We were sitting in a local pub last night waiting for our dinner, when we heard someone who had received a news update that Ozzy Osbourne had passed away.
A strange solemn feeling crossed everybody as the news spread. It was interesting to see that everyone had the same reaction.
Truly gutted after a event of a life time filled with celebration and community happened only weeks before.
The thing is everyone knows of Ozzy but the alternative people of Birmingham grew up with him as a figure they related to.
He was for many a sign that you can stand strong in your self belief and authenticity. Even though it may make others feel uncomfortable because it seems weird.
Embracing your weirdness!
Ozzy showed the whole world that there is power in being yourself.
It is always easier to blend in and follow the heard but we all learnt the hard way to be yourself comes with judgement and unkindness.
Black Sabbath created a sound that changed the world. A sound that brought out the spark in so many and the realisation "oh this music is for me!"
For us Millennials we didn't grow up with the party animal version. He was in his family era and they were our first look into Reality TV. Not fake, staged drama.
Raw, foul mouthed madness and we loved him even more for it!
If you have a small Brummie business and you created something for the event.
You may feel that your creations are now bittersweet. I know I do but I think we have to be grateful for the fact that we had the opportunity to not only witness history for metal music, as well as history for the Birmingham community being made.
We got to use our imagination and creativity to feed into our own communities.
Giving a piece of ourselves to this incredible once in a life time event.
That will stay in our hearts forever.
I for one am extremely humbled by this and it feels so special.
I wanted to leave this little out pour of words with this;
For Brummie's Ozzy was always a vessel of hope and inspiration. Coming from not much in Aston, struggling to learn and fit in. To changing the face of music forever. Building a legacy with his Brummie accent and humble honesty.
This continues to show us that we can all make something of ourselves. No matter who we are or what we have come from. The Black Sabbath farewell is proof that the community they have built continues to grow and is stronger than ever.
For everything Ozzy, we are so grateful.