BLACK SABBATH Awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham Ahead of Farewell Show

Black Sabbath have officially been awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham, a prestigious civic honor recognizing the band’s profound cultural impact on their hometown and the world. The ceremony took place this past Saturday at the Birmingham Council House, where each founding member—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—was presented with scrolls, medals, and their names etched into the city’s marble board of Freemen.

The honor acknowledges the band’s legacy as pioneers of heavy metal, formed in Aston in 1968, and highlights their continued role as global ambassadors of Birmingham’s rich musical identity.

“We’re all working class, from Aston. Birmingham has always been behind us,” said Geezer Butler during the ceremony. “People used to make fun of our accents, but we’re all proud Birmingham people and we love this city.”
Ozzy Osbourne added, “If these guys hadn’t come to my door, I wouldn’t be sitting here now… I’m a Brummie and I always will be. Birmingham Forever!”

This latest recognition follows a string of recent tributes in the city, including the Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street and a bench statue commemorating the band. Medals presented at the ceremony were designed by Toby Williams, a student from Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery, and produced locally in the Jewellery Quarter.

The award arrives just ahead of Black Sabbath’s farewell show, set for Saturday, July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham. The event doubles as a final live performance for Ozzy Osbourne, featuring an all-star lineup that includes Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, and more. The sold-out concert will be livestreamed globally via BackToTheBeginning.com.

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