Ozzy Osbourne’s Legacy Lives On
Just two and a half weeks ago, fans of the "Prince of Darkness" flocked to Birmingham to witness Ozzy Osbourne’s last appearance. Now, they mourn his passing, leaving behind pint glasses, whiskey bottles, flowers, and candles in his memory. The spontaneous shrines that have popped up around Birmingham tell the story of how deeply his influence was felt and how far it spread.
A Global Outpouring of Grief
Some fans expressed pride in his hometown roots ("Birmingham Forever Ozzy – You Rockst!"), while others came from afar ("Gracias Ozzy!"; "Thanks for the music – from me and all your fans in Bulgaria."). Others left personal messages about how much his music meant to them. "They have touched millions, all my life all my music played almost as if they were raising me," one fan wrote.
Fans Gather to Pay Their Respects
Fans have gathered in places like the Black Sabbath Bench, which features neck figures of the four band members. Ozzy’s bench has been covered with flowers, interspersed with beer bottles, empty glasses, and a Jack Daniels bottle in honor of his notorious, hard-living lifestyle. The bank itself was covered with flowers, a testament to the outpouring of grief from fans.
A Community Comes Together
"It is just astonishing to see how the big community gets together and everyone supports," said 20-year-old Nate Baker from Redditch in Worcestershire. Baker wore a special Aston Villa shirt that was sold to commemorate Ozzy’s huge concert in Villa Park less than three weeks ago. This appearance was billed as a farewell show, and nobody expected the end to come so soon after this last hurrah.
Tributes Pour In
A series of flowers has been left at a mural that shows the faces of the four members of the band on a bridge near the New Street Station. "To be honest, it wasn’t really involved when I heard the news last night, and I thought that it would be really real to come here and to see all the honors and all the love that would really feel like," said Paul Williams from Stafford. Mr. Williams added a sheet of paper to the monument with his own portrait of Ozzy.
A Symphony of Tribute
Elsewhere, the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra paid tribute to Ozzy by playing a symphonic rendition of Black Sabbath’s "Doom," the self-titled opening track from their debut album. An exhibition on Ozzy’s life in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which opened with the farewell appearance, is now another destination where fans can remember him.
A Book of Condolences
A book of condolences has been opened in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where fans can leave their thoughts and memories of Ozzy. "I just wrote: ‘condolences to the family, and Ozzy sets off through the hole in the sky," said Steve Bennett from Liverpool, referencing the title of a song from Sabbath’s 1975 album Sabotage. Ozzy was "one of Rock’s great front men in a great band that changed the way music was perceived," he said.
A Lasting Legacy
The age range of visitors to the exhibition proves the enduring appeal of Ozzy’s music. Jonty Carter, a volunteer in the museum, was there at the beginning of Sabbath’s journey – after playing his boy’s brigade in a pub in Birmingham in her early days. "You sneaked into the entrance and the black Sabbath was switched on. So I saw her when I was 12 years old, which is simply incredible," he recalled.
Remembering Ozzy
Kelly Pearce had respect for the exhibition with her two children. "He never changed – even when he went to America, he was still a grumbling that we love," she said. "What makes me laugh is that the way he speaks to all these pregnant words is of course for normal humies. My father grew up in Aston and he is exactly the same. For me, he could only have been one of her uncle. He was just so down-to-earth without air and grace. I just love him."
