What is Bill Ward’s Net Worth?
Bill Ward, the English musician and visual artist, has a net worth of $65 million. He is most famous for being the original drummer in the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Ward also pursued a solo career, releasing albums like “Ward One: Along the Way” and “When the Bough Breaks,” and is currently a member of the band Day of Errors.
Ward first gained recognition while playing in the band Mythology with Tony Iommi. The duo later joined forces with Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler to form Black Sabbath in the late 1960s. Ward played drums on every Black Sabbath album until 1980, when he took a break from the band due to health reasons. He resumed performing with the group in the mid-90s, but suffered a heart attack in 1997 and had to be replaced at the last minute. He returned to full performance status in 1999. In addition to his musical career, Ward hosts a monthly radio show called “Rock 50” from California.
Early Life and Career
Bill Ward, born on May 5, 1948 in Birmingham, England, showed an interest in music at a young age, listening to big bands and playing drums as a child. He was influenced by jazz drummers Louie Bellson and Gene Krupa. In the mid-60s, he joined his first band, the Rest, and later became part of blues rock band Mythology with guitarist Tony Iommi. When Mythology disbanded in 1968, Ward and Iommi joined Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler to form a new band.
Black Sabbath’s History and Personnel Changes
Black Sabbath, initially known as the Polka Tulk Blues Band and Earth, finally settled on their name in 1970. Their self-titled debut album came out that year, followed by “Paranoid” later the same year. “Paranoid” topped the UK Albums Chart and featured hits like “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and the title song. The band released several more albums in the 70s, including “Master of Reality” and “Vol. 4.”
After firing vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, Black Sabbath recorded “Heaven and Hell” with Ronnie James Dio. The band experienced many personnel changes throughout the years, with various vocalists, drummers, and bassists joining the band for different lengths of time. Drummer Bill Ward left the band in 1980 due to alcohol abuse and panic attacks, but returned to record “Born Again” in 1983 before leaving again. Ward made several brief reunions with the band before rejoining the original lineup for two shows in England in 1997. Live albums, “Reunion” and “Past Lives,” were produced from these shows.
Black Sabbath’s Pranks on Bill Ward Took Dangerous Turns
During his time with Black Sabbath, drummer Bill Ward was frequently the target of dangerous pranks by the band. One such prank involved setting his beard on fire, resulting in third-degree burns. On another occasion, the band members sprayed gold DuPont paint all over Ward’s naked, unconscious body after a night of heavy drinking. The paint blocked his pores, causing him to become ill and have a seizure, requiring hospitalization. These dangerous pranks were not uncommon during Ward’s tenure with the band.
Bill Ward’s Solo Career
After leaving Black Sabbath in the mid-80s, Bill Ward pursued a solo recording career. He released his debut studio album, “Ward One: Along the Way,” in 1990. Seven years later, he released his second album, “When the Bough Breaks.”
It took 18 years for Ward to release his third solo album, “Accountable Beasts,” in 2015. However, one of its tracks, “Straws,” had previously been released as a charity single in 2002.
Music Projects
Since 2002, Bill Ward has been hosting a monthly internet radio show titled “Rock 50” on Cerritos College’s WPMD. The show features an assortment of metal and rock music.
In 2016, Ward became a member of the band Day of Errors, which also consists of guitarist Joe Amodea and vocalist Jason Bragg. The band has released albums such as “Blaspheming at Creation,” “Dark,” and “Ghost Train.”
Bill Ward’s Personal Life and Health Struggles
Ward has three children: Emily, Nigel, and Aron. He has faced health struggles over the years, including a heart attack in 1998 during tour rehearsals with Black Sabbath. In 2013, he underwent gastrointestinal surgery and shoulder operation. Ward has changed his lifestyle significantly since his prime days with Black Sabbath and no longer smokes, drinks, does drugs, or consumes animal products.
