Birmingham City Council to bestow honour upon Black Sabbath’s founding members
Birmingham City Council is set to honour members of the pioneering hard rock and heavy metal outfit Black Sabbath, awarding the musicians the honorary title of City Freeman. The honour will see the city of Birmingham recognise its vital importance in establishing the extensive genre of heavy metal.
On January 28th, the city will bestow the title of City Freeman onto the four founding members of Black Sabbath: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The title is said to recognise contributions to the city of Birmingham, with previous recipients including politicians like Winston Churchill, Clement Atlee, and Neville Chamberlain.
As such, Black Sabbath seem a little at odds with the other figures to have received the honour since it was first introduced in 1888, but that only speaks to their trailblazing impact on the city. Speaking about the honour, Ozzy Osbourne shared, “I’m honoured and, at the same time, shocked that I would have ever been considered for this very special commendation.”
“I’m a proud Brummie from Aston through and through,” the frontman added. “I’m still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say, but that’s always made me laugh.”
“I started with nothing but a dream, which I shared with Tony, Geezer and Bill,” he added. “We never gave up on that dream. My only regret is that my Mom and Dad are not here to see what I became.” He concluded with, “Birmingham Forever!”
Cllr Sharon Thompson, the City Council’s deputy leader, said, “Birmingham has a fantastic musical culture, and Black Sabbath are a major part of that history, a pioneering band that still influences today’s musicians. They have become synonymous with the city and have been true ambassadors throughout their phenomenal careers.”
When Sabbath unleashed their debut album back in 1970, the band immediately put Birmingham on the map as the forerunners of this bold new style of rock and roll music. The fact that the city is now bestowing an honour upon the band suggests that the city is aiming to do more to recognise its cultural impact on the wider world.
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