Rock & Metal

Ozzy Osbourne Surprised To Receive Freedom Of Birmingham Despite Past In Prison

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Ozzy Osbourne and the original members of Black Sabbath have been awarded the Freedom of Birmingham, as confirmed by Sharon Osbourne after the city council approved the honor.

Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward will receive the honorary title in recognition of their contributions to music and their hometown. Additionally, the council posthumously awarded the City of Birmingham Medal to poet Benjamin Zephaniah for his impact on literature and charitable work.

Speaking with BBC Radio West Midlands, Sharon Osbourne shared Ozzy’s excitement over the recognition. “It means a lot to him, it really does, to be recognised from his home. He’s very excited,” she said.

However, Ozzy initially found the news hard to believe due to his past legal troubles. “He couldn’t quite believe it, he thought I was winding him up,” Sharon recalled. “He said: ‘Really, me? But I’ve been in prison!’”

Throughout his life, Ozzy has had multiple run-ins with the law, including arrests for burglary, public intoxication, and famously urinating on the Alamo Cenotaph. Despite his troubled past, these incidents haven’t hindered his career or recent honors—something that stands in stark contrast to Ronnie Radke’s experience.

In December, Falling In Reverse was forced to postpone their U.K. tour after Radke was denied a visa due to his criminal record. The tour, originally set for December 2024, was blocked by the U.K. Home Office, which cited Radke’s past conviction and prison sentence as grounds for the denial.

Radke’s legal troubles date back to a 2006 altercation in Nevada that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Michael Cook. While Radke wasn’t directly involved in the fatal act, his role in the fight led to a probation sentence. In 2008, he violated probation and served over a year in prison. Despite his efforts to rebuild his career, these past events continue to impact Falling In Reverse’s ability to tour internationally.

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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