As metal fans from across the world descend on Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, we head down to the Black Sabbath bench and mural to meet those who were so deeply touched by his life and music…
Yesterday, the world lost a legend in Ozzy Osbourne. As most of the music world wrestled with the right words to sum up his seismic legacy, fans headed out onto the streets of Birmingham to pay their respects.
Judas Priest's Rob Halford once remarked that in the ’70s, when heavy metal was in its infancy, the Second City had no answer to the hippie movement that was sweeping America at the same time. “I ain’t got flowers in my bloody hair,” he said. “I got weeds round my feet.” Today, however, the gloomy weather of Birmingham is brightened by the hundreds of flowers left by devotees to The Prince Of Darkness. Staff at Ethos flower shop nearby the famous Black Sabbath bench tell us that since news of Ozzy’s death broke, they’ve been inundated with metal fans after red and black flowers to lay down in his memory.
Some leave bouquets, some Aston Villa shirts, beers and handwritten notes, but all of them tell Kerrang! that Ozzy’s impact will never be forgotten.
“He has the ultimate legacy,” one fan puts it. “Going from a Brummie lad born in Aston just after World War II to the most honest, humble and amazing musician.”
Ozzy's contribution to heavy metal is undeniable, yet many fans in Brum also take time to discuss the man behind the music, and how his struggles over the years made him even more of an inspiration.
“He really helped me not only overcome my fears, but I’m dyslexic myself, and he showed me you can do it, you know, get out there and do your music,” one fan explains.
Even those here who aren’t fans are struck by the solemnity at the murals where more and more metalheads are gathering. One mum – who is quick to say she isn’t that into the music – tells us her daughter broke down in tears last night. Today, the whole family made the pilgrimage down, sunflowers in hand.
“We all started watching The Osbournes together,” she explains. “And I never realised what a loving family they were, compared to how the media portrayed them.”
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone here who hasn’t heard all about Ozzy’s wildest moments – yes, we all know the bat story – but they're barely a footnote to everyone crowded around Navigation Street. To them, he’s the soundtrack and silver screen backing to hundreds of family memories.
All around, fathers regale their sons with tales of visiting The Crown – now an iconic landmark of its own – where Sabbath first played. “God, I loved that pub,” they sigh, eyes misting as flashes of their youth replay in their heads.
It feels like everywhere you look, men are unashamedly moved to tears reflecting on their dads introducing them to the Double O himself.
“My first memory of Ozzy, I think I was about three,” recalls one fan. “I was with my dad, and we were in the kitchen with a big record player out, and he was sat there with his headphones on. He went, ‘Come here, son, I've got something for you to listen to, put them on.’ It was Mama, I'm Coming Home, and I just started balling.”
As said song blares over nearby speakers, Ozzy fans congregate to raise one more glass to him. A mother walks by with two young kids, one of them sheepishly raising the horns. Times have changed and times are indeed strange, but Ozzy and his music will live on forever.
