**Founding Black Sabbath Members Pay Tribute to Iconic Birmingham Mural Ahead of Epic Hometown Show**
In a heartfelt prelude to their much-anticipated “Back To The Beginning” concert, founding members of Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler—returned to their hometown to visit the celebrated mural that immortalizes their legacy. Situated in Birmingham’s vibrant Digbeth district, the artwork has become a revered pilgrimage site for metal fans worldwide, and this week it welcomed some of its most meaningful visitors yet.
The band arrived on a crisp evening, greeted by a small gathering of ardent fans who braved chilly weather to catch a glimpse of their heroes. Cloaked in leather jackets and sharing warm smiles, the trio stood before the larger-than-life depiction of their younger selves—guitars, boots, and all—painted in bold strokes of red and black. Towering over them, the mural artistically captured the raw energy that sparked the heavy metal revolution.
Ozzy paused to admire the artwork, tracing a finger along the painted fretboard on his own image. “It’s surreal to see myself like that all over Digbeth,” he quipped to bystanders. “But it feels right. This is where it all began.” Tony, with characteristic quiet pride, reflected on the journey from local pub gigs to international superstardom. “You start small, with nothing but a dream and a riff,” he said. “Seeing this reminds you of how far pilgrimage, but you never forget those first steps.”
Fans cheered, and Geezer Butler joined in, posing for photos amid the applause. Their visit took on added poignancy as the group gears up for what is being billed as their final live performance in Birmingham—a city that nurtured their early experimentation and shaped their sound.
The moment was bittersweet, blending celebration with nostalgia. For the mural, it’s become more than just art—it’s a living testament to Black Sabbath’s journey and Birmingham’s integral role in it. And for the band, it served as an intimate pause before the storm of riffs, drums, and devotion that will erupt at their upcoming show.
As night fell and the crowd dispersed, the mural stood illuminated—a beacon of legacy and inspiration—ready to welcome its creators back home, on
e last time.
