend Bill Ward Pa…read more.
The music world is grieving after the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, one of rock and metal’s most influential voices. On July 22, 2025, Ozzy died at age 76, leaving behind a towering legacy. Among those hit hardest by the loss is Bill Ward, founding drummer of Black Sabbath, who reflected on the decades they shared as bandmates, brothers, and friends.
“This isn’t just the end of an era. It’s the loss of someone who meant the world to me,” Ward said. “Ozzy was more than a singer to me he was like a brother.”
From Birmingham Basements to World Stages
Bill Ward remembered how it all started four young guys from Birmingham chasing a dream with nothing but their instruments and raw determination. The chemistry between Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ward would go on to form the backbone of heavy metal. But to Ward, it wasn’t just about creating music it was about surviving life together.
“We grew up fast in those days,” Ward recalled. “There were hard times, but there was always this unbreakable bond. Ozzy made the chaos worth it.”
He credited Ozzy’s energy and honesty with giving Sabbath its edge his voice wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And in that realness, it became unforgettable.
A Farewell on Their Own Terms
Just a few weeks before his death, Ozzy gave one final performance at Back to the Beginning a homecoming show in Birmingham that brought the original Sabbath lineup back together. Bill Ward, who had stepped away from touring due to health challenges, appeared on stage once more to join Ozzy for their final bow.
“It was emotional,” Ward said. “We knew it might be the last time we’d stand together in front of a crowd. And Ozzy gave it everything right down to the last note.”
Ward described that night as a spiritual moment one last chance to celebrate their journey and honor everything they had built together.
The Man Behind the Madness
To the world, Ozzy was the wild child of rock unpredictable, eccentric, and larger than life. But behind the antics was a man with a deep heart and a quiet strength. Ward shared a more personal view of his longtime friend.
“People saw the showman,” Ward said. “But I saw the man who’d stop to ask how you were doing, the guy who would crack jokes just to lift someone’s spirits.”
He remembered late-night talks, moments of laughter between rehearsals, and the way Ozzy always seemed to connect with people not just through his music, but through his empathy.
“He had a spark that never dimmed,” Ward said. “Even when life knocked him down, he found a way to rise again and make the rest of us believe we could, too.”
A Legacy That Won’t Fade
While the loss is heavy, Ward said he finds comfort knowing Ozzy’s spirit lives on through the music through every record, every scream, every fan still chanting along to “Paranoid.”
“Ozzy changed the course of rock forever. But more than that, he made people feel something,” Ward said. “He was fearless in his truth, and that’s why his voice will never be forgotten.”
He encouraged fans to remember Ozzy not only as a pioneer of heavy metal, but as a symbol of perseverance, creativity, and connection.
“Goodbye, My Brother”
Ward ended his tribute with a final message not just to the icon the world admired, but to the friend he loved deeply
“Thank you for all the years, all the music, and all the memories. I’ll never forget the road we traveled together. Sleep well, Ozzy. You were one of a kind and always will be.”
In the silence left by Ozzy’s passing, his voice still echoes. Through the memories of those like Bill Ward, and in the hearts of millions around the world, the soul of rock’s greatest showman carries on louder than ever.
