Ozzy Osbourne wants to return to Birmingham after being given freedom of the city

29 January 2025, 11:20

Ozzy Osbourne has lived in the US on and off for decades.

Ozzy Osbourne is one of Birmingham's most famous sons and his part in putting the city on the map as the birthplace of heavy metal has been recognised with a prestigious honour.

The singer and his Black Sabbath bandmates – Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – have been given the freedom of the city by Birmingham City Council.

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His wife Sharon Osbourne has said that they would actually like to come back to Birmingham, but that Ozzy's ill health has made that impossible at the moment.

"He's dying to come home, and that's what's been a bit tough" she told the BBC.

"Each time we make arrangements to come, something happens that he can't do it, and he's desperate to come home."

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The Osbourne family announced their intention to move back to the UK in 2022, suggesting to The Observer that gun violence was something pushing them home.

"Everything’s f**king ridiculous there," he said. "I'm fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings.

"I don't want to die in America. I don't want to be buried in f**king Forest Lawn. I'm English. I want to be back. But saying that, if my wife said we’ve got to go and live in Timbuktu, I'll go. But, no, it's just time for me to come home.”

Sharon added: "It's just time. America has changed so drastically. It isn't the United States of America at all. Nothing's united about it. It’s a very weird place to live right now."

However, weeks later Ozzy seemed to backtrack on the plan.

"To be honest with you, if I had my way, I’d stay in America." he told Consequence of Sound. "I'm American now... I don't want to go back. F**k that."

Sharon doubled down and said: "When I first came here, I thought I was in heaven. In the '70s, if you loved music, this was the place to be.

"It's not that hub anymore. It’s not exciting anymore. It hasn't gone sideways, it's gone down. It's not a fun place to live. It's dangerous here. Every big city's got crime, but I don't feel safe here. Neither does Ozzy."

In July 2024, Ozzy seemed to agree that they would eventually come back to the UK.

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“We're trying to get on a flight," Sharon said on an episode of The Osbournes podcast.

""It just seems that every time we're set to go, something happens with Ozzy's health. We'll get there. We wanna go back so bad, but we'll get there. Won't we, Ozzy?"

Ozzy replied: "Yeah, we will."

Of his recent honour, Ozzy said: "I'm honoured and, at the same time, shocked that I would have ever been considered for this very special commendation.

"I'm a proud Brummie from Aston through and through. I'm still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say, but that’s always made me laugh.

"I started with nothing but a dream, which I shared with Tony, Geezer and Bill. We never gave up on that dream. My only regret is that my Mom and Dad are not here to see what I became. Birmingham Forever!"