Bill Ward, best known as the original drummer of Black Sabbath, is preparing to release two brand-new solo albums: his first major studio efforts in more than ten years. At 76, the influential musician is entering a fresh creative phase, proving that age hasn’t dulled his drive or imagination.
The first album, Beyond Aston, has been in progress for years and is now in the final stages of production. The title pays tribute to Aston, the Birmingham neighborhood where Black Sabbath was born. But this isn’t just a nod to geography, Bill Ward says the music digs deep into personal history and emotion.
“This record has been with me a long time,” he said. “It reflects on who I am, where I’ve been, and what I’ve carried with me. A lot of that came through naturally as the songs took shape.”
Beyond Aston is said to be rich in introspection, shaped by years of journaling, songwriting, and exploring sound in his private studio space. It offers an honest look at a musician who’s always been willing to dig deep and put his true self into his work.
With Himalayan Skies, Ward steps away from traditional rock entirely. This time, he blends reflective spoken word with layered, atmospheric music, creating something more meditative. The result is a collection of poetic reflections and philosophical musings, delivered in his own voice and woven into ambient, emotionally rich musical backdrops.
“I’ve always loved storytelling, whether it’s through drums, lyrics, or verse,” Ward explained. “This album gave me space to say things in a different way: through tone, cadence, and imagery.”
Ward has never been one to stay inside genre boundaries. His earlier solo work, Bill Ward One: Along the Way (1990) and Accountable Beasts (2015), revealed a taste for complexity, mixing progressive rock, jazz elements, and experimental flourishes. It’s a side of him that longtime fans have come to appreciate: bold, personal, and unconcerned with trends.
Although health struggles and longstanding friction with his former bandmates kept him off Black Sabbath’s final tour, Ward didn’t walk away from music. Instead, he retreated to his studio, quietly writing and recording for years, letting the work speak when the time felt right.
Now, with both albums nearing completion, excitement is building. There are no official release dates yet, but Ward has confirmed that the finishing touches are underway and that both records could be out in the near future.
It’s a significant moment for fans who recognize Ward’s influence, not just as the drummer behind Paranoid, Vol. 4, and Master of Reality, but as a creator with something personal to say.