<\/p>\n
\n\tPioneering British heavy metal icons Black Sabbath are on track to be given prestigious honors by their hometown of Birmingham, England.<\/p>\n
\n\tOn Tuesday (Jan. 28), Birmingham City Council will receive recommendations that the four founding members of the band \u2013 vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward \u2013 each be given the honorary title of City Freeman. The title recognizes the contributions that the recipient has made to the city.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cBirmingham has a fantastic musical culture and Black Sabbath are a major part of that history, a pioneering band that still influences today\u2019s musicians,\u201d said city council Deputy Leader Cllr Sharon Thompson. \u201cThey have become synonymous with the city and have been true ambassadors throughout their phenomenal careers.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cConferring these honors on these Birmingham legends would be the perfect way of saying thank you for all that they have done for the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tBlack Sabbath, who first formed in the inner-Birmingham area of Aston in 1968 are long considered to be pioneers of heavy metal, with their influence being felt by bands such as other iconic groups such as Metallica, who inducted<\/a> Black Sabbath into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. \u201cBlack Sabbath is and always will be synonymous with heavy metal,\u201d said drummer Lars Ulrich.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m honored and, at the same time, shocked that I would have ever been considered for this very special commendation,\u201d Osbourne said of the honor. \u201cI\u2019m a proud Brummie from Aston through and through. I\u2019m still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say, but that\u2019s always made me laugh. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI started with nothing but a dream, which I shared with Tony, Geezer and Bill,\u201d he added. \u201cWe never gave up on that dream. My only regret is that my Mom and Dad are not here to see what I became. Birmingham Forever!\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m over the moon! What a great honor to be a City Freeman,\u201d added Iommi. \u201cI\u2019m aware that very few are given out. It ties us to the rich history of our hometown Birmingham, and that\u2019s fantastic. I\u2019m deeply grateful for the recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThis is far from the first time that Birmingham has recognized the continuing impact of Black Sabbath. In 2019, Birmingham named both a bench<\/a> and a bridge<\/a> after the band. In 2024, Osbourne stated<\/a> his desire to visit the bench, claiming he would do so \u201cif I have to crawl there\u201d.<\/p>\n \n\tAlongside Black Sabbath\u2019s upcoming honors, the Birmingham City Council will also discuss awarding late musician, poet and actor Benjamin Zephaniah a City of Birmingham Medal. Zephaniah passed away in 2023 at the age of 65, having risen to greater fame in his final decade for his role of Jeremiah Jesus on Peaky Blinders<\/em>.<\/p>\n