Ozzy Osbourne honoured posthumously with Birmingham’s Lord Mayor’s Award
His family accepted the award celebrating his extraordinary legacy
Birmingham has paid tribute to one of its most iconic sons, Ozzy Osbourne, in a private ceremony recognising his life and contributions to the city’s culture.
On 3rd December, which would have been Ozzy’s birthday, members of the Osbourne family gathered to receive the Lord Mayor’s Award on his behalf. The prestigious accolade, one of Birmingham’s highest civic honours, celebrates individuals or groups for their exceptional service to the city.
The award was presented posthumously by Deputy Lord Mayor Ken Wood, acknowledging Ozzy’s profound impact on Birmingham’s cultural and musical identity. Books of Condolence were also presented to Ozzy’s family by Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE.
H2: Aston-born rock legend remembered
Born and raised in Aston, Ozzy Osbourne achieved global fame as the lead vocalist of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath before embarking on a successful solo career that spanned decades. Throughout his 56-year career, Ozzy sold over 100 million records worldwide, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and won five Grammy Awards.
Despite his worldwide success, Ozzy remained deeply connected to Birmingham. Known as the “face of Birmingham,” his love for the city was reciprocated by its residents, demonstrated by the nearly 400,000 visitors to the Working Class Hero exhibit at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery since it opened in July 2023.
Most recently, Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s original lineup were granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham in a ceremony last July, which coincided with their farewell concert, "Back to the Beginning.”
H2: Family and city’s reflections
The Osbourne family expressed their heartfelt appreciation while accepting the award, describing how much Birmingham meant to Ozzy.
“We are deeply touched to receive this award in honour of Ozzy,” the family said. “He was so loved by the people of Birmingham, so it is great to come back and see the impact he has had in his hometown and how he continues to inspire generations of Brummies and fans across the world. We would like to thank the Lord Mayor for this special recognition.”
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, paid tribute to Ozzy’s enduring legacy:
“Ozzy was and always will be a proud and much-missed son of Birmingham. Having achieved worldwide success, he never forgot his Brummie roots, so I am honoured to present the award to his family in a fitting tribute to everything he has done for our city. Ozzy forever!”