Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025

The passing of Ozzy Osborne leaves a large imprint on the people of Birmingham. The band Black Sabbath are very much loved and their Birmingham origins are celebrated throughout the city. Back in 1974, I remember “Paranoid” blasting out loudly through the student common room speakers. I loved the Black Sabbath album covers which stood out from others at the time with their own distinctive take on the early seventies. Even as my musical tastes moved towards glam rock, punk and new wave, I still had fondness for the distinctive Tony Iommi guitar riffs from “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid”. Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne still connect with me especially as their influences are all around Birmingham.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
The shrine to Ozzy outside the Crown pub on Station Street.

Getting caught up in the emotion around the city from the reunion concert and people gathering to honour Ozzy, I went in the day before his funeral to visit the notable Black Sabbath sites in the city and pay my respects.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
The Crown pub, Station St.

My first stop was the Crown pub often known as the birthplace of legends. Many famous bands played there including the early Black Sabbath concerts. Closed since 2014, the building is now protected by its Grade II listed status although what the future will be is uncertain. The Crown has had a lick of paint and the boarded-up windows now have pictures of the band. A small shrine has taken shape below the picture of Ozzy. There are a few candles, flowers and fan messages set out. Pedestrians entering New Street rail station glance curiously at all the commotion.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
Ozzy the Bull at New Street station.

Then there is Ozzy the Bull. Towering above the concourse of New Street Station, this animatronic sculpture was a massive success during the Commonwealth Games. Once forgotten, now restored, much like the man himself, Ozzy the Bull is a great symbol of the City.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
Ozzy’s signature on the wall in Navigation Street.

Outside the front of the station, Navigation street has attracted the City’s attention where Mr Murals, a local artist has created a striking Black Sabbath mural. Along the wall facing the station are photorealistic spray can pictures of the four band members. The Black Sabbath logo looms large beside them. Less than a month ago, the group came to look at the murals and each signed their name against their picture. The signatures have been protected with Perspex glass. The length of the street has become another shrine for Ozzy with flowers lined up against the wall.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
More floral tributes along the Black Sabbath mural.

The focus of the outpouring of grief for Ozzy was taking place at the Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street. In 2019, the city dedicated this space to the band with a bench featuring the faces of Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill. Now, the bench is transformed with flowers, tributes, hand-written notes, empty Jack Daniels bottles, and even a guitar. The tribute has taken over the pavement and security are required to keep a semblance of order. On the day of the funeral, this was the place where the hearse bearing Ozzy stopped and the family paid their respects. The news and pictures from the BBC and Rolling Stone magazine show how much he will be missed.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
This is the day before the funeral at Black Sabbath Bridge.
Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
A guitar with inscription amongst the tributes.
Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
More details of the tributes.

Next I find myself in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Here a special tribute holds centre stage. The ” Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero” exhibition celebrates the lead singer’s astonishing career. Videos play on loop; photographs of his successful career adorn the walls. The many gold and platinum records are displayed. At the entrance, The civic book of condolence for Ozzy waits. I stood in the queue, looking up at all the artwork around waiting my turn to add my condolences.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
The working class hero exhibition.

On my way home, I pass through Victoria Square where there is an exhibition of Black Sabbath with many posters arranged to tell the history of the band that will forever be associated with Birmingham.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
The Black Sabbath poster board exhibition in Victoria Square.

Even at Selfridges, the modern temple of retail, screens shimmered with Black Sabbath’s images. Pictures of the band and Ozzy great you at the store entrance. A place is set aside to stand and watch a continual loop of the greatest Black Sabbath songs.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
Tributes to Black Sabbath.
Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
A mini theatre inside the store.

There is much to take in and the legacy of Ozzy and Black Sabbath is celebrated on the streets. He is a hero not only of the working class but everyone who looks to make a better future for themselves. Ozzy with his charismatic personality will forever symbolise the City of Birmingham.

Ozzy Osborne, Black Sabbath, Birmingham, July 2025
Ozzy at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. (picture from the Working class hero exhibition).

There are a few Ozzy images in my past blogs. See if you can spot one in this blog.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024

The hottest ticket in town was the reopening of the revamped Birmingham Museum and Art gallery.  When I saw the pictures on Instagram of the great and the good of Birmingham at the Museum’s re-opening celebration then I knew I must visit and see the changes myself. The celebrations were followed by the official opening which showed the excitement in the City about this much loved institution. People were worried that any opening may face significant delays, after the recent publicity about the problems with the Birmingham City Council.  Fortunately the refurbishment of BMAG as it is affectionately known went ahead and the museum opened again on the 25th October 2024 having closed in 2019, although there was a brief reopening for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. 

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
The re-imagined round room with the imposing statue of Lucifer.

A great deal of work has taken place behind the scenes in renovating the museum. Slowly the reopening happened in stages.  First there was an art display on Victorian Radicals at the Gas street gallery.  This celebrates the artwork from the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.   I had visited the virtual reality installation In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats in the summer of 2024. This took place in the Waterhall in August.  However my last visit to see the City centre musuem was in 2019.  

Made in Birmingham

The entrance to BMAG is from Chamberlain square and here I bumped into a friend, Stephen Lowe, on the entrance steps. As someone who works at BMAG, Stephen gave me a quick recap of what was happening and how the next phases of reopening will happen.  We climbed the steps and entered the round room of BMAG. There I was greeted by Sir Jacob Epstein’s Lucifer.  This  imposing statue has a menacing stance but still looks magnificent with the outstretched wings and the hands reaching out towards you. You cannot do anything but meet the eyes and then quickly look away! The walls around the room have many new pictures from before.  I have a picture from 2012 which shows the difference in approach over a decade with the changing styles of artwork being displayed.  Steve pulled me over to view Joe Lycett’s The Mona Lisa Scott-Lee painting which is a mimic of the famous de Vinci picture.  I love the round room so spent some time there before entering the Made in Birmingham display room.  

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
The round room looks bright and inviting. A fresh take.
Joe Lycett's The Mona Lisa Scott-Lee painting
A view of the Round room in 2013. This was the more traditional look for the last decade.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
Joe Lycett’s The Mona Lisa Scott-Lee painting

The upper veranda featured the Deviance & Difference display that was curated by a good friend Osman Yousefzada. Osman had organised for artwork by graduates from Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Art, to be arranged alongside items from Birmingham’s art collection. There were displays from the following artists, Francis Bacon, Donald Rodney and Barbara Hepworth. I was pleased to see the Queen Victoria statues that were once part of a re-imagining of the Queen Victoria Statue by Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke.  Originally, the five statues of Queen Victoria were placed in a boat. This was then joined with the oringial Queen Victoria statue in Victoria square. This public art was on display during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Festival. Hew Lock donated the 5 mini statues to Birmingham Museum and I had a chance to see them up close when I visited the BMAG collections facility last year.

There was so much to see in the Made in Birmingham section, and highlights included the HP factory sign, contributions from local school children and models of what Birmingham may have looked like if various civic projects had gone ahead. ‘Made in Birmingham’ is a snapshot of how the city rose to prominence and highlights people and places using different iconic objects which are distinctly Birmingham made. Overlooking the hall is a large impressive neon sign of Made in Birmingham. I was thinking of a bite to eat in the Edwardian Tea rooms but as my picture shows, this is as popular as it was before closure. Arriving just before opening is required to beat the crowds.

Modern Muse by Arpita Shah
A tricky picture to take as the sign was behind other exhibits.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
The Edwardian Tea Rooms

The first floor of the museum is open and there are several themed rooms to visit. The first encounter was the Modern Muse by Arpita Shah. This is a corridor of compelling pictures of young South Asian women from Birmingham and the West Midlands. The aim is to celebrate their identities and experiences of living in the West Midlands. My background is dentistry and whilst I appreciate the approach and the pictures, I would wish to have seen more young professional young women displayed in this corridor from the demographic being portrayed. Maybe there will be a continuation of the project that was commissioned by Grain projects.

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Modern Muse by Arpita Shah in the corridor leading from the Round room.

I missed the Pixel Studio which is the new digital gallery and activity space as I was captivated by the display that celebrated the life and work of Birmingham-born poet, Benjamin Zephaniah (958 – 2023). The picture by Pogus Caesar captures Benjamin so well and I stood around taking pictures of people who were passing through with the reflections on the wall.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
Benjamin Zephaniah

There are two new galleries named the Wild City which highlights nature in the City of Birmingham. These are designed primarily for interaction with children and families but the stories of nature are for everyone to enjoy.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopens, October, 2024
Not an exhibit but part of the shop. Stacey Barnfield and colours of Brum

Then that was the end of the tour. The Victorian Radicals exhibition that highlights the paintings and art work of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood has to be pre-booked. I will be returning to view the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition later this month. So what did I think? I was so pleased to be able to visit the museum again and even though it was only one floor, seeing old familiar rooms and new artwork was very rewarding. I look forward to more rooms being opened in the future.

You may wish to see my previous adventures when visiting BMAG

In pursuit of repetative beats, August, 2024

I was a student in Manchester in the seventies when punk and new wave were the big thing. I caught up with the New Romantics music whilst in London.  In the eighties it was all about getting my qualifications and working for promotion. Family arrived and that was my life.  The rave culture happened and it was just news headlines. I loved the music and often read about the rave gatherings that were taking place in Coventry and Birmingham.  Sadly, I never attended a rave although the popular music of Orbital, Future Sound of London, Massive Attack and Underworld was very much a fav at the time.

In pursuit of repetative beats, August, 2024
Getting ready to see where the illegal rave will be. Wow an A-Z map and cassettes.

When I read about “In pursuit of repetitive beats” at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, I knew that I must experience it. This art installation transports you into a wild and immersive VR experience. You are thrown into a story set in 1989 about attending an illegal rave around Coventry.  The story focusses on three young people attending the event alongside the accounts by police who were trying to stop the illegal raves from taking place. 

In pursuit of repetative beats, August, 2024
Here I am kitted out and dancing in my VR space.

Once I was kitted out with Virtual Reality headset and hand controllers, I was ready to go into this virtual world.  The experience was surreal.  You followed the story by picking up leaflets with your virtual hands and there was a talking head providing information as you removed around your virtual world. In one part, I was flying towards a gigantic eye with electricity bolts steaming out of my hands.  It was so cool. I became immersed in the story of an illegal rave.  Realistic car journeys,  the police chase and then the rave itself. All the time I was moving and dancing with the beats of the music. I must have looked a real sight whilst I was in a virtual world! Still such great fun. Attention to detail was spot on.  

In pursuit of repetative beats, August, 2024
A range of posters that were used to advertise the upcoming raves.

Whilst I am unable to provide pictures of the VR experience there were pre-show displays at the entrance to the experience. This detail is from the phone box display which was set up to show how people communicated and navigated to the raid before the advent of mobile phones.

The trailer for In Pursuit of repetitive beats.