Over 7,000 metal fans have signed a petition to rename Birmingham International Airport after Ozzy Osbourne following the legendary musician’s death.
Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 at the age of 76 and metalheads are looking for a way to honor his legacy.
The Change.org campaign proposes renaming the airport to Ozzy Osbourne International Airport in tribute to the Black Sabbath front man’s impact on music and culture, and his deep ties to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
“Ozzy Osbourne was the most important musician ever to hail from Birmingham,” the petition reads. “Ozzy’s influence on music and culture is undeniable. Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute.”
Metal fans look to honor Ozzy Osbourne
Launched by podcast host and metalhead Dan Hudson, the petition highlights similar honors for UK icons, including George Best Belfast City Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
“Together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him,” Hudson added.
Weeks before his death, Ozzy delivered his emotional farewell performance with Black Sabbath at Birmingham’s Villa Park. The stacked show featured performances from Metallica, Slayer and other legendary metal bands.
The show raised a massive £140 million for Parkinson’s, children’s hospitals, and hospices.
At the time of writing, the petition to name the airport after Ozzy has racked up over 7,700 signatures and continues to climb.
Meanwhile, the tributes haven’t stopped at petitions. Brutal Legend, the cult classic metal video game starring Jack Black, was made free for exactly 666 minutes in Ozzy’s honor. The Prince of Darkness even voiced a character in the game — The Guardian of Metal — making the tribute even more fitting.
Whether or not the airport rename takes off remains to be seen. If not, maybe fans will pivot to renaming a train station… or at least a cart on the rails as the Crazy Train.
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