Historic Moment: Bronze Statue of Black Sabbath Unveiled in Birmingham
bronze statue honoring heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath was unveiled today in the heart of Birmingham, celebrating the band’s monumental contribution to global music culture.
Hundreds of fans gathered at Centenary Square as city officials, fellow musicians, and family members of the band paid tribute to the legendary quartet—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—whose dark, thunderous sound helped forge the genre of heavy metal in the late 1960s.
The larger-than-life bronze sculpture captures the band in a dynamic live pose, with Iommi wielding his signature SG guitar, Ozzy mid-scream with arms raised, Butler grounded and focused on his bass, and Ward caught mid-drum hit—eternally frozen in their prime.
Unveiled on the anniversary of their landmark 1970 album Paranoid, the statue stands as a tribute not only to the band’s musical innovation but also to their roots in Birmingham’s working-class neighborhoods. Local artist Emma Salter, who sculpted the piece, said, “I wanted the statue to reflect the raw energy, unity, and rebellion that made Sabbath immortal.”
Tony Iommi, the band’s guitarist and creative force, was present at the ceremony and described the moment as “unreal and humbling.” He added, “We started out as four kids just trying to make noise in Aston. To have a statue here in the city that made us—it’s beyond anything we could’ve imagined.”
The event concluded with a live orchestral performance of “War Pigs,” echoing through the square as the crowd chanted “Sabbath! Sabbath!”
This statue joins the already-famous Black Sabbath Bench on Broad Street and solidifies Birmingham’s status as the birthplace of heavy metal.
The city council confirmed the statue will become part of Birmingham’s cultural heritage trail, attracting rock pilgrims from around the world.
