Bill Ward’s Message to Ozzy Is the Farewell Only a Bandmate Could Write
via Metal Hammer / YouTube
Ozzy Osbourne’s passing has sent ripples across the rock world, but few tributes strike as deeply as the one from Bill Ward, Black Sabbath’s original drummer. While statements from Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler came swiftly, Ward’s message carried a raw, deeply personal tone. Sharing a vintage photo of himself with Ozzy, Ward delivered a heartfelt message that spoke volumes in just a few words.
His message, posted on X, read: “Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls, no, you’re forever in my heart.” Ward’s words capture the layered relationship between two bandmates who shared decades of highs, lows, and everything in between. The sentiment wasn’t just about mourning a legend—it was about losing a lifelong brother.
Ward ended his tribute with a note to Sharon and the family, and a quiet farewell to fans: “RIP. Sincere regrets to all the fans. Never goodbye. Thank you forever. Bill Ward.” For fans, it wasn’t just touching—it was closure, delivered by someone who knew Ozzy not only as a public icon, but as a flawed, loving, complex friend.
A Reunion That Almost Wasn’t
The story of Black Sabbath’s final chapter is filled with twists, including a major one involving Ward himself. Back in 2011, all four original members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—were slated to reunite for a farewell tour and new music. But a contractual dispute drove Ward to step away, a move that stunned longtime fans.
Instead of Ward, the band turned to Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine to handle the drumming on their 2013 album 13. For the tour, Ozzy’s solo drummer Tommy Clufetos stepped in. While the performances were strong, the absence of Ward was a heavy shadow. Fans couldn’t help but feel something was missing without the band’s original rhythmic backbone.
Despite the rift, Ward never spoke harshly about his bandmates, though the tension was palpable. As Ozzy himself later admitted, one of his biggest regrets was that Ward wasn’t part of what was then believed to be their final show in 2017. That regret never left him—and ultimately, it became a driving force behind one last reunion.
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One Last Night in Birmingham
In early 2025, hope returned to Sabbath fans with the announcement of one final show: Back to the Beginning. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a statement. Set in Birmingham, England, the band’s hometown, the event brought the original lineup back together, giving fans a reunion they had long dreamed of.
Ozzy’s health struggles in recent years had made his return uncertain, but his determination saw him back on stage. The evening began with a solo five-song set by Ozzy, featuring classics like “Mr. Crowley,” “Mama I’m Coming Home,” and “Crazy Train.” It was a personal moment for the frontman, reminding fans of the solo career that ran parallel to his Sabbath fame.
Then came the emotional payoff: the original Black Sabbath lineup—Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward—reunited onstage for one last run. They delivered a four-song set that included “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” It was a thunderous, nostalgic farewell that left no doubt: Sabbath had come full circle, together.
The Rhythm Beneath the Legacy
Bill Ward’s drumming was always more than just percussion—it was the heartbeat of Black Sabbath’s sound. From the haunting doom of “Black Sabbath” to the battlefield stomp of “War Pigs,” Ward gave weight and soul to the band’s darkest riffs. His absence had been felt, but his return reminded fans why the original four mattered so much.
That final performance in Birmingham wasn’t just a setlist—it was reconciliation, memory, and tribute rolled into one. It gave closure not only to fans but to the band members themselves. For Ward, it was a rare chance to reconnect musically with Ozzy and to leave the stage as they began it: united.
And now, with Ozzy gone, Ward’s words hold even more weight. “Never goodbye,” he wrote—because when you’ve been through what they had, there really is no end. Only echoes, riffs, and memories that will keep playing long after the curtain has fallen.
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