Black Sabbath have explained why drummer Bill Ward was the crucial reason they will reunite for one final time on July 5th. This weekend, Ward will join his old bandmates Ozzy Osbourne, Tonny Iommi, and Geezer Butler for one last concert at Back to the Beginning in Villa Park, Birmingham, which marks his first performance with the group in more than two decades. More below ⬇️

Black Sabbath have explained why drummer Bill Ward was the crucial reason they will reunite for one final time on July 5th.

 

This weekend, Ward will join his old bandmates Ozzy Osbourne, Tonny Iommi, and Geezer Butler for one last concert at Back to the Beginning in Villa Park, Birmingham, which marks his first performance with the group in more than two decades.

 

More below ⬇️

 

**Black Sabbath Confirm Reunion With Bill Ward for One Final Show: “It Had to Be All of Us—Or None at All”**

 

*July 2, 2025 – Birmingham, UK*

 

In a moment that fans never thought they’d see, the original members of **Black Sabbath**—**Ozzy Osbourne**, **Tony Iommi**, **Geezer Butler**, and **Bill Ward**—are reuniting for one final, emotional performance. Set to take place on **July 5th** at **Villa Park in Birmingham**, as part of the **“Back to the Beginning”** concert, the show marks the band’s definitive farewell—and the long-awaited return of drummer **Bill Ward**, who hasn’t performed with Sabbath in over 20 years.

 

For the band, there was no other way to end their journey than **together**.

 

> “We couldn’t call it ‘The End’ if Bill wasn’t there,” said Ozzy Osbourne in a new statement. “This isn’t just a gig. It’s closure. It’s family.”

 

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### 🥁 The Heartbeat Returns

 

Bill Ward’s absence from recent reunions and tours had long been a source of tension among the band and its fans. His exit, originally cited due to contract disputes and health concerns, left a noticeable gap in the chemistry of the original lineup. But this time, the band was determined to make it right.

 

> “Bill was always more than a drummer,” said guitarist Tony Iommi. “He’s the heartbeat of Sabbath. Without him, it wouldn’t be whole.”

 

After months of private discussions, rehearsals, and personal healing, Ward agreed to return for this one final show, describing the decision as **“emotional, difficult, but necessary.”**

 

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### 🎸 One Night Only: “Back to the Beginning”

 

The **Villa Park concert**, fittingly named *Back to the Beginning*, will take place in the band’s hometown of **Birmingham**, where it all began in 1968. The venue is expected to be filled with fans from across the globe, many of whom see this as **the last true chapter** in the history of heavy metal’s founding fathers.

 

The setlist remains under wraps, but insiders hint at a powerful, career-spanning performance—featuring early anthems like *“Black Sabbath,” “Iron Man,”* and *“War Pigs,”* alongside deeper cuts that haven’t been played in decades.

 

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### 🖤 Full Circle

 

This final reunion is more than a concert—it’s a **healing of old wounds** and a celebration of what the four musicians built together. The reunion of the full original lineup brings a sense of finality and unity that had eluded previous farewell attempts.

 

> “We started this together,” said Geezer Butler. “And we’re going to finish it together. That’s the only way it ever made sense.”

 

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### 🔥 A Legacy Sealed

 

Black Sabbath’s influence on rock and metal is immeasurable. As the originators of heavy metal, their sound gave rise to countless bands and genres. Their farewell—**with all four original members back on stage one last time**—is more than a performance. It’s the end of an era.

 

As fans count down the days to July 5th, one thing is certain: **this will be a night of thunder, memory, and metal history**—anchored by the man whose drums first pounded out the darkness back in 1968.