Heavy metal pioneers given freedom of city

Black Sabbath have been given the freedom of the city of Birmingham.

All four original band members were present at Saturday's private ceremony, with Terence "Geezer" Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward presented with scrolls and medals by the Lord Mayor.

The honour recognised the band's significance as heavy metal pioneers in Birmingham and beyond, the city council said. It came exactly a week before a huge farewell concert at Villa Park, in which tens of thousands are expected to hear them play for the final time.

"Birmingham has always been behind us," Butler said.

Butler called Birmingham "a great working class city" and said people used to make fun of the band's accents.

"We weren't given a chance when we started out, but Birmingham has always been behind us," he said.

Osbourne recalled his late father going into debt to buy him a microphone, adding he thought he would be very proud.

"I first put an advert in a music store in town," he said. "If these guys hadn't come to my door, I wouldn't be sitting here now.

"It seems to have flown by so quickly. It's amazing.

"I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever."

Engravings in the Council House join Broad Street's bridge and star as permanent tributes to the band.

The scrolls and medals were produced by local businesses Hilton Studios and Fattorini.

The medals were designed by Toby Williams, a Birmingham City University student who won a competition.

Also on Saturday, the band made a surprise visit to a newly created Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street.

Mr Murals, the artist behind the work, was surprised with two tickets to the band's Villa Park show.

"Every single one of them took the time to speak to me and were so kind," he said.

"It's mental. I'm still not over it."

Black Sabbath formed in Aston in 1968 and have sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.