Tony Iommi Reacts To Bill Ward Taking His Shirt Off During Black Sabbath’s Final Show: ‘Bill, You Look Like Gollum’

The recent “Back to the Beginning” concert, marking the final live appearance of Black Sabbath‘s original lineup, was a monumental event for fans and musicians alike. While the July 5, 2025 show at Villa Park in Birmingham was steeped in emotion and historic significance, guitarist Tony Iommi has revealed some lighter, more humorous moments from the intense rehearsal period. Among them, a candid joke directed at drummer Bill Ward perfectly encapsulates the band’s enduring friendship.

Speaking on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” Iommi offered insights into the weeks leading up to the concert, which saw the classic Black Sabbath quartet perform together for the first time since 2005. Despite the pressures of preparing for a one-off stadium event, the old dynamics of the band quickly resurfaced, including their propensity for good-natured ribbing.

Iommi shared a particularly amusing anecdote that occurred during a rehearsal break. “Oh my God. I’ll tell you what, one funny story. When we had a break on one of the rehearsals, we went in to eat at the studio, and Bill got his shirt off, and Geezer was just about to have a sandwich,” Iommi recounted, mimicking bassist Geezer Butler‘s reaction. “He went, ‘Oh, Bill put your shirt on. You’re putting me off the sandwich!’” The scene, typical of Ward‘s uninhibited nature, prompted Iommi to quip: “I said to Bill, ‘Blimey, Bill, you look like Gollum.’ And I don’t think he knew who Gollum was.” Iommi emphasized Ward‘s unchanging character: “He’s always always been the same, Bill. He just doesn’t care. He goes on and does what he wants, which is great. That’s always been Bill.” He concluded that the reunion quickly rekindled their long-standing playful banter: “Immediately, of course, all the jokes started again as soon as we were together, having a go at each other. It was really fun, actually. It was great. The communication carried on from years ago.”

Beyond the jokes, the rehearsals were a rigorous process, as the band aimed to deliver a strong performance after such a long time apart, particularly with Bill Ward not having toured extensively in years. While they ultimately delivered a powerful four-song set of “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid,” Iommi noted that more songs had been prepared. “We had seven songs that we’d gone through, and then it went down to six,” he explained, citing factors like strict curfews at Villa Park and concerns about Ozzy Osbourne‘s stamina after his own solo performance earlier in the evening. Songs like “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Black Sabbath” were rehearsed but ultimately omitted from the final set. Iommi credited Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, who curated the event, for the intricate organization that allowed so many bands to perform within the tight schedule.

The “Back to the Beginning” concert was not just a musical highlight; it was a significant charitable endeavor, raising over $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. The event drew over 40,000 fans in person, with millions more watching via an online livestream. Ozzy Osbourne‘s solo set, performed from a black throne due to his ongoing health issues, preceded the final, historic Black Sabbath performance that provided a definitive capstone to their legendary career, complete with Bill Ward‘s memorable, and often shirtless, presence.