Ozzy Osbourne fans launch petition to rename Birmingham airport after rocker

The world is grieving the loss of Ozzy Osbourne and mourning the end of a historical era defined by his unforgettable musical creations and sheer legacy.  

To honor the legendary artist for his immeasurable contribution to the prominence of heavy metal worldwide, his fans support the initiative to rename the Birmingham International Airport after him, according to a report by Dexerto.  

Earlier this month, the Bark at the Moon singer reunited with the original members of Black Sabbath and performed his final show for the Back to the Beginning concert in his hometown.

On July 5, 2025, the iconic band set the stage on fire at Villa Park in Birmingham. Only 17 days after his last performance, he passed away at the age of 76.

Fans of Ozzy Osbourne launched a petition to change the name of the Birmingham airport

The Birmingham native was the frontman of Black Sabbath. With iconic songs and immaculate dominance, the band established itself as one of the pioneers of heavy metal. With the surge in Ozzy and his bandmates' popularity, the worldwide fame also brought significant attention to Birmingham.  

Throughout his illustrious career, Osbourne remembered his roots, his beginning, and his hometown. He often reflected on being associated with the scenic city in England, also famous as the "Home of Heavy Metal."  

Birmingham and its locals have equally embraced the late legendary singer as their pride and showered the city with vibrant murals, tributes, and honors dedicated to him. And now, following the news of his passing, they wish the city airport's name to be changed to remember the iconic musician and celebrate his legacy.

According to a report by Billboard, Dan Hudson, the A Gay And A Nongay podcaster, radio host, BBC TV doc Sashay To Hell host, and stand-up comedian, launched the much-talked-about petition titled "RIP Ozzy Osbourne — petitions honour 'The Prince of Darkness" to rename the Birmingham Airport to Ozzy Osbourne International. 

Looking back at Osbourne's stardom, worldwide fame, and groundbreaking impact in shaping the heavy metal genre, Dan started the initiative, penning,

"Ozzy Osbourne was the most important musician ever to hail from Birmingham. He rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the pioneering rock band Black Sabbath, who invented the genre of heavy metal."

Explaining the reason behind such a widespread appeal, Hudson elaborated, 

"Ozzy's influence on music and culture is undeniable. Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts."

The podcaster also pointed out that George Best International Airport in Belfast and John Lennon Airport in Liverpool have also been "named after their famous children," further noting that retitling the Birmingham Airport is an ideal way to honor the Mama, I’m Coming Home singer.

He concluded his request in the petition, asking people to join hands for this change. Expressing his gratitude to Ozzy for presenting the city to the world, he wrote,

"Together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him."

At the time of publishing, the petition to rename Birmingham Airport to Ozzy Osbourne International has crossed 12,100 verified signatures, according to the Change.org website.

Fans honor Ozzy Osbourne's contributions and musical heritage

Heavy metal fans all around the world are saddened to hear the news of the Shot in the Dark hitmaker's death, particularly his supporters hailing from his city. Following the confirmation of his demise, fans all around this city in England started paying tribute to the late Black Sabbath star with flower bouquets, beer bottles, love, and gratitude.

Many fans left handwritten notes and candles at Ozzy's shrines across Birmingham. The BBC reported an emotional note dedicated to him, reading,

"You have touched millions, my whole life your music has played almost as if raising me."

Not just locals, his followers from different cities flocked to Birmingham to pay him respect and cherish his legacy. Different places citywide celebrated Ozzy's eternal influence and a long-lasting impact on heavy metal and his fans globally. 

Paul Williams from Stafford was present in the crowd to mourn the loss of the icon and acknowledge his cultural influence for generations, as per the BBC. Shocked to hear the news, he said,

"To be honest, it hadn't really sunk in when I heard the news last night, and I thought that coming here and seeing all the tributes and all the love being expressed would really start to make it feel real, and it has."

While speaking about being a part of this community, he further noted,

"It feels comforting to be part of the community here, where we've all come to the same place to express our grief and our love and our thankfulness for what he gave the world."

One of the locations that attracted a lot of his admirers was the popular Black Sabbath bench. They put an Aston Villa FC scarf and a Black Sabbath hat on Osbourne's frame. His fans also placed a bottle of Jack Daniel's in front of the heaps of flowers.

A day after Ozzy's passing, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performed an orchestral arrangement of Black Sabbath from its debut album, according to Wise Music Classical. Wise Music Group's Creative Director, Gill Graham, opened up about the performance, as the outlet cited, explaining,

"Working on the Black Sabbath Ballet with lead composer, music supervisor and conductor Christopher Austin gave me an insight to the musical genius of the band. Chris and the team at Birmingham Royal Ballet dug deep into the music and the result was excellent, and now becomes a huge tribute to the legend and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne. May he rest in peace. Condolences to Sharon and the whole Black Sabbath family."

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery unveiled a free, world-first exhibition titled Working Class Hero on June 25 to pay homage to the inspiring artist. It is open for visitors till 28 September 2025, as per Birmingham Museums.

Sharon Osbourne was present at the exhibition's launch event. She cut the black ribbon on the momentous occasion and shared,

"This exhibition is a real celebration of everything Ozzy has achieved and the city that made him. We’re absolutely thrilled to share it with the fans – Birmingham, this one’s for you."

Birmingham is remembering and commemorating the singer's voice and work like no other location. Explorers can now also indulge in an immersive experience by checking out the free outdoor Black Sabbath photography exhibition in Victoria Square. It opens doors to rarely seen photographs of the Black Sabbath band's members, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, and Tony Iommi. The display also features renowned creations of the band and insights into the band's journey from its origins in this city.

Birmingham Museums reported that the Chair of Central BID Birmingham, Sam Watson, opened up about the band and its singers' dominance in revolutionizing the music industry and bringing global attention to Birmingham. He said,

"Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath helped shape modern music and put Birmingham on the global cultural map. These exhibitions are a celebration of our city’s creativity, influence and spirit. Central BID is proud to give fans the chance to walk in the footsteps of true legends."

Co-CEOs of Birmingham Museums Trust, Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, spoke about welcoming visitors to watch the Working Class Hero exhibition "for a true Brummie icon," further adding,

"Ozzy’s story is Birmingham’s story: raw, resilient and full of heart. It’s an honour to share it with the world."

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