Ozzy Osbourne honoured in Birmingham ceremony
A Lord Mayor’s Award will be presented to the family of the legendary musician
Birmingham will celebrate its legendary son, Ozzy Osbourne, with a private ceremony where one of the city’s highest civic honours will be presented to his family.
The Lord Mayor’s Award will be posthumously awarded to the iconic musician during a tribute marking his achievements and legacy.
The ceremony will take place on what would have been his birthday, 3rd December, and the accolade will be accepted on his behalf by members of the Osbourne family. The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Ken Wood, will hand over the award, and the Lord Mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, will present Books of Condolence to the family.
The significance of the Lord Mayor’s Award
The prestigious Lord Mayor’s Award is dedicated to those who have made outstanding achievements or provided exceptional service to Birmingham and its people.
The posthumous honour for Ozzy recognises his profound contribution to his hometown’s musical and cultural heritage.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Birmingham connection
Born and raised in Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy Osbourne achieved international fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath and later in his solo career, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
He became one of only 27 artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, won five Grammy awards over his career, and is celebrated worldwide for his music.
His popularity in Birmingham continues, with almost 400,000 visitors paying tribute to him through the Working Class Hero exhibit in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery since its opening in July 2023.
Last July, Ozzy was also granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham alongside Black Sabbath’s original band members as part of their farewell "Back to the Beginning" concert.
Black Sabbath Fan Tributes
Local fans of the iconic rock group Black Sabbath have spoken to us about why the Prince of Darkness was such a local hero for Birmingham, and how this award feels perfectly fitting
"By tying his legacy to Birmingham, it ensures that his music and his legacy will be celebrated and never forgotten" said Lee, a local rock DJ who goes by the name DJ Indie Lee.
DJ Indie Lee spoke to us about how Ozzy's influence constantly brought people to Birmingham, and how his final show at Villa Park, titled 'Back to the Beginning' at Aston Villa Football Clubs 'Villa Park Stadium' gave one final boost of commerce to local hospitality venues and the wider local economy.
"He's more than a global icon. To local people he's family"
Phil Wittaker, who works for Birmingham council and is a huge Black Sabbath fan also spoke of the commercial gain brought to the city by Ozzy Osbourne, saying:
"Looking at the concert this summer, the amount of people wanting to come to Birmingham to feel the energy was incredible"
Family and official statements
The Osbourne family expressed their gratitude in a statement, saying:
“We are deeply touched to receive this award in honour of Ozzy. 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. I would like to thank the Lord Mayor for this special recognition.”
Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE also paid tribute, saying:
“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!”