Black Sabbath have been given the freedom of the city of Birmingham. All four original band members were present at Saturday's private ceremony, with Terence "Geezer" Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward presented with scrolls and medals by the Lord Mayor. The honour recognised the band's significance as heavy metal pioneers in Birmingham and beyond, the city council said. It came exactly a week before a huge farewell concert at Villa Park, in which tens of thousands are expected to hear them play for the final time. "Birmingham has always been behind us," Butler said. Butler called Birmingham "a great working class city" and said people used to make fun of the band's accents. "We weren't given a chance when we started out, but Birmingham has always been behind us," he said. Osbourne recalled his late father going into debt to buy him a microphone, adding he thought he would be very proud. "I first put an advert in a music store in town," he said. "If these guys hadn't come to my door, I wouldn't be sitting here now. "It seems to have flown by so quickly. It's amazing. "I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever." Engravings in the Council House join Broad Street's bridge and star as permanent tributes to the band. The scrolls and medals were produced by local businesses Hilton Studios and Fattorini. The medals were designed by Toby Williams, a Birmingham City University student who won a competition. Also on Saturday, the band made a surprise visit to a newly created Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street. Mr Murals, the artist behind the work, was surprised with two tickets to the band's Villa Park show. "Every single one of them took the time to speak to me and were so kind," he said. "It's mental. I'm still not over it." Black Sabbath formed in Aston in 1968 and have sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. Follow BBC Birmingham onBBC Sounds,Facebook,XandInstagram.
Black Sabbath given freedom of Birmingham
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"Black Sabbath Receives Freedom of Birmingham in Ceremony Ahead of Farewell Concert"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Black Sabbath, the iconic heavy metal band that originated from Birmingham, has been honored with the freedom of the city in a private ceremony attended by all four original members: Terence 'Geezer' Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward. The Lord Mayor presented them with scrolls and medals, recognizing their monumental impact on music and culture, both locally and globally. This prestigious award comes just a week ahead of their farewell concert at Villa Park, where they are expected to perform for a large audience, marking the end of an era for the band. Butler expressed gratitude towards Birmingham, describing it as a 'great working class city' that has always supported them despite initial skepticism about their accents and musical style. He credited the city for its unwavering backing throughout their career, which began in 1968 in Aston, Birmingham.
During the ceremony, Osbourne reflected on personal memories, mentioning how his father went into debt to buy him a microphone, emphasizing the deep connections he has with the city. He shared his pride in being from Birmingham, stating, 'I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie.' As a part of the celebrations, engravings commemorating the band's legacy were added to the Council House, and a mural dedicated to Black Sabbath was unveiled on Navigation Street. The medals awarded were designed by a Birmingham City University student, illustrating the local community's involvement in celebrating the band's achievements. Additionally, the artist of the mural received tickets to the upcoming concert, highlighting the band's appreciation for their fans and local artists. Black Sabbath's influence is undeniable, with over 75 million albums sold worldwide, solidifying their status as pioneers of heavy metal music.
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