Music Hits List, Genre: Hard Rock (Heavy Metal)

Tuesday July 22nd, 2025 was not a day like any other. It was Birmingham's 41st Jazz & Blues Festival, so I went to see and hear a swing jazz band at the Albert's Schloss bierkeller at 4-30pm. Upon entering Victoria Square I sensed a different air. Eventually I sat on the edge of the pool in Chamberlain Square directly opposite the entrance to the Museum & Art Gallery, against which was a very large poster of Birmingham's working class hero. So what was about to happen? Something great I thought, a terrorist explosion, I concluded. Nothing happened. I was unaware of the trauma that had taken place that morning, the ambulance helicopter and paramedics that that had tried for two hours to save him. Eventually I wandered off to the bierkeller. Confused by the long list of lagers available, I didn't buy anything, and after listening to three songs, which I considered mediocre, I decided to go home. Upon arrival I switched on BBC news to learn of the death of front man Ozzy Osbourne, working class hero. I was not surprised at the news. Just a few weeks before, he had appeared at the last Black Sabbath concert at Aston Villa football ground, seated on a throne due to his frail physique. The tickets officially cost up to £834, and unofficially up to £3000, and raised £140 million (almost $200 million) for charities Cure Parkinsons, Acorn Children's Hospice and Birmingham Children's Hospital. The 44,000 seat stadium was packed full. There were 3 million applicants for tickets. One week after his death, I watched the funeral procession slowly proceed along Broad Street, stopping to view the tributes, a huge display of flowers and balloons, at Black Sabbath Bridge. Like most people I couldn't see much, as there were tens of thousands of people there, and one dragonfly that obviously had the best view point. There were thousands more in Centenary Square who saw nothing. I tried to take photos, only to be met with a forest of arms pointing skywards holding mobile phones. Then of course there was the sarcasm as the crowd, many of whom had stood there in the sunshine for over two hours, cheered at staff carrying barriers along the road. Then there was the chanting:

'Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Ough Ough Ough,
Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Ough,
Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Ough Ough Ough,
Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Ough!'

Unfortunately there was one character who just wouldn't stop. Too much chanting. Too much swearing. But that's hard rock. It reminded me of nights at the Nag's Head, Wollaston. People dressed in black, not just because it was a funeral. Rock-on Ozzy!