Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward opened up about the emotional toll of losing his longtime bandmate and close friend Ozzy Osbourne. The tribute was shared on LA Radio Sessions. Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, and Ward’s comments came as the anniversary of his death approaches.
Ward reflected on Ozzy’s musical legacy and the deep personal bond the two shared over decades together.
“Ozzy forever. That’s what I wanted to say today. [He is] dearly missed. We’re in the month now, the anniversary of his passing, and I wanna say his music was just brilliant. Whatever he’s participated in musically, it’s all been brilliant. His voice is eerie. It’s scary. It’s passionate. It can cross all boundaries. It’s timeless,” Ward said.
Ward then spoke about the personal loss, describing Ozzy as one of his closest friends.
“I miss the hell out of him. He was one of my best friends. I’ll say just one of my best friends, ’cause my mum was another one of my best friends. My brother was another one of my best friends, but Ozzy was like a brother, and he was one of my best friends,” he continued.
Ward also addressed the difficulty of speaking publicly about his grief, revealing how much he has had to hold back during the interview.
“If we’d had done this show a few months ago, I’d have been crying my eyeballs out. I think I’m at a place now where I’ll cry after the show, but I’m doing my best to get through the show and not cry so that I can say good things about him. I never wanna let him down, ever. And I love him all the time. I love him every single day. I miss him every single day, and I loved him every day when he was alive, and I love him every day now,” he said.
Ward’s words carry the full weight of a friendship that stretched back more than five decades — one forged in the earliest days of heavy metal and tested by the pressures that came with it.
Ward and Osbourne were founding members of Black Sabbath, which formed in September 1968 in Birmingham, England. The original lineup — Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, and Ward on drums — went on to create the blueprint for heavy metal. Together, they recorded eight studio albums before Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979. Despite that split, the bond between Ward and Osbourne endured long after the professional relationship fractured.
At 78, Ward continues to be active in music. He recently announced that he now uses a wheelchair more frequently at airports and public events, while clarifying that he remains able to walk short distances and continues to play drums. The update was shared with fans in July 2026.
Osbourne passed away at the age of 76, just weeks after a farewell show. His career was defined by haunting vocals, a pioneering role in the emergence of heavy metal, and a public life that was as turbulent as it was iconic. His death drew tributes from across the rock world, with those who knew him best speaking to the irreplaceable nature of his presence both on and off the stage.
For Ward, the grief is deeply personal. His tribute makes clear that what he lost was not just a bandmate or a musical collaborator, but a lifelong companion whose influence shaped him as much as any family member. The love he describes is unconditional and undiminished — a testament to a friendship that outlasted decades of rock and roll, personal struggles, and the passage of time.
