Being awarded the Freedom of Birmingham “means a lot” to Ozzy Osbourne and the members of Black Sabbath, Sharon Osbourne has said, after the city council approved the honour.
Ozzy, alongside the founding band members, Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward, will be given the honorary title in recognition of their service to the city, after councillors gave it the go-ahead on Tuesday.
The council also approved the posthumous award of the City of Birmingham Medal to the late poet Benjamin Zephaniah for his “unique and distinguished contribution” to the field of literature and for his charitable and community work.
Sharon Osbourne said her 76-year-old husband was “very proud” to receive the honour.
“It means a lot to him, it really does, to be recognised from his home. He’s very excited,” she told BBC Radio West Midlands. “He couldn’t quite believe it, he thought I was winding him up. He said: ‘Really, me? But I’ve been in prison!’”
In a statement, Ozzy Osbourne said he was “honoured and shocked” to receive the honour.
“I’m a proud Brummie from Aston through and through. I’m still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say, but that’s always made me laugh,” he said. “My only regret is that my mom and dad are not here to see what I became. Birmingham for ever!”
Black Sabbath, who have sold more than 75m albums worldwide, were formed in 1968 in Aston, Birmingham and are considered one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time.
The band have a bench in their honour in the centre of Birmingham. A large mechanical bull from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, on display in New Street station, was named Ozzy after a public vote.
Sharon added her husband was “dying to come home” from the US and spend time Birmingham, but health setbacks meant that plans to do so had fallen through.
“He really, really wants to come home and that’s what been a bit tough, because each time he’s made arrangements to come, something happens,” she said.
“We’re not home here. It’s not where we’re from, it’s not what we are. People here have been fantastic to Ozzy, but it’s not his home.”
She said they were donating Ozzy’s awards and platinum discs to a museum in Birmingham.
“It belongs in Birmingham, it needs to stay in Birmingham,” she said. “He owes so much to Birmingham, it’s his blood, that’s who he is. If he’d have been born anywhere else, he wouldn’t be the story that it is today, so he totally embraces his history and what Birmingham means to him.”
The Crown pub, where Black Sabbath played their first gig, was given listed status last year after falling into disrepair in recent years, and there have been calls for a permanent museum commemorating heavy metal music in the region.
Article by:Source: Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent
