Following the show, Ward took to social media to thank fans and reflect on the experience, saying it meant everything to him to be part of the final chapter. His heartfelt words and return to the stage gave Black Sabbath the most fitting sendoff imaginable – with all four founding members standing together one last time.

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath played their final show together on July 5, at the "Back to the Beginning" concert at Villa Park in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England, and boy, was it a concert.

Bill Ward's emotional return to Black Sabbath at Birmingham's Villa Park reminded fans of the band's rich history and the enduring bonds forged through music.

Fans Say Black Sabbath’s Final Show Ended 'Coldly,' But What Really Happened? originally appeared on Parade.

Ward has an on-and-off history with Black Sabbath and was the only original band member who did not play on their final album, 13, which was released in June 2013. The album, which was the English rock band’s first studio release in 18 years, featured Osbourne, Iommi, and Butler with drummer Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine.

As Ward issues a heartfelt thank you to his bandmates and fans, Sabbath’s guitarist admits he likened the drummer’s appearance when topless to an emaciated hobbit

Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward will take one final, long-deserved bow with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne at the Back To The Beginning concert, taking place July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham.

Black Sabbath retired following an extensive farewell tour from 2016 to 2017. The shows featured three of the band’s four founding members – singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler – but not original drummer Bill Ward, who pulled out of the band several years earlier due to a contract dispute.

Now that Back To The Beginning is in the rear-view mirror, heavy metal’s foundational guitarist is returning to work on his first solo album in 20 years