BREAKING: Black Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward C…read more.
As fans across the world continue to mourn the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, one of the people closest to him original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has opened up in a deeply emotional reflection about their final conversation. In a quiet moment just days before Ozzy passed away, Ward says the singer left him with words that will stay with him forever.
“He told me, ‘We’ll always be brothers, no matter what. Don’t ever forget that, Bill.’” Ward shared, his voice trembling. “That was the last thing he ever said to me. And I’ll never let those words go.”
Ozzy Osbourne, the wild, magnetic frontman who helped define heavy metal as the face and voice of Black Sabbath, died earlier this week at the age of 76. The world knew him as the “Prince of Darkness,” a performer whose influence spanned generations. But for Ward, he was more than that he was a lifelong friend, a soul tied to his own through music, chaos, healing, and deep love.
Speaking to Kerrang! in the days following Ozzy’s death, Ward reflected not only on that final conversation, but the years of history that came before it.
“We were kids, man. We started in the same streets. Played in tiny clubs. Slept in vans. We grew up together not just in age, but in the fire of everything Sabbath became,” Ward said softly. “And through all the madness the breakups, the drugs, the silence there was always love underneath. Always.”
Black Sabbath’s recent farewell show a surprise reunion of all four original members now feels almost like a send-off. At the time, no one knew it would be Ozzy’s final performance. But Ward said the atmosphere backstage was emotional and heavy, as if something deeper was stirring.
“He hugged me that night and just held on. That wasn’t something we used to do, not back in the day. He said, ‘No regrets, Bill. We did something beautiful, and I love you.’ That was Ozzy. He wasn’t afraid to feel near the end.”
Ward had been away from Sabbath for many years due to health concerns and disagreements, but Ozzy had personally reached out ahead of the final show, wanting to make things right.
“He told me, ‘It doesn’t matter what happened. We’re family.’ That phone call changed everything. It was Ozzy being Ozzy forgiving, open-hearted, and real.”
Even as his health declined, Ozzy insisted on doing the farewell concert. Ward, who saw firsthand how much effort it took, says Ozzy gave everything he had to make it happen.
“He was in pain, but he never let it stop him,” Ward said. “He told me, ‘I want to go out screaming, not sleeping.’ And that’s exactly what he did. He gave the fans everything one last time.”
Since his passing, tributes have come from every corner of the music world. Artists from Metallica to Ghost, Judas Priest to Slipknot, have all paid their respects, calling Ozzy a pioneer, a father figure, and the soul of metal.
But for Ward, the legacy isn’t just about fame or music. It’s about what they built together and what Ozzy stood for.
“He was a wild soul, but a kind one,” Ward said. “He had this energy unpredictable, sure, but also generous. He made people feel seen. He could laugh with you, cry with you. He felt things deeply, and that’s what made him so special.”
Outside the venue in Birmingham where Sabbath played their final show, fans have built a growing memorial. Candles flicker beneath posters, guitars, old tour shirts, and letters left by fans of all ages. One note simply reads: “Your voice was our shelter. Thank you, Ozzy.”
Ward says he hasn’t visited yet. Not because he’s avoiding it, but because the loss is still sinking in.
“I keep hearing him,” he said. “In the music, in my dreams, in the silence. He’s not gone, not really. He’s just… somewhere else now.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral is expected to be a private ceremony, but a public memorial will follow in Birmingham the city that birthed heavy metal and shaped the lives of four young musicians who never knew what they were about to unleash.
“I miss him more than words can say,” Ward confessed. “But I’m grateful we had that last moment. Those words ‘We’ll always be brothers’ that’s how I’ll remember him. Not as the rock god or the icon. Just as my brother. My friend.”
And with that, Bill Ward wiped his eyes, smiled through the pain, and added: “Sleep well, Ozzy. You gave us everything. And we’ll never forget you.”
