Black Sabbath honour 'means a lot' to Ozzy

Sharon Osbourne has welcomed news her husband Ozzy Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates are set to receive the Freedom of Birmingham.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, the TV personality and former X Factor judge said her husband was very excited and "it means a lot to him to be recognised [by] his home".

Later on Tuesday, Birmingham City Council will discuss a proposal to award City Freeman status to the four founding members of the band, which formed in Aston in 1968.

Mrs Osbourne said: "He couldn't be happier right now, it's come at a great time for him."

Black Sabbath was founded by singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler and drummer Bill Ward.

The band were one of the pioneers of the heavy metal genre and are seen as a core part of Birmingham's cultural heritage.

In July 2023, a large mechanical bull named after Osbourne was unveiled in New Street Station.

Speaking about what Birmingham meant to her husband, Mrs Osbourne said: "It's who Ozzy is, he's never ever been one of these people who when you get fame you try and pretend to be something you're not. He's just Ozzy from Brum.

"That's what he is and he's never tried to be anything else.

"He owes so much to Birmingham, it's his blood, that's who he is."

Despite the pair living in America for many years, Mrs Osbourne said that Ozzy still saw Birmingham as his home, and that people would be seeing him in the city at some point.

"He's dying to come home," she said. "And that's what's been a bit tough.

"Each time we make arrangements to come, something happens that he can't do it, and he's desperate to come home."

Mrs Osbourne said the accolade came at a good time for Ozzy, after a "really tough" six years with his health.

"It seems like a dream sometimes," she said. "It changes everything, your life changes in a second and what was has gone and you just have to live in the moment."

Jim Simpson, the first manager of Black Sabbath, also welcomed the news.

The 87-year-old still works full time as the founder of record label Big Bear Records.

He looked after the band when they changed their name from Earth, and once campaigned to have Birmingham Airport renamed after Osbourne.

"The impact of Sabbath is worldwide, it's not just on this city," he explained.

"They single-handedly invented a style of heavy rock which in turn has inspired eight or 10 or 12 other forms of heavy rock. Not many bands can claim to do that.

"Ask yourself who is the most famous Brummie of all time? I think it's Ozzy."

The Freedom of the City is given by a local council to a person or military unit in recognition of their exceptional service to the city.

For the honour to be awarded, a special meeting of the council needs to be held at which two-thirds of councillors agree.

Trailblazing poet and Peaky Blinders actor Benjamin Zephaniah, who was born in Handsworth, is also being considered for the honour.

The Handsworth-born poet was dyslexic and unable to read or write but went on to have a career that spanned poetry, literature, music and television.

Since his death, tributes have included a city centre exhibition and a mural.

"He always saw himself as a son of Birmingham and he was passionate about promoting the city," his brother Tippa Naphtali said in a statement.

Two separate reports recommending the honours for the artists will be discussed at the meeting.

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