If the heavy metal pioneers couldn’t already come and go as they please in Birmingham, they certainly can now. The founding members of Black Sabbath were awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham at a ceremony in the Council House last Saturday (June 30).
After last year’s campaign to name Ozzy Osbourne as a ‘Freeman of the City’ of Birmingham—a ceremonial honour that only 50 people have ever received—it was confirmed that the whole band would be recognised for their “significance to the cultural and musical identity of Birmingham” in January. That’s now officially happened.
During the ceremony, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward were each presented with Freedom of the City scrolls and medals by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal. They each received the title of Honorary Freeman, too, with their names engraved on the Freedom of the City marble board.
As one of the oldest traditional ceremonies in the country, recognising people’s exceptional service to the city, Joseph Chamberlain was the first to receive such a title in 1888. It’s only been awarded once in the 21st century, up until now, to the former long-serving Harborne councillor, Peter Hollingworth, in 2011.
“It is a pleasure to pronounce Terence “Geezer” Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bill Ward as Freemen of the City of Birmingham,” said Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham. “The Freedom of the City is one of the oldest civic honours and given in recognition of exceptional service to Birmingham.
“Conferring these honours on Black Sabbath’s founding members, who are proud Brummies, is a fitting tribute to the band, marking their importance to Birmingham’s cultural landscape and the pride of our city as their hometown.”
The scrolls were produced by local company Hilton Studios and the medals were produced by Jewellery Quarter-based business Fattorini. The medal design was created by competition winner Toby Williams, a student studying in the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University—inspired by industry and community, reflecting the people of Birmingham
What did Black Sabbath have to say?
Terence “Geezer” Butler said: “This is a great working-class city, and we’re all working class, from Aston. We weren’t given a chance when we started out, but Birmingham has always been behind us. People used to make fun of our accents, but we’re all proud Birmingham people and we love this city. It’s one of the greatest cities ever, it’s given the world so much and we’re proud to be here.”
Ozzy Osbourne said, “I first put an advert in a music store in town. If these guys hadn’t come to my door, I wouldn’t be sitting here now. It seems to have flown by so quickly. It’s amazing. I think about my dad, who went into debt to buy me a microphone. If only he could be here now. I think he would be very proud. I’m a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever!”
Bill Ward added: “It’s completely overwhelming. I’m so proud to be an Astonian. That’s where I got my attitude. It was a blessed – and cursed! – to meet Tony when I was 15, and I’m so proud that I got to know Geezer and Ozzy. They’re my brothers. I love them very much and we love our city very much.”