Black Sabbath are reportedly set to be honoured by their home city of Birmingham.
The pioneering heavy metal band formed in the Aston area of the second city back in 1968. Comprising of core members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, the band initially broke up in 2006 before reforming in 2011.
Black Sabbath bowed out for good with a farewell tour last year, and it has now emerged that their home city is planning to pay tribute to the band by naming a bridge after them and constructing a commemorative ‘metal bench’ which will feature the band’s likenesses.
According to the Birmingham Mail, plans are already afoot to construct the handmade, stainless steel bench in the city’s Jewellery Quarter – which will apparently feature images of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and founding member and drummer Bill Ward, with the words “Geezer. Ozzy. Tony. Bill. Made in Birmingham 1968.” etched on it.
This is Birmingham's unique Black Sabbath tributehttps://t.co/AODW5IK73m pic.twitter.com/w15VT2LzNp
— Tony Iommi (@tonyiommi) November 13, 2018
There are also plans to rename a bridge on Broad Street in the city centre ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’, as well as awarding Ward with his own star on the city’s Walk of Stars, which honours famous people from Birmingham. Black Sabbath will also be given their own star on the Walk, and the five stars (Osbourne, Iommi and Butler already have their own stars) will be arranged in front of the aforementioned bench in the shape of a cross.
The bench will reportedly sit on the newly-named ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’, which runs over the New Main Line canal and is situated next to the ICC and Symphony Hall. Birmingham City Council will have the final say on if the plans will go ahead, however.
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The scheme has been developed by Egyptian-born, Dubai-based Black Sabbath fan Mohammed Osama, who approached Westside BID on Broad Street with the idea.
“My vision is to reunite the four original members for the unveiling of the stars and ‘Metal Bench’,” Mohammed told BirminghamLive. “I mean just reunite them together at their hometown, no gigs or anything.
“Just the four of them being celebrated together at their home town would be the best ending and closure I could possibly think of. For them on a personal level and for their fans all around the globe.
“The ‘Metal Bench’ aims to be a major tribute to the band and at the same time, create a major tourist landmark on Broad Street! The Bull statue at the Bullring is one of the most photographed sculptures in England.
“We hope this new bench would rival that.”
Osbourne recently blasted his former bandmates in the press, revealing that he was prevented from “having fun” on Black Sabbath’s farewell tour.