BBC News, West Midlands
Presenter, BBC Radio WM
ReutersHundreds of rock and heavy metal fans will gather together to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham on Saturday.
A memorial meet-up will be held in Victoria Square at 13:00 BST, and they have been invited to share their stories about the Black Sabbath singer, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76.
Organiser Ash Farley, from Bartley Green, said 1,500 people had shown interest in the memorial event, with 200 fans already confirmed to attend.
Mr Farley said: “I thought the best thing to do was gather people from far and wide, talk about the stories and concerts they’ve visited, and spread positivity about it all.”
He told the BBC how “heartbroken” he was over the Sabbath star’s death.
“It was the effect he had on my life. I know people in Birmingham feel the same way – all over the world.
Fans are also expected to visit shrines across the city on the day, including Black Sabbath Bridge, the mural of the band on Navigation Street, and the Working Class Hero exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Mr Farley posted the event on Facebook on Tuesday evening, shortly after Birmingham-born Ozzy’s death was announced.
He said: “It was unbelievable. I’m gobsmacked at how many people have got in contact with me.
“People are coming from as far as Bristol and Wales to share the memories – share the good times that they’ve experienced with Ozzy, Sabbath and all-around metal music.”
Speaking about a fitting tribute the city could install to commemorate the star, he suggested an Ozzy statue outside Birmingham Children’s Hospital to reflect his charity work.
He added: “Ozzy was true to himself. He always loved Birmingham, it was his home.
“He’s always been a man of the people.”
Fans also want to rename Birmingham Airport after the singer as a way to honour him. A petition, with nearly 14,000 signatures so far, said the move would recognise his “undeniable” influence on music and culture.
The petition stated: “Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts.”
‘How much he meant’
Artist Mr Murals returned to Navigation Street to add to the iconic Black Sabbath mural.
He is in the process of adding an image of them from their farewell performance at Villa Park earlier this month.
Mr Murals, who has previously painted Ozzy in black and white, told the BBC: “This image is one of the last images of them together from the gig.
“I started it a couple of weeks ago but didn’t get to finish it in time. Since then, with Ozzy passing, it’s heartbreaking. “
The mural will be finished on Saturday, with Ozzy and Tony Iommi left to complete.
The artist said he would have finished the mural sooner, but had been inundated with fans wanting to stop and talk about the singer.
He said: “You can see how much he meant to people. There are people here from New Zealand this morning that still haven’t gone back since the gig. “
