Black Sabbath were today honoured on the Westside BID’s Walk of Stars; Birmingham’s equivalent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Band member Tony Iommi received the honour presented by Lady Mayoress Yvonne Mosquito with guests including local comedian Jasper Carrott and the family of Iommi.
The honour is awarded to Brummies (or anyone with a significant link to Birmingham) who have made a significant contribution to the city. Credited as pioneers and inventors of Heavy Metal music, who better than city band Black Sabbath?
Black Sabbath formed in 1968, with members having grown up in Handsworth and Aston, Birmingham, but their music made them global icons. They have since toured the world numerous times, sold over 70 million records, recorded 44 albums and performed their last tour ‘The End Tour’ in February 2017 in, well, Birmingham. Where else?
With a special event held in Gas Street in Birmingham, 350 fans and VIP guests were treated to an intimate conversation with guitarist Tony Iommi, where he posed for selfies and signed memorabilia. The musician had already received his personal star on the celebrated Broad Street ‘walk’ but was pleased to be present for additional accolades being presented to the band.
In addition to the star, Black Sabbath super-fans artist Tarek Abdelkaw and superfans Mohammed Osama – both from Egypt – approached Westside BID with the idea of a commemorative bench featuring the faces of all four band members. The bench, featuring metallic illustrations of all four Black Sabbath band members, had been carefully handcrafted and unveiled today. It will finally sit in Broad Street later in the year for the public to enjoy.
Additional to the brand new bench tribute, band drummer Bill Ward was also presented with a star of his own, as the only member who was without an individual honour until today. The award was accepted by former Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson while Bill thanked the audience via video message.
It is hoped the bench will become a tourist attraction similar to the Bullrings Bull statue, as Westside BID aims to put Birmingham on the national attraction map with Black Sabbath in the same way Liverpool has with The Beatles.
Now that all band members own iconic star on the city’s ‘Walk of Stars’ as well as a group star, all five awards will be laid in the formation of a cross in front of the bench once its positioned on Broad Street.
Here’s 5 photos from the Black Sabbath ‘Walk of Stars’ bench launch…
