Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has shared a heartfelt personal update regarding his health. Ward turned 78 on May 5th, 2026. He revealed that he has increasingly needed to use a wheelchair, primarily in airports and at public events.
In a detailed and candid statement, the legendary drummer addressed his fans directly. He clarified the nature of his condition and urged people not to misinterpret his use of a wheelchair as a sign of retirement or serious illness.
“Something New To Let You Know About. Dear Friends, Fans, Families, and people I’ve not met yet, 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,” Ward said. “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. We started using the wheelchair about 18 months ago, mostly in airports. I became 78 years old on May 5th 2026. I was a long distance walker, I’ve walked in many different parts of the world, and I’m still a drummer. I can still play pretty good for 78 years old.”
Ward went on to emphasize that his passion for music and drumming remains fully intact. His decision to go public was driven by a desire for transparency.
“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. 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,” he continued.
He closed his message with a warm note to fans, encouraging them to approach him if they see him out and about.
“If you see me in the airports or visiting friends in the music arenas or theatres say hi, I don’t bite, I’ll just look different, as pictured here. Much love to you all and I’ll keep rocking until I’m dead. Rock forever and ever. And the secrets we hide, can be dangerous to our health, I’m letting transparency prevail, with love and progression. Bill Ward,” he concluded.
Ward’s announcement comes at a significant moment in rock history. It arrives just over a year after one of the most emotional nights in heavy metal, a night that saw him return to the stage alongside his original Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time in years.
On July 5, 2025, the full original Black Sabbath lineup — Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler — reunited for the “Back to the Beginning” farewell event. The concert marked Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance. Osbourne had announced that the show would be his last due to ongoing health issues, making the reunion all the more poignant for fans of the band.
Ward’s participation in that farewell show was itself a milestone. He had been absent from Black Sabbath’s final touring years, and had openly admitted in a 2021 interview that he no longer had the chops to perform with the band in concert. His return to the drum kit for the “Back to the Beginning” event was a deeply meaningful moment, both for him and for the band’s legacy.
The mobility challenges Ward now faces have not gone unaddressed. Non-profit organization Team Gleason stepped in to support the drummer by covering the cost of a seat elevator for his power wheelchair. The contribution has helped improve his day-to-day mobility and independence.
Ward is a founding member of Black Sabbath, one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and heavy metal. He performed with the group from their formation in Birmingham in 1968 through 1980. He returned for multiple periods, including 1997–2006 and 2011–2012. Despite the physical challenges that come with age, his latest statement makes clear that his identity as a drummer remains as strong as ever. He has no intention of fading quietly from the scene he helped create.
