Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, 78, shares heartbreaking mobility update after revealing he is mostly confined to a wheelchair

Bill Ward, the legendary Black Sabbath drummer, has disclosed he relies primarily on a wheelchair for mobility, although he remains adamant his musical career is far from over.

The 78-year-old Birmingham-born musician posted a candid message to social media today, addressing "friends, fans, families and people I've not met yet".

"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," Mr Ward wrote.

The co-founder of the pioneering heavy metal group was keen to dispel any concerns about his future.

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"I'm not in retirement or ill or giving up," he stated, adding defiantly: "I'll keep rocking until I'm dead."

Mr Ward revealed he first began using the wheelchair approximately 18 months ago, primarily when navigating airports.

The drummer, who turned 78 on May 5th, reflected on his past as an avid walker who had trekked through numerous countries around the world.

Despite his mobility challenges, Ward insisted his passion for music remains undiminished.

"I'm still a drummer. I can still play pretty good for 78 years old," he wrote.

"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 encouraged fans not to hesitate if they encounter him at airports or music venues, saying: "Say hi, I don't bite, I'll just look different."

Fans of Mr Ward quickly flooded his social media with messages of support.

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One fan wrote: "Those feet have been the backbone of heavy music for 57 years, they need and deserve a rest here and there."

Another said: "The fact that he describes himself as "A drummer " is such a humility display. You're not a drummer sir, you are the drummer."

A third penned: "A king is a king no matter what throne he sits on."

Someone else added: "You will forever be a powerhouse, Bill. Thank you for years of inspiration."

Mr Ward earned the nickname the Godfather of heavy metal drumming through his foundational role in Black Sabbath, a band widely credited with shaping and popularising the genre's distinctive sound.

Formed in the 1960s alongside the late Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Terence "Geezer" Butler, the group achieved remarkable commercial and critical success.

Their catalogue includes genre-defining tracks such as Paranoid and War Pigs.

The band secured two number-one albums in the UK charts and claimed four Grammy Awards throughout their career.

Recognition of their influence on rock music came in 2006 when Black Sabbath were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The original Black Sabbath lineup reunited for what would prove to be their final performance together at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, a charity concert titled Back To The Beginning.

It marked the first time the four founding members had shared a stage in two decades.

Tragically, frontman Mr Osbourne died just weeks later on 22 July 2025, aged 76.

The singer, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, succumbed to an acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Following his bandmate's passing, Mr Ward paid an emotional tribute to the man known as the Prince of Darkness.

"Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls – no, you're forever in my heart," Ward wrote at the time.

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