The news of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing has brought the music world to a complete standstill. The godfather of metal, a titan of the industry, and an icon to many, across the globe rock stars and fans alike are mourning one of the founding fathers of metal. At the heart of Black Sabbath’s history is Birmingham, hailed as the birthplace of metal and their original stomping grounds for one of the biggest metal bands in the world. Birmingham metalheads are grieving the loss not only of a once-in-a-lifetime talent but of a working-class hero who put their city on the map.

“Ozzy was an inspiration, a dream, he represents rock music,” says Black Sabbath fan Magda, 34. “He told me to never give up, to follow my path, to not care what anyone thinks of me or says about me.”

Broad Street, a famously bustling strip rammed with clubs and pubs, full of jovial punters and booming music, is now shifting toward a sombre mood. Tributes continue to pour in to the Black Sabbath Bench, a landmark sightseeing attraction on Broad Street in Birmingham that features the faces and signatures of each band member, aptly placed on the Black Sabbath Bridge, which was renamed to fit the iconic Brummie metal group for their 50^th anniversary in 2019.

Standing at the bench, watching people stop in their tracks to pay respect to Osbourne, the air is filled with stories and memories of those who met him or were moved by his music. “If you grew up in Aston around that time, you knew Ozzy,” says Linda, 73, from Aston. “My grandma’s neighbour used to sing with Ozzy, she’s told me so many stories of growing up that shaped my type of music,” remarks Kayden, 18. As stories are shared, laughs had, and tears shed, it’s evident that Ozzy was more than just a musician who happened to be from Birmingham; he is a Brummie legend.  

“Ozzy and Sabbath represent the working-class roots of Birmingham,” says Bret, 31. The so-called “secret” to Sabbath’s success that industry experts have been trying to replicate for years isn’t all that secret; four working-class lads from Aston, pulled up by their bootstraps, with sheer determination and nothing to lose. Birmingham is an industrial city built on the labour and hardships of the working class, so to see a band like Black Sabbath reach the heights they have, “it makes Birmingham special,” Bret adds. “He put the city on the map with the birth of heavy metal,” explains Gary, 44, from Birmingham. “I was at the Back To The Beginning show, and I was blown away by the whole night. I think this city owes a lot to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.”

“He was living proof that a working-class kid from an often-overlooked and underrepresented city could create a global legacy,” says Leanne, 33, from Sutton Coldfield.

Speaking to Jessica, 29, from the Black Country, Ozzy gives her a sense of pride in being a Brummie, especially when it comes to the iconic Brummie accent. “When I hear Ozzy speak and he has the same accent as my family or uses the same slang, it just sounds like home and gives me that extra pride as a Brummie.”

Rosie, 23, who is heavily involved in the Birmingham DIY music scene as a fan and writer explains that Black Sabbath “built the blueprint for metal in the Midlands. There’s this great DIY spirit in the local scene with loads of underground bands, young creatives, grassroots venues, people just doing it for the love of it. That all exists because Sabbath kicked the door down first, and the city carries that legacy forward thanks to them.”

Rosie’s partner Kai, 25, who performs in a local Birmingham band Orphix, emphasises the importance of Sabbath for Birmingham musicians. “I can remember the first time I learnt the entirety of the solos for Crazy Train & Bark at the Moon, I was gassed & felt like I’d accomplished something huge – He truly was just a remarkable icon for paving my musical journey in the right direction.”

The impact of Ozzy has no age limit in Birmingham; Osbourne’s legacy lives on with those who came up with him and those who grew up learning about his legacy “A lot of my music taste comes from Black Sabbath and metal music; the impact he had was so big. Hearing the way my parents talked about him and his music changed the way I saw music and saw life,” remarks Eli, 19.

Birmingham will mourn not only for a ground-breaking musician but for what Ozzy stood for in Birmingham; the plight of a true underdog who, despite all odds, will forever be remembered as the originator of metal along with his Black Sabbath peers.