Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has disclosed that he is largely confined to a wheelchair and "can't walk very far without needing to rest", but reassured fans that he is "OK".
The 78-year-old musician confirmed he is still able to walk and stated that his latest health update does not mean he is "in retirement or ill or giving up", and that he "will keep rocking until I'm dead".
Ward's Social Media Announcement
The Birmingham-born drummer shared a lengthy post to his social media accounts on Thursday morning, addressed to "friends, fans, families and people I've not met yet". He wrote: "I'm announcing today somewhat sadly but nonetheless truthfully, that I've reached a place where publicly more and more I need to use a wheelchair, mostly in airports, or public events."
He added: "I can still walk, let there be no doubt, but I can't walk very far without needing to rest, meaning I need to sit down." Ward explained that he began using a wheelchair to support his mobility "mostly in airports" around 18 months ago.
Still Drumming Strong
Ward emphasised his continued passion for drumming: "I'm still a drummer. I can still play pretty good for 78-years-old. My talents and ambitions, and my unyielding need to be artful, and to play drums, is still as strong as it was so many years ago now."
He urged fans not to misinterpret his wheelchair use: "I'm just saying if you see me in a wheelchair, I'm just catching a ride, I'm not in retirement or ill or giving up, or any of those thoughts that ignite when we see people in wheelchairs. I'm making myself public and transparent about my new transport, and letting you know I'm OK."
Background and Legacy
Ward is best known for co-founding Black Sabbath in the 1960s alongside the late Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Terence "Geezer" Butler. The band is widely regarded as a pioneer of the heavy metal genre, with genre-defining tracks including Paranoid and War Pigs. They achieved two UK number one albums and won four Grammy Awards throughout their career, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.
Ward and his fellow founding members came together again in 2025 for their Back To The Beginning farewell concert – marking their first live performance as a group in two decades. It also occurred weeks before frontman Osbourne passed away aged 76 following a series of health problems including Parkinson's disease.
Fans Encouraged to Say Hi
Ward accompanied the announcement with a recent photograph of himself seated in a wheelchair, and urged fans to continue to approach him: "If you see me in the airports or visiting friends in the music arenas or theaters say hi, I don't bite, I'll just look different, as pictured here." He rounded off the post by declaring: "Much love to you all and I'll keep rocking until I'm dead."
