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Black Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward Says He Uses Wheelchair in Airports but Can Still Play Drums at 78
Bill Ward posted on X on July 8, 2026, that he now relies on a wheelchair in airports and at events while still able to walk short distances. The 78-year-old said he continues to play drums and encouraged fans to greet him. The announcement came nearly a year after Ozzy Osbourne's death.
Jul 9, 4:44 AM·1m read1 source
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Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward posted on X on July 8, 2026, that he now mostly uses a wheelchair in airports and at public events. The 78-year-old said he can still walk but cannot go far without resting. Ward began using the wheelchair about 18 months earlier, primarily in airports.
He turned 78 on May 5, 2026, and shared a photo of himself seated in the device while wearing an all-black outfit. "I can still play pretty good for 78 years old," Ward stated. He added that his need for the wheelchair does not mean he is in retirement or ill.
Ward co-founded Black Sabbath in 1969 with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1970. Osbourne left in 1979 and Ward exited in 1983, though the original lineup reunited for the group's farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on July 5, 2025.
Osbourne died at age 76 on July 22, 2025, after a 2019 Parkinson's diagnosis. His death certificate listed acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as the causes. Ward said he remains committed to performing.
"Much love to you all and I'll keep rocking until I'm dead," he wrote.
