OZZY OSBOURNE Honored With New 'Working Class Hero' Display in Hometown

A new exhibition honoring Ozzy Osbourne is now open in his hometown of Birmingham, England.

The “Working Class Hero” exhibit launched Wednesday (June 25) at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. It highlights Ozzy’s long career, major solo milestones, and his time with Black Sabbath.

The exhibit features some of his most important awards and honors, including Grammy statues, MTV awards, and his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition.

There are also gold and platinum records on display, along with photos and video clips showing his journey from growing up in Aston to becoming one of the world’s most recognizable rock icons.

His wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, officially opened the event. She said Birmingham was the only place that made sense for this celebration.

“It just wouldn’t be right if it launched in New York or Los Angeles,” she told the BBC. “It all began here.”

Sharon said Ozzy is feeling emotional about everything going on. With the “Back To The Beginning” farewell concert also set for July 5, she explained that Ozzy is happy to reunite with his original Black Sabbath bandmates but is finding it hard to say goodbye.

The exhibition is part of a broader city-wide tribute. Fans can check out a free outdoor photo gallery in Victoria Square showing vintage images of the original Black Sabbath lineup: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. There are also facts about the band’s Birmingham roots and displays of classic album artwork.

Nearby, on Navigation Street, fans can see a new mural by local artist Mr Murals. The 40-meter-long painting features lifelike portraits of the band across the decades and the Sabbath logo. The artwork is already being called a must-see for visitors this summer.

The full project is organized by Central BID Birmingham and supported by Sharon Osbourne Management, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and other local organizations. The goal is to celebrate both the band’s global impact and its deep roots in Birmingham.

Artist Mr Murals said he wanted the piece to reflect the city’s creativity and the raw energy of Sabbath’s music. “I wanted to create something powerful and raw, just like their sound,” he said.

The celebration leads up to the massive “Back To The Beginning” concert at Villa Park on July 5. It will be the first time Black Sabbath’s original members have performed together in 20 years.

The lineup includes Ozzy, Iommi, Butler, and Ward. Other acts scheduled to perform include Metallica, Tool, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, and many more.

Tickets for the concert sold out in just 16 minutes. A global livestream of the show will be available starting at 3 p.m. BST on July 5. Fans will also be able to rewatch the show for up to 48 hours afterward. The broadcast is being produced by Mercury Studios and Kiswe, known for working with BTS and other large-scale livestream events.

Actor Jason Momoa will host the event, which will also feature a supergroup of musicians. Proceeds from the concert will go to charities, including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Ozzy was diagnosed with a rare genetic form of Parkinson’s disease in 2003. He also suffered a serious fall and has had other health issues in recent years, including a COVID-19 infection.

These problems have kept him from touring but not from performing entirely. He appeared at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and performed during the NFL season kickoff later that same year.

Despite these challenges, this summer marks a full-circle moment for the man once called the “Prince of Darkness”, bringing his legacy back to where it started.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]