Yasmin Malik
BBC Newsbeat

BBC Newsbeat's been on a call with Mimi Barks, an artist from Germany who combines metal with hip hop, and who often performs in the UK - like at Download Festival.

She says she was heavily influenced by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath: "Without Ozzy, there wouldn't be metal music. He defined the genre".

"He comes from Birmingham, a working class environment and it's just super influential how he got out of that and created an insane huge legacy for himself.

"I'm coming from a working class background myself so that really inspired me when I first discovered his music."

Image source, Getty Images

Mimi tells us it's not just his music her band loved - but also seeing his personality on the reality TV show. They quote Ozzy on a daily basis.

"I would say he's going to be remembered as metal's mad wizard - something like that."

"His personality mixed with his music. He's a beautiful human being. He's been there for the people."

Louise Brierley
BBC News

We've been delving into the BBC Midlands Today archives, and found this interview from 1995.

Reporter Gary Hudson took him back to his childhood home and school in Aston.

Image source, Getty Images

Alice Cooper and his band found out about his death moments before going on stage at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena last night.

Cooper, an American rock singer whose career spans six decades, dedicated his show to The Prince of Darkness saying the “whole world is mourning tonight”.

“He was and will continue to be a rock ‘n’ roll legend,” he added.

Jim Simpson, Black Sabbath's first manager, said there was an inevitability about recent events.

"I'm not that surprised because Ozzy himself said he expected to die on stage at Villa Park, partially in jest but it was pretty inevitable, there's still a huge sense of loss.

"The world has lost an usually kind and gentle human being, and that's not the way most people think of Ozzy but the Ozzy I knew was quite different from the Ozzy that has dominated the media for the last 55 years."

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Simpson said his favourite memory of the late musician was when they got stranded in Paris.

"We were waiting for the morning flight to Birmingham and as I say, Ozzy was always a little bit picked on by the rest and Ozzy and I were always deep in conversation, mainly about music.

"Ozzy and I were talking and we didn't hear the flight called so the other three sneaked out and took the flight back to Birmingham.

"They thought they'd played a really dirty trick on us but they were crazy. A night out in Paris with Ozzy Osbourne, come on?"

The best way to remember Osbourne would be to build a "proper rock and roll museum" with a "live music facility", he said.

A film of the star-studded show that Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath said would be their final gig will be released early next year., external

News of the film was tweeted from Ozzy Osbourne's X account just a few days ago.

Image source, Reuters

Back To The Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow, would be a "distilled version" of the all-day event and include exclusive behind-the-scenes access and interviews, the post said.

Fans who could not go to the gig turned up at pubs in Birmingham to watch a stream of the concert but some were turned away as the pubs filled up with excited fans.

Another Birmingham band, Duran Duran, said it would be hard to imagine a world without Ozzy Osbourne.

"Thanks for the ride Ozzy, love from the other Brummies," they posted.

Image source, Duran Duran/Bluesky

As part of a huge Birmingham Black Sabbath week, which culminated in the 5 July concert, bands took part in Metal in the Midlands - a platform to showcase their music.

Members of Cherrydead, a metal band inspired by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, said the musician was "the route of everything".

"Saying it is very, very sad would be an understatement but it's also quite joyful in a way because of the legacy that he's continued to leave and the absolute mark that he has left on everyone.

"I think we will be feeling this for a very long time. I don't think we've quite realised it has happened."

Image source, Ziggy Ella Bagley

Molly, band member and a fan who attended Back to the Beginning at Villa Park, said: "Getting to be there was completely surreal, there's no way to describe it really or to put it into words.

"Ozzy and Sabbath, they were the root of everything. They were who started it all and kicked it off and it kicked off in Birmingham.

"So being able to experience that in our home city with the people that started it and with Ozzy at the forefront - nothing else will come close."

Ozzy's former band mates, who appeared at his last show, paid tribute to the star.

"He loved what he did, he loved music, he loved playing together, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity of getting together again to do the [farewell] show," said the band's co-founder Tony Iommi.

Sharing a picture of them together drummer Bill Ward said: "Where will I find you now? In the memories, our unspoken embraces, our missed phone calls? No, you're forever in my heart."

Bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, wrote: "Goodbye dear friend. Thanks for all those years - we had some great fun. Four kids from Aston - who'd have thought, eh?"

Coz Smith, a Sabbath fan of 50 years, attended the huge farewell gig at Villa Park.

Before the gig she told how she'd been diagnosed with cancer last year and did not think she would have been around to attend it.

Image source, Coz Smith

"I feel like I've really lost a brother," the 63-year-old from Willenhall said.

"I know Toni and Geezer and Bill have lost a brother, but I feel like we have, I feel like we've really had a big loss.

"And then equally a massive joy that I was able to that gig, I can't describe what a pleasure it was to be there and sing along with Ozzy".

Alex Woodford had been among the thousands of fans who attended Ozzy's final performance at Villa Park.

The prison officer from Littlehampton, Sussex, said he’d been left “devastated” by the news of the singer's death.

"It was a complete shock yesterday," he said.

Image source, Reuters

"I’m so so grateful," he said of the 5 July show, "it means more to me now than it did at the time.

"Hearing him speak to us and sing for us, it was magical."

Louise, a Black Sabbath fan from Birmingham, said when she learnt of Ozzy Osbourne's passing she was both "very upset" but also "very pleased that he had been able to do the final gig".

"I wasn't able to make it myself, unfortunately, but everything I heard about it from the news, from friends who had visited said the whole gig was amazing.

"He did an amazing show and he still managed to perform as he wanted to.

"So, as upsetting as it was because we've lost a true inspiration to the rock and metal community it was lovely he was able to go out doing what he loved as well."

It was less than a month ago when all four members of Black Sabbath were suited and booted to be given the freedom of the city of Birmingham.

The honour recognised the band's significance as heavy metal pioneers in Birmingham and beyond.

Image source, Darren Quinton/Touchstone Visuals

Osbourne recalled his late father going into debt to buy him a microphone, adding he thought he would be very proud.

"I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever," he said.

Birmingham music journalist Kirsty Bosley praised Ozzy Osbourne for his impact on his home city.

"[Black Sabbath] could have had that big show anywhere, they could have had that fundraiser for any charity but they did it for home charities and for our people," she told BBC WM.

"It was such a beautiful thing to see and it clearly mattered very much to them."

Image source, Kirsty Bosley

Osbourne had been able to "create an incredible career and legacy" by pursuing his talent with "love".

She added: "I think that's proof and permission to everyone in this city, a city that has been really hard hit by arts funding cuts, that you can just let love drive it.

"You can let passion drive you and you can achieve really incredible things."

Just over two weeks ago fans were visiting the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street before going to the huge farewell concert held at the Aston Villa stadium.

Now they are at the bench to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

"The whole of Birmingham is in mourning," said fan Rose as she laid a flower.

Image source, PA Media

"I felt like I needed to pay my respects to the immense cultural legacy that this man has created and the subcultures and everything that has come from it.

"It’s not just a band and it’s not just a man – it’s this entire ecosphere of people that are alternative and I’m a massive part of that, so I just wanted to say thank you to him."

Good morning.

We are in Birmingham bringing you reaction to the death of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne.

Fans have been gathering at landmarks across the city to pay tribute to the Birmingham-born artist who has died aged 76.