Sometimes in life things just don’t go to plan. I was supposed to go out with my friend Wendy to see the new Naked Gun film at the cinema starring Liam Neeson, but she wasn’t very well and couldn’t make it. I then had the idea to get the train to Birmingham so I could pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away age 76 on Tuesday 22 July 2025 (you will find a load of articles and poems that I’ve written to mark his passing on here).

As someone who’s passionate about heavy metal/rock music (and openly admits to being a massive fan), I just had to do the full Black Sabbath trail in Birmingham in memory of Ozzy Osbourne, and it didn’t disappointment. Here’s my review of the experience:

Starting Strong: Ozzy the Mechanical Bull at Grand Central Station

First stop had to be the legendary Ozzy the Bull at Birmingham New Street Station’s Grand Central. This isn’t just any old mechanical bull – this is Ozzy the Bull, named after the Prince of Darkness himself, and originally the star of Birmingham’s 2022 Commonwealth Games. Watching those eyes light up and the head move still gives me goosebumps! It’s brilliant to see how Birmingham has embraced this connection, and the bull has become a proper Brummie icon. The engineering behind it is fascinating too, always the tech geek in me appreciating the mechanics. It is a perfect selfie spot and was fantastic way to kick off the day.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Art Meets Legend: The Black Sabbath Mural

Next up was the absolutely stunning Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street by the incredibly talented Mr Murals. This 40-metre masterpiece is genuinely breathtaking, the hyper-realistic portraits of Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward are so lifelike you feel like they’re watching you. What made it even more special was seeing all the tributes that fans have left for Ozzy – flowers, messages, personal items. It’s become a proper pilgrimage site, and rightly so.

The fact that all four original band members visited and signed this mural in June makes it even more significant, and I was able to get a close-up photo of Ozzy Osbourne’s signature on the mural. You can feel the raw energy of Sabbath emanating from those brick walls, exactly what Mr Murals intended when he created this tribute to both the band and Birmingham’s creative spirit. The location couldn’t be better either, it is right outside Grand Central Station so it’s one of the first things visitors see when they arrive.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Picture Perfect: The Black Sabbath Photography Exhibition

The outdoor Black Sabbath Photography Exhibition in Victoria Square was a proper treat. “Black Sabbath Brum’s Own” greets you in those classic black and purple colours, and it’s available 24/7 which is brilliant for fans who might be exploring at odd hours.

The archive photographs of all four founding members alongside the iconic album artwork tell the story beautifully. From the early days right through to albums like “13” and “The End”, it’s a visual journey through heavy metal history. The facts about the band’s Birmingham roots were fascinating, and it’s positioned perfectly next to Birmingham Town Hall where they played back in January 1972.

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Crown Jewel: Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero Exhibition

The “Working Class Hero” exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery was mind-blowing. This free exhibition showcases Ozzy’s most prestigious international honours including Grammy Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame accolades, MTV awards, his Hollywood Walk of Fame recognition, Birmingham Walk of Stars honours, and those incredible platinum and gold discs representing millions of record sales worldwide.

What really got me was the journey it charts from “a working-class kid from Aston” to becoming the world’s most recognisable global rock legend. The photography and video content brings his story to life in a way that’s both inspiring and deeply moving. As someone who’s passionate about diversity and inclusion (it’s literally part of why I received my MBE), seeing how Ozzy proved that no matter where you start in life, with passion, grit, and a little bit of madness, you can achieve the extraordinary, and that resonates deeply with me.

While there, I joined the queue to sign the book of condolence that has been opened up for Ozzy’s family. What struck me was how patient and respectful everyone in the queue was, it was full of heavy metal fans (you could tell by the Tshirts and attire they were wearing) and while metal has a reputation of the fans being thugs or lairy, there was nothing of the sort today. Everyone was here for the same thing, to pay tribute to Ozzy, I even got chatting to a few people in the queue where we shared our memories of Ozzy and Black Sabbath. Heavy metal fans are a true community.

The exhibition runs until 28 September 2025, and I’d urge everyone to visit. It’s not just about the music; it’s about perseverance, creativity, and Birmingham pride.

I found out later that today, 3 August, was the last day that fans of Ozzy Osbourne could sign the book of condolence before it is sent off to Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy’s family, I couldn’t believe it! It was definitely meant to be that I would go to Birmingham to do the trail when I did and sign the book (see photo below).

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ending on a High: The Black Sabbath Bridge

Finally, I ended my pilgrimage at the Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street, another site where fans have been leaving beautiful tributes to Ozzy. The famous Black Sabbath Bench with life-size cutouts of all four founding members has become a proper landmark. It’s low-key but incredibly meaningful, touring bands stop by to pay respect, and fans come to sit, pose, or just reflect.

The bridge has become such a significant part of Birmingham’s cultural landscape, especially during this Summer of Sabbath. The tributes I saw there for Ozzy were genuinely moving from flowers, handwritten messages and personal mementos. It shows how much Ozzy and Black Sabbath mean to people worldwide.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Final Thoughts

Birmingham has absolutely nailed this celebration of Black Sabbath and Ozzy’s legacy. As someone who loves heavy metal and especially Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, I was very impressed by how well thought-out the whole trail is. Central BID Birmingham has created something special here, a proper cultural experience that celebrates the city’s musical heritage.

The fact that it all coincided with Black Sabbath being awarded Freedom of the City and their final “Back to the Beginning” concert at Villa Park makes 2025 truly historic for Birmingham. This isn’t just nostalgia, it’s a declaration of cultural pride, and Birmingham should be massively proud of what they’ve created.

The only thing I didn’t get to do today was visit Ozzy Osbourne made of Lego in Selfridges and look at some of the band merchandise there, but I can do that in a couple of weeks’ time when I am back in Birmingham meeting long standing friends there who I haven’t seen for years. I will also visit The Crown Pub then as well which is where Black Sabbath played their first gig all those years ago. It will be a couple of things to look forward to that I haven’t seen yet.

But for now, for anyone who loves Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal music, Birmingham history, or just wants to experience something genuinely special, get yourself to the city and do the Black Sabbath trail. You won’t regret it.

Overall Experience: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve uploaded all the photos I took of the day to my Flickr account and you can find them here.

Keep rocking and remember – Birmingham is the true home of metal!