The news of Ozzy Osbourne's death yesterday has left a dark hole in the music world and the hearts of many.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in Birmingham, the city where Ozzy was born and that gave rise to Black Sabbath.
As the world mourns, Brummies and rock and metal fans alike have taken their grief to the streets of Birmingham to pay their respects to one of the city's favourite sons.
Plenty of these tributes have found their way to social media, and the scenes we’re seeing out of there are proof of the impact Ozzy had.
As you’d imagine, the Black Sabbath mural near New Street Station has been one of the main spots for fans to gather.
It was in front of the mural that we got this legendary scene of fans pulling up in a truck blasting out Ozzy tunes. Oh, and on that truck, a TV screen and speakers were mounted.
Bloody brilliant. You’d expect nothing less for a man with such legendary status.
Then over at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, fans queued out the door to sign the official book of condolences, which was hosted at the location and open for the public to write in. In addition, the option of a voice note could be left via the museum telephone.
The city’s leadership figures, including the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, also lined up to pay their respects.
The Lord Mayor even spoke of the city’s plans to further honour the Prince of Darkness.
“The council will probably have a meeting around this subject… I’m sure there’s definitely going to be something.”
He went on to say, “he [Ozzy] was a proud Brummie who put the city on the world map… to meet him was the greatest honour”.
“He was a very humble, very down-to-earth guy”.
Other notable city groups paid their respects, too, with the City of Birmingham Orchestra performing a Sabbath song in front of Ozzy the Bull, the giant (heavy) metal bull located inside New Street Station.
The bull was named after the singer when, following the statue's brief period of hiding at the close of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, it returned to the public eye and was unveiled in July 2023 in its current location by Ozzy’s wife, Sharon and sister, Jean.
Gotta love a rock and orchestra crossover, and what a fitting place to perform.
Black Sabbath Bridge was another location that fans flocked to.
Here, fans joined each other in placing candles, flowers and notes, singing songs, and offering comfort to one another - as we see at the end of this clip.
At these vigil sites, people also shared stories and memories they had of the Black Sabbath frontman.
One couple, Lena and Mathew, even recalled it was to Ozzy and the band that they owed their relationship. It was love at first sight when Matthew spotted Lena walk into a local music spot wearing a Sabbath tee.
The Black Sabbath Bench on the bridge was even the location where Matthew popped the big question.
Locals paid their respects online as well, with the band Duran Duran, also famously from Birmingham, emphasising their Brummie pride.
“What can you say about Ozzy? Whatever it is, it's in a Brummie accent. Hard to imagine a world without him. Ozzy brought so much joy, humour and raw power to the world, in a life of many chapters. Ozzy was a cat who had way more than nine lives.”
“Thanks for the ride, Ozzy. Love from the other Brummies," the group wrote on Facebook.
Although heartbreaking, it’s heartwarming to see people coming together to celebrate and bond over the life of the icon that was Ozzy Osbourne.
As vigils and displays of condolences continue to pop up across Birmingham and all over the world, Ozzy Osbourne is a name that will be remembered and whose music and persona will be cherished for years to come.
Rock in Peace, Ozzy.
