West Brom chairman Shilen Patel pays touching tribute as Ozzy Osbourne dies aged 76
Birmingham rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76.
The Black Sabbath star’s official X account confirmed that he passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday morning (22 July).
Osbourne’s passing comes just weeks after he and Black Sabbath held a legendary goodbye concert at Villa Park.
Shilen Patel ‘inspired’ by Ozzy Osbourne
West Brom chairman Shilen Patel has now paid tribute to Osbourne after learning of his death on Tuesday.
Patel arrived in the West Midlands as Albion’s new owner in February 2024, buying the Black Country club from the previous Chinese ownership for £60million.
And it’s clear that well before the American businessman became invested in Midlands football, the area already had made a mark of him thanks to Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
“The first time I heard the song ‘Black Sabbath’, worlds opened up for me,” said Patel via his personal X account on Tuesday.
“Ozzy is part of a pantheon of heroes who inspired me to be bold, creative, and authentic.
“RIP Legend, you changed music, you changed me, and gave fans everything you had.”
Osbourne goes out rocking as West Midlands mourns death of legend
There’s something quite poetic about the way Osbourne said goodbye to the world.
His Back to the Beginning farewell concert was held at Villa Park on 5 July, with Osbourne joined by the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb of God and more on stage in Birmingham.
Not only was it a legendary day for those in attendance, but Osbourne and his cohorts raised a stunning £140million for Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Cure Parkinson’s.
Sadly, Osbourne was confined to sitting in a chair as he belted out Paranoid, War Pigs, Iron Man and Crazy Train for the final time as he’d been suffering from Parkinson’s disease since February 2019.
Despite his illness, the rock god’s performance was widely hailed.
He went out rocking – and he went out making a huge difference to a lot of people in need.
West Brom fans, Aston Villa fans, Birmingham fans and everyone in the West Midlands will be mourning the loss of a legend of the local area on Tuesday.
Rest in peace, Ozzy.