Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Sarah Portlock

  1. Thank you for joining our live coverage

    Charlotte Benton
    BBC News

    That's all from us here in Birmingham, thank you for joining.

    Excitement is building ahead of the big day on Saturday when Black Sabbath, Jeff Lynne's ELO and Billy Ocean all take to the stage in venues across the city.

    Colmore Food Festival will once again keep the city fed and watered, meanwhile England will face India at Edgbaston on the fourth day of the Second Test.

    The city's bumper weekend of music, sport and food is only just getting started.

    We'll be back from 08:00 BST on Saturday to bring you more build up.

  2. Have a listen to Bev Bevan's Forging Metal documentary

    There's quite the queue now at the Black Sabbath bridge as fans try to get their selfies at the bench.

    Have a listen to Bev Bevan's Forging Metal documentary while you wait.

    The drummer and one of the original members of the Move and Electric Light Orchestra explores the origins of heavy metal music and Black Sabbath's homecoming gig. With interviews and music from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Slipknot.

    sabbath queuebbc

  3. Iowa fan: 'I've seen Ozzy play 47 times'

    Mark Gapen, 59, from Iowa in the US, has saved up for years to travel to Birmingham.

    He’s spending the next 12 days in the city exploring different spots with significance to Black Sabbath.

    Mark says coming to the city is a "lifelong dream", after seeing Ozzy 47 times, and meeting him on three occasions.

    A man with a full sleeve tattoo that is a picture of a man, Ozzy Osbourne, with his mouth open as if he is screaming. The man is sitting down and has short, thin, dark hair. He is wearing glasses and a grey top which he has rolled up to show off his tattoo.

    The main event of his trip is a visit to a tattoo parlour, where he’s getting a full Black Sabbath arm, to match the Ozzy tattoo he already has on his other arm.

  4. 'Excitement is dialled up to 100'

    Jay Wooles and Leigh Gallacher arrived in Birmingham from Caerphilly in Wales earlier today.

    After dropping off their bags they headed into town where they intend to look round the Black Sabbath places of interest.

    Excitement for tomorrow's show is dialled up to 100, they said, adding they intended to hit tomorrow's queue at 8am.

    Jay and Leigh

    It took five days for them to get tickets with Leigh (on holiday in Las Vegas at the time) disturbing her family by getting up at 3am to try for them.

    "I think everyone was relieved we got them," she said.

    She has seen Ozzy Osbourne perform before at the Download Festival, but never seen Black Sabbath.

    Jay is also looking forward to seeing Alice in Chains, as they hardly play in the UK.

  5. Warm welcome for Aerosmith's Steven Tyler

    Charlotte Benton
    BBC News

    The lead singer of Aerosmith arrived in the city on Thursday evening and was mobbed by fans as he arrived at his hotel.

    The star stopped to sign autographs and hug fans as he made a short walk from his car to the hotel's entrance.

    A large group swarmed the area and attempted to interact with Tyler.

    An older man, Steven Tyler, with long, wavy hair, which is mainly auburn but blonde at the front. His lips are pursed and he is wearing a black, sparkly jacket with shoulder pads.Reuters

    Famous for hits including, I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, Dream On and Crazy, the band announced their retirement last year, so it appears Tyler is here to show his support for his fellow rockers.

  6. 'A pilgrimage from New Jersey'

    Jay Thomas from New Jersey described his journey to Birmingham as a "pilgrimage" and said he couldn't contain his excitement.

    "It's time to say goodbye to Sabbath, it's going to be the send off that needed to happen, I'm shaking."

    A man standing in front of a street art mural linked to Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne has signed the wall.

    The American fan spoke to Radio WM while he was visiting Mr Murals art work on Navigation Street.

    He added that street art should "stay here forever".

    Mr Murals is the street artist who created the impressive Black Sabbath mural. He was visited by the band and gifted tickets to the show.

    Mr Murals

  7. Stage set for Ozzy Osbourne film premiere

    Excitement has been building at Millennium Point where fans gathered ahead of the world premiere screening of The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne - a film detailing the life of the rock legend.

    The film traces Osbourne's life from a young boy living in Aston with a dream, to becoming one of the most famous heavy metal names in the world.

    Two screenings are taking place this evening and one got under way at 16:30 BST with the other starting at 18:30 BST - after which Ozzy's son Jack, will deliver a Q&A with fans.

    An auditorium that is lit up purple as a result of a large screen that has a purple holding screen. The screen reads "The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne" and a picture of an older's man face is to the right.

  8. England lose sixth wicket at Edgbaston

    As heavy metal fans continue to swarm the city centre, over at Edgbaston England have lost another wicket in their first innings of the Test match with India.

    Akash Deep bowls and the ball rattles Harry Brook's stumps - local hero Chris Woakes is now batting.

    You can follow live with BBC Sport here.

  9. Black Sabbath fans queue for a bench selfie

    It is proving quite the draw as you can see - hundreds of people queuing up for pictures at the Brum bench honouring the mighty Sabbath ahead of their Saturday farewell gig.

    In case you want to join them, the bench itself is situated on Black Sabbath Bridge, over the Birmingham Canal.

    The bench proving a Sabbath selfie draw

  10. Metallica star James Hetfield mobbed on hotel exit

    Charlotte Benton
    BBC News

    The lead vocalist of Metallica, James Hetfield, has been spotted by fans leaving a city centre hotel.

    They gathered at the hotel's entrance holding autograph books and memorabilia, hoping to catch a glimpse and maybe even a signature from the heavy metal star.

    There were eruptions and shouts of his name as he stepped out and was escorted to his car.

    Hetfield will play alongside his bandmates at Villa Park on Saturday, all as part of Sabbath's Back to the Beginning Concert.

    The Los Angeles band formed in 1981 and are best known for hits including Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Hits.

    An older man, James Hetfield, wearing jeans and a white top, as well as a cowboy hat and sunglasses. He is walking out of a hotel entrance and fans stand to the side of him.

  11. 'I sold my motorbike to pay for a Sabbath ticket'

    PJ Ellis
    BBC Radio WM

    James, Joe and Robert from Castle Vale, Longbridge and Stourbridge, were determined to not let anything get in the way of their place in Sabbath's crowd on Saturday.

    James from Castle Vale, who is also a huge Aston Villa fan, cancelled his family holiday to Singapore to make sure he was in on the action.

    Meanwhile, Joe, who is from Longbridge, sold his motorbike to pay for his ticket which cost £800.

    Three men across three generations standing in front of black railings. The man in the middle has his arms around the shoulders of the other two men and they are all smiling. Two of the men are wearing Black Sabbath t-shirts.

  12. Latest from the cricket at Edgbaston

    Charlotte Benton
    BBC News

    England have reached tea on day three at 355-5 without losing a wicket in the afternoon session and trail India now by 232 runs.

    Follow along live with our BBC Sport colleagues on their live feed here

  13. Look at this line up...

    Black Sabbath, Pantera, Metallica and moreRoss Halfin for Back to the Beginning

    If this picture does not get you salivating for tomorrow's Black Sabbath Back to the Beginning gig then nothing will.

    Quote from Ozzy Osbourne: "It’s taken us 57 years to get to the Villa, we made it. Back to the Beginning."

    And here's the pic line up: Top left to right: Rex Brown Pantera, Tobias -Ghost, David Draiman Disturbed, James Hetfield Metallica, Tony Iommi Black Sabbath, Robert T Metallica, Phil Anselmo Pantera, Geezer Butler Black Sabbath, Sammy Hagar, Kirk Hamnett Metallica, Steven Tyler Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne.

    Bottom left to right: Mike Inez -Alice In Chains. Zakk Wylde Ozzy/Pantera, Bill Ward Black Sabbath, Lars Ulrich Metallica, Billy Corgan Smashing Pumpkins

    It's happening folks, it's happening...

  14. 'Birmingham has more to offer than you think'

    Food and drink blogger Bite Your Brum, aka Laura McEwan, told Radio WM that this year's Colmore Food Festival was "bigger and better than ever".

    The festival attracts chefs from all over the city. They park themselves in small tents and whip up delicious meals to foodies and hungry passerbys (and Black Sabbath fans) for a fraction of the price of eating in a restaurant.

    A woman with red hair is sitting in a marquee at a city food festival. She is smiling.

    It is the ideal event to showcase that Birmingham has "a lot more to offer than people think", Laura says.

    She added the city has had a "pretty hard time in the last six months" and Colmore Food Festival helped to keep her food blog positive and "bring joy to people who like food".

    Return to the latest post

  15. Off the plane from Bolivia and heading for fish and chips

    PJ Ellis
    BBC Radio WM

    The Black Sabbath gig marks Christian's fourth visit to the city - all the way from Bolivia.

    "I love Birmingham and I have made my own tradition for each visit," he said.

    "I head to Brindley Place for fish and chips and a pint as soon as I land."

    A man with short, dark hair sitting on a bench dedicated to Black Sabbath. He is holding a Bolivian flag.

    It cost him a "fortune" to get here, but he can't wait for tomorrow's gig at Villa Park.

    His journey included a stop-off in the Netherlands, but he says it is all worthwhile.

  16. How to get up the Villa? Check your buses and trains

    As mentioned - its a huge weekend for Birmingham. Black Sabbath (along with Metallica, Slayer and Pantera) are playing at Villa Park on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, Jeff Lynne plays his farewell hometown gig at the Utilita Arena on the same night and Billy Ocean is at the BP Pulse Live.

    Add the test cricket at Edgbaston and the Colmore Food Festival and you've got a city which is at 90% capacity.

    UP the VillaReuters

    Transport wise - Saturday and Sunday will see engineering work take place affecting rail services between Birmingham and Leicester.

    All day on Saturday and Sunday, buses will replace trains between Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, and Leicester, National Rail said.

    For Sabbath fans going to Villa Park - extra trains and shuttle buses are provided.

  17. Food Festival fun in full swing

    PJ Ellis
    BBC Radio WM

    PJ Ellis from Radio WM has joined in with the Colmore Food Festival fun in Victoria Square.

    People walking around a city centre square where a food festival is taking place. There are three men playing brass instruments. The sky is blue and deck chairs can be seen in the background.

    The event is in its 12th year and Heather Woodhouse, from Colmore BID who organise the event, says the festival is annual celebration of all the city's best food and drink.

    A woman with long brown hair standing under a marquee at the city food festival. She is wearing a green t-shirt and has sunglasses on the top of her head.

    Among her favourite foodie finds were crispy bao buns, hot curries and ice cream of every flavour, all of which are on offer over the weekend.

  18. 'We got off the plane two hours ago, amazing to be in Ozzy's home town'

    Dave and Jennifer Pile arrived from Connecticut after they won tickets to the Sabbath gig in a competition run by an American radio station.

    "We got off the plane two hours ago, it's amazing to be in Ozzy's home town, we're big fans," Jennifer said.

    A bald man and a woman with blonde hair standing next to Black Sabbath advertising posters in a city centre square.

    Dave has followed the band since he was young and said he enjoyed how "unique" the music was.

    In comparison to the couple's home in United States, Birmingham was "like walking through a museum", he said.

    "It's old, and we're [the United States] so new, we're going through the history of Birmingham here."

    Jennifer added that she was "loving every second".

  19. 'I moved to Birmingham because it's the birthplace of metal'

    Vivian Haider, 21, has been enjoying Colmore Food Festival with her friends, tucking into lamb kebabs, burgers and katsu noodles.

    She chose to move to Birmingham to study as it was "the birthplace of heavy metal".

    "I've been a fan since I was born, my parents love the classics so I grew up on Sabbath, [Iron] Maiden and ACDC."

    Three women who are in the middle of a city square. There are white marquees behind them. The women are young and all smiling.

    She will be at Villa Park for Black Sabbath on Saturday and said she is "ecstatic".

    "Honestly it's incredible, every second person you see is wearing some sort of metal shirt.

    "People are happy and the music is great."

  20. Birmingham bar serving up 'Ozzy burgers'

    Martin Fox owns Merlin's Cafe Bar on Corporation Street and has added an Ozzy burger to his menu.

    The "loud, messy, legendary" burger is a beef patty, spicy mayo, Mexican cheese, beef chimichurri, lettuce, and black garlic mayo, all served in a linseed black bun.

    Martin said the band were "the start of the metal scene" and attracted an "inclusive crowd".

    "The last time I saw the city this busy was during the Commonwealth Games, we're seeing so many people in Birmingham and hotel capacities are up to max.

    "This is a big big opportunity for independent businesses."

    He added that the burger will remain on the menu even after Black Sabbath take their final bow.

    A man standing in front of a bar, he has red hair and is wearing a Black Sabbath top and black trousers.

    Martin added that he was most excited about meeting people from all across the world.

    "We've got people from America, Canada and it's a great time to meet like-minded people."