Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbournes 'immense cultural legacy'

BBC News

23-07-2025

Update:
Date: 11:56 BST
Title: 'I could see something was wrong'
Content: Bryn Cornford, a fan from Bromsgrove who went to school with Ozzy Osbourne's son, said he could see "something was wrong" at the Back To The Beginning show.
"I knew it was probably going to come [his passing] because he didn't look very good at the concert but I didn't think he was on his last legs but I could see something was wrong," he said.
"When he gave [Youngblud] the cross I think you could see it in him that something was going to happen.
"I think he wanted to come back to his roots to pass away where he had come from, that's my opinion anyway."
He added: "I've been an Ozzy Osbourne fan since the 90s, I grew up on rock. He's just a legend and always will be."
Update:
Date: 11:51 BST
Title: Alice Cooper dedicates show to Prince of Darkness
Content: Alice Cooper and his band sent their prayers to the Osbourne family
Alice Cooper and his band found out about his death moments before going on stage at Cardiff's Utilita Arena last night.
Cooper, an American rock singer whose career spans six decades, dedicated his show to The Prince of Darkness saying the 'whole world is mourning tonight'.
'He was and will continue to be a rock 'n' roll legend,' he added.
Update:
Date: 11:40 BST
Title: 'Ozzy expected to die on stage at Villa Park'
Content: Jim Simpson, Black Sabbath's first manager, said there was an inevitability about recent events.
"I'm not that surprised because Ozzy himself said he expected to die on stage at Villa Park, partially in jest but it was pretty inevitable, there's still a huge sense of loss.
"The world has lost an usually kind and gentle human being, and that's not the way most people think of Ozzy but the Ozzy I knew was quite different from the Ozzy that has dominated the media for the last 55 years."
Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Simpson said his favourite memory of the late musician was when they got stranded in Paris.
"We were waiting for the morning flight to Birmingham and as I say, Ozzy was always a little bit picked on by the rest and Ozzy and I were always deep in conversation, mainly about music.
"Ozzy and I were talking and we didn't hear the flight called so the other three sneaked out and took the flight back to Birmingham.
"They thought they'd played a really dirty trick on us but they were crazy. A night out in Paris with Ozzy Osbourne, come on?"
The best way to remember Osbourne would be to build a "proper rock and roll museum" with a "live music facility", he said.
Update:
Date: 11:24 BST
Title: Film of the Black Sabbath gig will be out next year
Content: A film of the star-studded show that Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath said would be their final gig will be released early next year., external
News of the film was tweeted from Ozzy Osbourne's X account just a few days ago.
Back To The Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow, would be a "distilled version" of the all-day event and include exclusive behind-the-scenes access and interviews, the post said.
Fans who could not go to the gig turned up at pubs in Birmingham to watch a stream of the concert but some were turned away as the pubs filled up with excited fans.
Update:
Date: 11:11 BST
Title: Duran Duran: 'Thanks for the ride Ozzy'
Content: Another Birmingham band, Duran Duran, said it would be hard to imagine a world without Ozzy Osbourne.
"Thanks for the ride Ozzy, love from the other Brummies," they posted.
Update:
Date: 10:59 BST
Title: 'Osbourne and Black Sabbath were the root of everything'
Content: As part of a huge Birmingham Black Sabbath week, which culminated in the 5 July concert, bands took part in Metal in the Midlands - a platform to showcase their music.
Members of Cherrydead, a metal band inspired by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, said the musician was "the route of everything".
"Saying it is very, very sad would be an understatement but it's also quite joyful in a way because of the legacy that he's continued to leave and the absolute mark that he has left on everyone.
"I think we will be feeling this for a very long time. I don't think we've quite realised it has happened."
Molly, band member and a fan who attended Back to the Beginning at Villa Park, said: "Getting to be there was completely surreal, there's no way to describe it really or to put it into words.
"Ozzy and Sabbath, they were the root of everything. They were who started it all and kicked it off and it kicked off in Birmingham.
"So being able to experience that in our home city with the people that started it and with Ozzy at the forefront - nothing else will come close."
Update:
Date: 10:36 BST
Title: 'Four kids from Aston - who'd have thought, eh?'
Content: Ozzy's former band mates, who appeared at his last show, paid tribute to the star.
"He loved what he did, he loved music, he loved playing together, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity of getting together again to do the [farewell] show," said the band's co-founder Tony Iommi.
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Sharing a picture of them together drummer Bill Ward said: "Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls? No, you're forever in my heart."
Bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, wrote: "Goodbye dear friend. Thanks for all those years - we had some great fun. Four kids from Aston - who'd have thought, eh?"
Update:
Date: 10:20 BST
Title: 'I feel like we've lost a brother'
Content: Coz Smith, a Sabbath fan of 50 years, attended the huge farewell gig at Villa Park.
Before the gig she told how she'd been diagnosed with cancer last year and did not think she would have been around to attend it.
"I feel like I've really lost a brother," the 63-year-old from Willenhall said.
"I know Toni and Geezer and Bill have lost a brother, but I feel like we have, I feel like we've really had a big loss.
"And then equally a massive joy that I was able to that gig, I can't describe what a pleasure it was to be there and sing along with Ozzy".
Update:
Date: 10:05 BST
Title: 'The final gig was magical'
Content: Alex Woodford had been among the thousands of fans who attended Ozzy's final performance at Villa Park.
The prison officer from Littlehampton, Sussex, said he'd been left 'devastated' by the news of the singer's death.
"It was a complete shock yesterday," he said.
"I'm so so grateful," he said of the 5 July show, "it means more to me now than it did at the time.
"Hearing him speak to us and sing for us, it was magical."
Update:
Date: 09:48 BST
Title: 'We've lost a true inspiration to the metal community'
Content: Louise, a Black Sabbath fan from Birmingham, said when she learnt of Ozzy Osbourne's passing she was both "very upset" but also "very pleased that he had been able to do the final gig".
"I wasn't able to make it myself, unfortunately, but everything I heard about it from the news, from friends who had visited said the whole gig was amazing.
"He did an amazing show and he still managed to perform as he wanted to.
"So, as upsetting as it was because we've lost a true inspiration to the rock and metal community it was lovely he was able to go out doing what he loved as well."
Update:
Date: 09:31 BST
Title: Suited and booted to be given the freedom of Birmingham
Content: It was less than a month ago when all four members of Black Sabbath were suited and booted to be given the freedom of the city of Birmingham.
The honour recognised the band's significance as heavy metal pioneers in Birmingham and beyond.
Osbourne recalled his late father going into debt to buy him a microphone, adding he thought he would be very proud.
"I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever," he said.
Update:
Date: 09:16 BST
Title: 'They could have had that big show anywhere'
Content: Birmingham music journalist Kirsty Bosley praised Ozzy Osbourne for his impact on his home city.
"[Black Sabbath] could have had that big show anywhere, they could have had that fundraiser for any charity but they did it for home charities and for our people," she told BBC WM.
"It was such a beautiful thing to see and it clearly mattered very much to them."
Osbourne had been able to "create an incredible career and legacy" by pursuing his talent with "love".
She added: "I think that's proof and permission to everyone in this city, a city that has been really hard hit by arts funding cuts, that you can just let love drive it.
"You can let passion drive you and you can achieve really incredible things."
Update:
Date: 09:00 BST
Title: Ozzy left an 'immense cultural legacy'
Content: Just over two weeks ago fans were visiting the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street before going to the huge farewell concert held at the Aston Villa stadium.
Now they are at the bench to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.
"The whole of Birmingham is in mourning," said fan Rose as she laid a flower.
"I felt like I needed to pay my respects to the immense
cultural legacy that this man has created and the subcultures and everything
that has come from it.
"It's not just a band and it's not just a man – it's this
entire ecosphere of people that are alternative and I'm a massive part of that, so I just wanted to say thank you to him."
Update:
Date: 08:55 BST
Title: Welcome to our live coverage
Content: Good morning.
We are in Birmingham bringing you reaction to the death of
Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne.
Fans have been gathering at landmarks across the city to pay
tribute to the Birmingham-born artist who has died aged 76.