TONY IOMMI On BILL WARD Taking His Shirt Off During ‘Back To The Beginning’: I Told Him, ‘You Look Like GOLLUM’
The Black Sabbath guitarist opens up about a surprising — and hilarious — moment during the band’s historic final concert.
The monumental “Back to the Beginning” concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park was a night filled with raw emotion, thunderous music, and powerful nostalgia. But amidst the epic riffs and emotional farewells, a lighter moment backstage has captured fans’ imaginations — and it involves Bill Ward, a bare chest, and a legendary jab from Tony Iommi.
Speaking in a post-show interview with Kerrang!, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi reflected on the band’s last-ever performance together, paying tribute to the reunion with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. But when asked about the mood backstage, Iommi couldn’t help but burst into laughter, recalling an unexpected moment involving drummer Bill Ward.
“Bill came off stage and just yanked his shirt off. I looked at him and said, ‘You look like Gollum, mate!’” Iommi chuckled. “I mean, it was brilliant, classic Bill. We were all emotional, but that just cracked everyone up.”
A Moment of Metal and Mischief
Ward, now 77, surprised everyone backstage when he peeled off his shirt after finishing the band’s blistering rendition of “Children of the Grave.” According to eyewitnesses, Ward was drenched in sweat but beaming with pride, having powered through one of the most physically demanding sets of his life.
“He was grinning from ear to ear, arms raised like a warrior,” a crew member said. “It was one of those moments where you realize — this guy’s a survivor. Shirt or no shirt, he earned it.”
Still, Tony Iommi couldn’t resist a jab. “He’s got that wild energy, but I told him, ‘You’re scaring the crew — put it back on!’” Iommi laughed. “But honestly, that’s what I’ve always loved about Bill. He doesn’t care. He lives in the moment. That’s pure Sabbath.”
Gollum, Glory, and Brotherhood
The offhand “Gollum” comparison, referencing the thin, wiry character from The Lord of the Rings, may have been cheeky, but it was also symbolic of the bond the original members of Black Sabbath still share. After decades of tension, breakups, and health scares, the “Back to the Beginning” concert marked a return not just to their musical roots, but to their friendship.
Ward, who had been estranged from the band for several years due to disagreements over touring and health concerns, made an emotional return for this final performance. Fans worldwide were shocked and delighted to see the original four back onstage together — something that had seemed impossible just a few years ago.
“I was nervous, of course,” Ward admitted in a separate interview. “But once I sat behind that kit, everything fell back into place. And hearing Tony’s guitar and Ozzy’s voice? Man, it was like 1971 all over again.”
Fans React
The image of a shirtless Bill Ward was quickly picked up by fans and turned into a meme, circulating online with captions like “The Lord of the Drums” and “One fill to rule them all.” Others applauded Ward’s return, with one user writing, “Say what you will, but Bill looked proud. That man gave us decades of thunder. If he wants to go out like a bare-chested warrior, let him.”
Even Ozzy Osbourne chimed in on social media, reposting a photo of Ward and writing, “Still the wild one! Love you forever, Bill.”
The Final Laugh
As the echoes of Back to the Beginning fade into history, it’s these personal, unguarded moments that give the concert its lasting warmth. Sure, there were massive riffs, epic singalongs, and tears in the crowd — but also laughter, inside jokes, and lifelong camaraderie.
Tony Iommi summed it up best:
“It was never about being perfect. It was about being real. And Bill taking his shirt off and me calling him Gollum? That’s as real as it gets. That’s Sabbath.”
And with that, the curtain falls — on a band of brothers, and a night no one will ever forget.
