BREAKING: Black Sabbath DRUMMER Bill Ward C…read more.
Bill Ward, founding drummer of Black Sabbath, has opened up about the emotional final days of his bandmate and close friend Ozzy Osbourne, revealing that the heavy metal icon clung to life long enough to take the stage one last time just days before his death.
Ozzy Osbourne passed away earlier this week at the age of 76, following years of declining health that included complications from Parkinson’s disease, nerve damage, and multiple surgeries. Yet in what many are calling a final act of determination and love for the music, Ozzy insisted on performing at a farewell Sabbath show held privately in their hometown of Birmingham.
“He was in rough shape, no doubt about it,” Ward said, holding back tears. “But he wanted that moment. He needed it. Ozzy held on just to share the stage with us one more time and he did.”
A Final Performance Full of Heart
The special performance, which took place less than a week before Ozzy’s death, was meant to be a quiet reunion between the band members. Instead, it became a profound farewell. Despite being frail and fatigued, Ozzy managed to perform three Black Sabbath classics: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.”
“When he walked out there, you could feel the weight of it,” said Ward. “He was hurting, but he lit up when he heard the crowd, even if it was a small one. It was the old Ozzy again, just for a little while.”
Fans who attended the intimate show described the atmosphere as both joyful and heartbreaking. Many didn’t realize at the time it would be Ozzy’s final performance, but everyone sensed its significance.
“There was a kind of magic in the air,” one attendee recalled. “We saw a man giving his everything for the music he loved and the people who loved him.”
Brothers in Rock and Life
Bill Ward has long shared a deep and sometimes turbulent history with Ozzy, having been part of the original lineup that formed in Birmingham in the late 1960s. Together with guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, they pioneered the heavy metal genre and influenced generations of musicians.
Over the years, Ozzy and Ward had their differences, with periods of estrangement especially during Sabbath’s later reunions but their bond endured.
“We went through so much together. Addiction, success, fallouts, forgiveness,” Ward said. “But through it all, he was my brother. And that night on stage, everything just melted away. We were four kids from Aston again, just playing music.”
Ward recalled that before the show, Ozzy was visibly weak and needed help to prepare, but the second the music started, he was transformed. “His body was failing, but his spirit was loud and proud. It was like watching a fire come back to life.”
A Final Act of Will
Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, also confirmed that the performance was something he had been looking forward to for months. “He told me, ‘Sharon, I want to go out doing what I was born to do.’ That was his mindset. No matter what the doctors said, he had made up his mind.”
Medical professionals warned Ozzy that performing again could risk his already fragile condition, but he refused to back down. “He didn’t care,” Sharon said. “He was determined to be remembered doing what he loved.”
Plans are in place to release footage of the final performance as a tribute, with proceeds going toward Parkinson’s research and charities tied to the Osbourne family.
Remembering a Legend
Since news of Ozzy’s death broke, tributes have flooded in from across the globe. Musicians, fans, and longtime friends have honored his legacy, remembering not just the wild rocker, but also the man full of heart, humor, and resilience.
Bill Ward says the final show was the most emotional of his life. “It was painful, but it was also beautiful,” he said. “Ozzy left everything on that stage. He said goodbye the only way he knew how through music.”
As fans continue to grieve, many take comfort in knowing Ozzy Osbourne went out on his terms, surrounded by the bandmates who helped him make history.
“That night,” Ward said softly, “was the end of a chapter but the music will never die. Neither will Ozzy’s spirit.”
