Bill Ward

Acting

Bill Ward

Born

1948-05-05 (78)

Place of birth

Aston, Birmingham, England, UK

Known for

Acting

Credits

35 titles

William Thomas Ward (born 5 May 1948) is an English musician and visual artist, best known as the original drummer of the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He also performed lead vocals on two Black Sabbath songs: "It's Alright" from the album Technical Ecstasy and "Swinging the Chain" from the album Never Say Die!. Ward is known for his very unorthodox style of playing the drums, often using snare-drills and tempo-drop to match both vocals and riff.

Known for

An Audience with... poster
5.3

An Audience with... is a British entertainment television show produced by London Weekend Television, in which a host, usually a singer or comedian, performs for an invited audience of celebrity guests, interspersed with questions from the audience, in a light hearted revue/tribute style.

An Audience with...

1978

Classic Albums poster
7.7

A documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well-known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of music.

Classic Albums

1997

Seven Ages of Rock poster
9.2

A definitive landmark series charting the emergence and re-emergence of rock music as a global force, told through the musicians who have shaped this most enduring of genres.

Seven Ages of Rock

2007

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow poster
NR

A powerful return to roots, this concert captures Black Sabbath in peak form - reuniting to deliver classic hits with raw energy and legendary precision.

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow

2026

Live Aid poster
7.8

Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"

Live Aid

1985

Black Sabbath: Live in Paris 1970 poster
7.0

This footage—the earliest known of a complete Black Sabbath concert—was originally shot at Théâtre 140 in Brussels, Belgium on October 3rd, 1970 for Yorkshire Television. Bootleggers have long repeated a fictional claim that the show was recorded in Paris; while this claim has long since been debunked, the film continues to be referred to by that name.

Black Sabbath: Live in Paris 1970

1970

Film credits

2020s · 6 titles

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow poster
NR

A powerful return to roots, this concert captures Black Sabbath in peak form - reuniting to deliver classic hits with raw energy and legendary precision.

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow

2026

The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne poster
7.5

For over five decades, Ozzy Osbourne has personified rock and roll, from his childhood in poverty and time in prison, to fronting metal band Black Sabbath, a successful solo career and a lovable 21st century television dad.

The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne

2020

Dio: Dreamers Never Die poster
7.7

This career spanning documentary on heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio delves deep into his incredible rise from 50's doo-wop crooner, to his early classic rock days in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, to replacing the iconic lead singer Ozzy Osborne in Black Sabbath, to finally cement his legend with DIO. Ronnie's biography is completely unique to the tired sex, drugs and rock and roll cliches. The film is about perseverance, dreams and the power to believe in yourself.

Dio: Dreamers Never Die

2022

Black Sabbath: Vol. 4 Documentary poster
NR

A deep-dive into the creation, chaos, and cultural impact of Black Sabbath’s 1972 masterpiece, Vol. 4 — the album that redefined heavy metal while nearly destroying the band in the process.

Black Sabbath: Vol. 4 Documentary

2025

Black Sabbath: Sabotage - The Documentary poster
NR

Sabotage is the sixth studio album by metal pioneers Black Sabbath, released in 1975. It was recorded in the midst of litigation with their former manager Patrick Meehan.

Black Sabbath: Sabotage - The Documentary

2022

Black Sabbath: Master of Reality Documentary poster
NR

The documentary follows Black Sabbath as they release their iconic album Paranoid through the recording and releasing of their album Master of Reality. Sharing many known and unknown facts about the band's lives in 1971 and 1972.

Black Sabbath: Master of Reality Documentary

2022

2010s · 7 titles

God Bless Ozzy Osbourne poster
7.9

Featuring never before seen footage uncovered from the archives and interviews with Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and others, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne is the first documentary to take viewers inside the complex mind of rock's great icon.

God Bless Ozzy Osbourne

2011

Classic Albums: Black Sabbath - Paranoid poster
7.1

The story of how the classic album "Paranoid" was made, with stories from band members to those who were influenced by its content, form and vitality. Paranoid is the second studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, it was the band's only LP to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013. Paranoid contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. It is often regarded as one of the most quintessential and influential albums in heavy metal history.

Classic Albums: Black Sabbath - Paranoid

2010

Beware of Mr. Baker poster
7.5

Ginger Baker is known for playing in Cream and Blind Faith, but the world's greatest drummer didn’t hit his stride until 1972, when he arrived in Nigeria and discovered Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. After leaving Nigeria, Ginger returned to his pattern of drug-induced self-destruction, and countless groundbreaking musical works, eventually settling in South Africa, where the 73-year-old lives with his young bride and 39 polo ponies. This documentary includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana and more. Beware of Mr. Baker! With every smash of the drum is a man smashing his way through life.

Beware of Mr. Baker

2012

Heavy Metal Britannia poster
7.1

Nigel Planer narrates a documentary which traces the origins and development of British heavy metal from its humble beginnings in the industrialised Midlands to its proud international triumph. Contributors include Lemmy, Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Ian Gillan from Deep Purple, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and Saxon's Biff Byford.

Heavy Metal Britannia

2010

The Life, Blood and Rhythm of Randy Castillo poster
2.5

A look at the life and career of the drummer from New Mexico who eventually played with some of the biggest names in music.

The Life, Blood and Rhythm of Randy Castillo

2014

Black Sabbath - Paris 1970 poster
10.0

1. Paranoid 2. Hand Of Doom 3. Iron Man 4. Black Sabbath 5. N.I.B. 6. Behind The Wall Of Sleep 7. War Pigs 8. Fairies Wear Boots Paris, France, Olympia - 12/20/70. Recording: Soundboard.

Black Sabbath - Paris 1970

2011

The Doom Doc poster
NR

Made on a crowd-funded, shoestring budget, The Doom Doc offers a visceral, immersive look into a hazy black hole that lies at one extreme of the musical spectrum.

The Doom Doc

2017

2000s · 3 titles

1990s · 7 titles

No artwork available
NR

Black Sabbath at KeyArena, Seattle, WA, USA War Pigs N.I.B. Fairies Wear Boots After Forever Electric Funeral Into the Void Snowblind Dirty Women Black Sabbath Iron Man Children of the Grave Paranoid

Black Sabbath: [1999] Seattle, Washington

1999

Ozzy Osbourne: Live & Loud poster
7.7

Live & Loud is a live album recorded by then former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 28 June 1993. At the time, it was to be Osbourne's final album following Osbourne's final tour before retiring, aptly titled "No More Tours". The track "Black Sabbath" featured the original line-up of Black Sabbath, the members of which were invited to join Ozzy as guest stars for the Costa Mesa Reunion shows. A DVD of Live & Loud was also issued, one of the very first music compilation released in that format. The DVD is a compilation of live footage from several shows rather than a single concert: this is evident as Osbourne can be seen both shirtless and wearing different clothes during the same song, while guitarist Zakk Wylde can be seen playing up to three different guitars in the same song.[2]

Ozzy Osbourne: Live & Loud

1993

Black Sabbath: The Last Supper poster
6.1

Filmed live during Black Sabbath's 1999 "Reunion" tour, this historic concert features the original lineup of the legendary metal band.

Black Sabbath: The Last Supper

1999

Black Sabbath: Burgettstown, PA 1999 poster
NR

Starlake Amphitheater, Burgettstown, PA - June 12, 1999. Pro-shot video with soundboard sound. The DVD copy I've seen from this show is from a VG quality VHS source that looks to be several generations down, but I've seen some excellent quality copies listed (can't confirm these though). The soundboard audio from this show that is circulating in CD-R format was taken from this video. Set List: Intro-Sabbath Medley, War Pigs , Bassically -> N.I.B. , Fairies Wear Boots, After Forever , Electric Funeral , Sweet Leaf , Into The Void , Iommi/Nicholls intro, Snowblind , Black Sabbath , Iron Man , Embryo -> Children Of The Grave , Supernaut [intro] -> Paranoid .

Black Sabbath: Burgettstown, PA 1999

1999

Black Sabbath. River Plate Stadium Buenos Aries 1994 poster
NR

Children of the Grave Children of the Sea Into the Void Black Sabbath Neon Knights War Pigs The Wizard Symptom of the Universe Headless Cross Paranoid Iron Man Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Black Sabbath. River Plate Stadium Buenos Aries 1994

1994

Black Sabbath - The Last Super poster
NR

Mix of interviews with the original band members and a live performance recorded at Ozzfest 1999 during the band's reunion tour.

Black Sabbath - The Last Super

1999

Black Sabbath: The Black Sabbath Story, Volume One poster
7.2

“The Black Sabbath Story, Volume One” traces the roots and origins of Black Sabbath on an album by album basis and features rare performance footage including N.I.B. Paranoid, and War Pigs. Watch Ozzy and company slay the 300,000 plus crowd at California Jam 1974 with a blistering rendition of Children of the Grave. Black Sabbath is a highly visual band and one of the earliest metal groups to experiment with promotional videos. Their hilarious video for Sabbath Bloody Sabbath captures the spirit of similar videos put out by The Beatles. There are a couple of other songs here captured live from the “Never Say Die” tour including Snowblind, Symptom of the Universe, and Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor. All of these performances are professionally shot and Warner Bros. shows them uncut and without narration. “The Black Sabbath Story, Volume One” covers all the bases of the Ozzy years.

Black Sabbath: The Black Sabbath Story, Volume One

1992

1980s · 3 titles

1970s · 6 titles

Black Sabbath: Live in Paris 1970 poster
7.0

This footage—the earliest known of a complete Black Sabbath concert—was originally shot at Théâtre 140 in Brussels, Belgium on October 3rd, 1970 for Yorkshire Television. Bootleggers have long repeated a fictional claim that the show was recorded in Paris; while this claim has long since been debunked, the film continues to be referred to by that name.

Black Sabbath: Live in Paris 1970

1970

Black Sabbath - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert poster
10.0

Filmed at the height of their fame, and including all four original members of the band, Black Sabbath performs masterfully in front of an eager Santa Monica crowd. Killing Yourself to Live, Hole in the Sky, Snowblind, War Pigs, Paranoid

Black Sabbath - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert

1975

Black Sabbath: California Jam poster
NR

It was this now legendary appearance at California Jam I that would expose Black Sabbath to many mainstream American television viewers via ABC-TV. The band appeared alongside such acts as Deep Purple, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Rare Earth, Seals & Crofts and The Eagles It was originally broadcast on ABC’s ‘Wide World in Concert’ series, which aired three songs from Sabbath on May 24th, 1974 – and later rebroadcast this segment in November ’74. This footage has never been commercially available, aside from one clip of “Children of The Grave”. The entire show was recorded as a soundboard audio, but apparently only these four songs were captured on video. Track Listing: Intro-Footage of the band arriving, Children of the Grave, Post-show interview with Ozzy, War Pigs, Paranoid, Killing Yourself to Live. (Order may differ based on source.)

Black Sabbath: California Jam

1974

Black Sabbath - Pop Shop: Part 1 poster
NR

In the history of rock, Black Sabbath is considered the pioneer of metal. Led by Ozzy Osbourne on vocals and Tony Iommi on guitar, Black Sabbath influenced the heavy metal scene. In 1970, RTB cameras filmed the British group in concert, in Brussels, in its original formation. Setlist: 01 – Introduction 02 – Paranoid 03 – Hand Of Doom 04 – Iron Man 05 – Black Sabbath 06 – N.I.B. 07 – Behind The Walls Of Sleep 08 – War Pigs 09 – Fairies Wear Boots 10 – Creits

Black Sabbath - Pop Shop: Part 1

1970

Black Sabbath: Live in Fresno poster
NR

Partial set edit of the Technical ecstasy Tour mostly 1 camera angle

Black Sabbath: Live in Fresno

1976

No artwork available
NR

Live at the Hollywood Bowl

Black Sabbath - In Concert 1972

1972

Series credits