Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward announced on X that he is increasingly using a wheelchair in public, citing a need to rest after walking for extended periods. The 78-year-old musician shared the update Wednesday, stating he began using the wheelchair about 18 months ago, primarily in airports and at public events. "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 posted.
Ward, who turned 78 on May 5, 2026, emphasized that his mobility challenges do not signify retirement or illness. "I’m making myself public and transparent about my new transport, and letting you know I’m OK," he wrote. He encouraged fans to approach him if they see him in public, stating, "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."
The announcement comes nearly one year after the death of his longtime bandmate, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22, 2025, at age 76. Osbourne's death certificate indicated he died from an acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Following Osbourne's death, Ward shared a tribute, calling the "Crazy Train" singer "forever in my heart."
Ward, who co-founded Black Sabbath with Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler in 1969, reiterated his commitment to music. "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 said. "I’ll keep rocking until I’m dead."
Just weeks before Osbourne's death, the original Black Sabbath lineup, including Ward, reunited for the band's farewell concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.