Because Birmingham has a lengthy history of producing some of the most recognizable artists in the genre, the city has long been known as the “house of metal.”
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath stormed the city’s Alexander Stadium to bring the 2022 Commonwealth Games to a resounding conclusion as one of the second city’s greatest bands.
Following performances by fellow Midlands acts Dexy’s Midnight Runners, UB40, Beverley Knight, Jorja Smith, Laura Mvula, Apache Indian, Goldie, Jacob Banks, Jaykae, Ash, Mahalia, Musical Youth, Neelam Gill, Panjabi MC, Raza Hussain, Talulah-Eve, and The Selecter, the band wrapped up the games time in the city in style.
John Michael Osbourne, 73, is a singer, songwriter, and musician better known by his stage name Ozzy Osbourne.
He was raised in the Birmingham neighborhood of Aston and was born in Marston Green, close to Coleshill.
His father, John Thomas “Jack,” worked night hours as a toolmaker at the General Electric Company, while his mother, Lilian, was a factory worker.
He is one of six children, with two younger brothers, Paul and Tony, and three elder sisters, Jean, Iris, and Gillian.
When he and his friend Geezer Butler founded their first band, Rare Breed, with Ozzy on vocals, that is when his musical career officially began.
Before Geezer and Ozzy rejoined with Tony Iommi and Bill Ward to form Polka Tulk Blues after their band, Mythology, disbanded, the band played two performances and disbanded.
In the end, the band used the name Black Sabbath in honor of the horror movie of the same name from 1963.
