Birmingham tributes to Ozzy Osbourne will be taken down and given to his family

20 hours ago

Tributes left for Ozzy Osbourne in his home city of Birmingham are to be taken down and given to the late star's family. Birmingham City Council has started the process of removing thousands of tributes in honour of the Black Sabbath rocker following his death last month at the age of 76. Fans had flocked to the city to pay their respects to Ozzy as flowers, keepsake items and handwritten notes were left at Black Sabbath Bridge - a spot that marks the Paranoid band's formation. The council says that the tributes will be preserved at a secure location before being passed on to Ozzy's loved ones. It stated: "In due course, they will be passed on the Osbourne family, so they may keep them as a lasting reminder of the public's affection and support." A concert ticket from 1995 featured among the tributes, which also included artwork and beer cans. Kate Brazier, head of city centre events at the council, said: "We've found all sorts - artwork, cans of beer and candles. We've found a box of tea with a message that says, 'Just in case you can't find a cuppa in heaven.' "But for me, the one that stands out the most is (the concert ticket) that someone's left a message on. It probably meant a lot to someone at one point in their life." Ozzy's family viewed the tributes during his funeral procession in the city last week and said they were "deeply moved" by the affection the public had for the Prince of Darkness - who had played his final gig with Black Sabbath at Birmingham's Villa Park stadium just 17 days prior to his death. A statement read: "We are deeply moved by the heartfelt tributes that have been placed at the Black Sabbath Bridge and at the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days. "These expressions of remembrance reflect the profound impact that Ozzy had on the city and its people, as well as fans from around the world - BIRMINGHAM FOREVER!" Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal said: "We understand how important it is for the community to have a space to grieve and celebrate Ozzy's legacy. "We know fans will continue to pay their respects at the Black Sabbath Bridge and the mural on Navigation Street, as well as visiting the Ozzy exhibition."

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Ozzy Osbourne's Cause Of Death Is Revealed

Buzz Feed

an hour ago

Buzz Feed

Ozzy Osbourne's Cause Of Death Is Revealed

Two weeks after he died at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, Ozzy Osbourne 's cause of death has been revealed. According to a death certificate detailed by the New York Times on Tuesday, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and reality star died of a heart attack on July 22. The document also notes that Osbourne had been living with coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease before his death. The death certificate, which was filed with a London registry by Osbourne's daughter Aimée Osbourne, listed the heavy metal icon's occupation as 'Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend.' Weeks ahead of his death, Osbourne performed his last concert at a benefit in Birmingham, England, just a stone's throw from his childhood home. At the show, where the 'Prince of Darkness' performed material from his solo career as well as his time as the frontman of the seminal rock group Black Sabbath, he told the crowd, 'I've been laid up for six years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' During his final years, Osbourne faced a number of health issues. A 2019 fall at his Los Angeles home led to neck surgery that sidelined his performance plans for several years. In January 2020, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but at the time, he told fans that the nervous system disorder was not 'a death sentence.' Fans and family mourned the rocker in his hometown of Birmingham on July 30, as his coffin was carried through the streets ahead of a private funeral.

Geek Tyrant

an hour ago

Geek Tyrant

Audible's New HARRY POTTER Audiobooks Reveal Star-Studded Cast With Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, Riz Ahmed and More — GeekTyrant

Get ready to return to the wizarding world in a whole new way. Audible is breathing new life into Harry Potter with an ambitious full-cast audio production of all seven books, and the first installment, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , drops this November. Audible and J.K. Rowling's Pottermore Publishing just announced the major cast and rollout plan for Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions , which promises a completely immersive experience, complete with original music, high-end sound design, and real-world audio capture. The audiobook series will debut amid the ongoing production of HBO's own Harry Potter live-action TV adaptation in the U.K. The casting for Audible's audio editions wrapped earlier this year, with over 2,000 hours already recorded. And the cast they've assembled is nothing short of magical. Hugh Laurie ( House ) steps into the legendary role of Albus Dumbledore. Matthew Macfadyen ( Succession ) gives voice to the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort. Riz Ahmed ( Sound of Metal ) brings complexity to Professor Snape, while Michelle Gomez ( Doctor Who ) takes on the role of Professor McGonagall. The entire series is narrated by Cush Jumbo ( The Good Fight ), whose voice will guide listeners through all seven audiobooks. As for the young trio, the early books will be voiced by newcomers Frankie Treadaway (Harry), Max Lester (Ron), and Arabella Stanton (Hermione). Interestingly, Stanton is also portraying Hermione in HBO's series. For books four through seven, Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will take over as Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The release schedule kicks off with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on November 4, 2025, followed by monthly releases through May 2026: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – December 16, 2025 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – January 13, 2026 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – February 10, 2026 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – March 10, 2026 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – April 14, 2026 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – May 12, 2026 In a statement, Hugh Laurie shared his excitement, saying: 'I'm honored to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation by Pottermore and Audible. 'I'm also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and my colleague Sir Stephen Fry.' He added: 'Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come round at last. This is great company, and it's a privilege to be among their number.' The original single-voice audiobooks, featuring Stephen Fry and Jim Dale, are still available on Audible and have racked up a massive 1.8 billion global listening hours since their 2015 launch. But this new version is on a different level. According to Audible's Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza: 'Magic is coming alive as these brilliant actors lift iconic characters off the page and into our ears. Hearing these spellbinding performances in our state-of-the-art studios has been nothing short of extraordinary. 'We're overjoyed to share that fans of all ages can now mark their fall calendars for a truly breathtaking experience with Audible and Pottermore Publishing — one that promises to reignite the magic for longtime fans and captivate a whole new generation of listeners.' Neil Blair, chairman of Pottermore Publishing, echoed that enthusiasm: 'We're thrilled to be partnering with Audible to reimagine the Harry Potter stories through this groundbreaking full-cast audio experience. 'J.K. Rowling's rich, immersive world is perfectly suited to this next evolution in audiobook storytelling. We can't wait for a new generation of children around the world to discover the stories in this exciting new way.' Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions will join Audible's growing library of original productions, including 1984 , Pride & Prejudice , and Sam Mendes' adaptations of Oliver Twist , David Copperfield , and Bleak House . For longtime fans or those discovering the Wizarding World for the first time, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Harry Potter projects in years.

Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham museum extended after public demand

Yahoo

2 hours ago

Yahoo

Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham museum extended after public demand

An Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery has been extended to the end of 2025 because of 'public demand'. The 76-year-old Black Sabbath frontman, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, died July 22, reportedly of a heart attack. Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero was opened by Osbourne's wife Sharon on June 25 to coincide with the band's homecoming farewell concert at Villa Park on July 5. Following his death, the museum hosted a civic book of condolence which closed on August 3 and will be presented to his family. The free exhibition showcases Osbourne's honours including Grammys, MTV awards and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame accolades. Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: 'We are delighted to announce the extension of Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero to the end of the year. 'The public response to the exhibition has been overwhelming so far, demonstrating the love and affection for Ozzy from the people of Birmingham and beyond. 'We would like to extend our gratitude to Sharon and the rest of the Osbourne family for allowing us to continue to display this exhibition as a fitting tribute to Ozzy's life and legacy and to enable as many fans as possible to come and visit.' Sam Watson, chairwoman of Central Bid Birmingham, which supports businesses in the city, said: 'Central Bid is extremely proud as curator and sponsor of the exhibition, which gives fans the chance to connect with the life and legacy of someone who never forgot where he came from. 'The response from the public has been phenomenal, and it's only right that the exhibition continues so even more people can pay tribute to Ozzy's extraordinary life.' Osbourne died just over two weeks after Black Sabbath were reunited barely two miles from where they first played together more than 50 years ago. The Back to the Beginning benefit concert saw performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica, Yungblud and Guns N' Roses. Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates – Terence 'Geezer' Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, were the last to appear on stage as part of the star-studded line-up. The group who formed in 1968 and were known for songs including War Pigs and Paranoid, were recently given the freedom of the city of Birmingham, which recognises people's exceptional service to the city. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans when he appeared in the 2000s reality TV series The Osbournes, starring alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack. On Monday, Kelly thanked fans for their 'support' days after the family joined the people of Birmingham in bidding farewell to the heavy metal vocalist in a procession that stopped at the Black Sabbath bench, which was covered in floral tributes and balloons. Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero, which was originally due to end on September 28, will now run until the end of 2025.