Birmingham's shrines to Black Sabbath and where to find them
More than 40,000 Black Sabbath fans will be making their way to Birmingham in July for what is being described as "the greatest heavy metal show ever", marking the last ever performance of the band. The gig will be the first time that the original line-up - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - have played together in 20 years. The day of metal will also see performances from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Halestorm, Anthrax and more.Thousands of people without tickets to the Villa Park event are expected to be in the city to soak up the atmosphere.Here are some of the sights and sounds visitors can enjoy.
Ozzy the very heavy metal bull
Fans entering Birmingham via New Street Station will get an indication of the city's links to the musical legend in the form of what started life as a huge piece of metal. The giant mechanical bull, which was the much-loved centrepiece to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, was officially named Ozzy and endorsed by the frontman himself. The 10m (33ft) high beast on the Grand Central concourse is a draw for selfies, and was unveiled in its home by Ozzy's wife Sharon in 2023.He was originally made of aluminium but rebuilt using fire-retardant plastic and foam to ensure longevity in his prominent home. A real treat is when Ozzy also moves his head and swishes his tail every hour, from 08:15 to 19:15.
Bostin' Black Sabbath murals
A few metres away from the station, Navigation Street is home to the latest piece of street art dedicated to the Prince of Darkness.Created by artist Mr Murals, the 40m (130ft) work depicts Ozzy and the band throughout the past seven decades. While creating the artwork, he was even caught off guard when he received a surprise visit from Sharon Osbourne during a trip to the city.
Another mural, dating further back, can be found in the Digbeth area of the city. Head for the short stay car park at the city's coach station on Rea Street to take in this view.
Visit the birthplace of heavy metal
The next unmissable spot on the Black Sabbath tour is The Crown pub on Hill Street.It was here in1968 that the band, then named Earth, played their first gig. Visitors are unable to enter the building, which the owners say they plan to restore, but images of the band have been displayed on the pub's exterior. "I don't think there's any doubt that Birmingham can lay claim to being the birthplace of heavy metal," said Jez Collins, founder of the Birmingham Music Archive.Other artists to play at the venue have included Robert Plant, John Bonham, Judas Priest and Thin Lizzie, he said."It has an incredible story and heritage to tell."Free exhibitions will also be on show at the city's Museum and Art Gallery as well as Victoria Square. Fans can also visit Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens where a microphone and recording equipment used to make Sabbath's first studio recordings will be on show.
Trace the musical history
From The Crown you can trace the rise of Black Sabbath by walking past other venues they played, including "one of the great buildings of Birmingham", the Town Hall, added Mr Collins. "They'd have played at the Odeon, which is now just a cinema, and ended up at the Town Hall, which is two minutes from The Crown," he explained. "So you can plot their journey from a very, very small, intimate gig with 120 people into a bigger hall of a thousand, into a bigger hall where Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan played."
Pilgrimage to the bench
Carrying on to Broad Street you'll find another picture opportunity at the Black Sabbath bridge and bench."The really cool thing about the bridge for me is that most of the bands that you love and have played in Birmingham in recent years have made a special pilgrimage to it," said Birmingham journalist and metal fan Kirsty Bosley. Pantera, who are playing the Villa Park show dubbed "Back To The Beginning", are among artists to have posted images recently of themselves at the landmark. "It's a lovely photo opportunity and you'll be able to see all the tagged photos that other bands and artists, which is really cool," she added.
Take the Ozzy tram
In 2016 the frontman graced his home city to name a Midland Metro tram Ozzy, with thousands turning out to welcome the star. It is still running in the city, but West Midlands Metro said it was unable to give an exact timetable of where it was running during the weekend, but advised fans to look out on its social media channels for information nearer the time.
Get up the Villa
With or without a ticket, taking a trip to Aston itself would be valuable for fans wanting to soak up the atmosphere.The football club's shop would be among those helping "dress the city" in Sabbath colours for the weekend. During a walk around the area fans could also visit the schools band members attended.Young Ozzy was a pupil Prince Albert Junior School while Geezer went to Holte Grammar, Mr Collins said."And if you want to have a bit to eat you can stop at the Barton Arms which is opposite what was called Newtown Leisure Centre," he added. "That's where they rehearsed the first two albums, Black Sabbath and Paranoid, but they would leave their rehearsals and go into the Barton Arms, and sit and have a pint."
See 'amazing little music venues'
Ms Bosley urged visitors not to forget "amazing little venues" across the city that have supported the heavy metal scene and will be putting on events. The Flapper on Cambrian Wharf and Scruffy Murphy's on Dale End are among those worth a visit."Spend a bit of time there, spend a bit of money there and get a real feel for the very thing that connects us, which is in this case heavy metal," she added. Sabbath's original manager, Jim Simpson, has also programmed performances dubbed the Visit of Oz across the city in pubs, bars and even a canal boat. "The eyes of the whole world are going to be upon us," added Ms Boswell, "and it's going to be really special".She said the city's heavy metal community normally "operates in dark spaces" but the weekend was an opportunity to "come into the light and be championed". "The vibe is just going to be impeccable, I know it."
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