Farewell Ozzy, a remarkable Brummie
July was an emotional month for our region, with the final gig of rock legends Black Sabbath at Villa Park and the passing of the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. A recent 5km run with Well Run Brum took me through Birmingham city centre, where benches, murals, and art installations dedicated to the band serve as a powerful reminder of how four Brummies from Aston, led by Ozzy, transformed the music world.
Cultural impact of Black Sabbath and more
The cultural impact of Black Sabbath reflects something more than just a legacy of seismic changes to music, but of a region that has long shaped the cultural fabric of our nation. Whether it be the literary works of Philip Larkin and J.R.R. Tolkien, the music of Black Sabbath, UB40 and Duran Duran, or the fusion of cuisines at desi pubs scattered across the West Midlands, I believe it’s fair to say our region’s cultural impact is widespread and widely felt. A clear example of this is our booming television sector, which has produced iconic shows such as Peaky Blinders, with their iconic flat caps synonymous with Birmingham and the West Midlands, or (and I may be showing my age here) the yellow legend Brum, who raced around our TV screens in the 90s. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a dusty VHS copy of Rosie and Jim knocking around somewhere!
Big events, Digbeth’s creative quarter, the sports quarter
We are, though, by no means hanging on to former glories. The West Midlands is proudly on the move – in more ways than one, if you account for the various sporting competitions we have held, such as the Commonwealth Games – one foot firmly in the future, ready to continue a long legacy of influencing culture. Digbeth’s creative quarter – a bustling hub of creativity at the heart of Birmingham – will soon host a new studio for the BBC, shaping our nation’s TV viewing for decades to come. Or the recently announced private investment to transform the current Blues’ ground into a world-class sports quarter.
UK’s busiest theatre? The Hippodrome
And let’s not forget the incredible work that Birmingham Hippodrome – the UK’s busiest theatre – is doing. I recently visited and heard all about how they are backing a new generation of artistic talent through their Hippodrome Education Network. Two schools in my Selly Oak constituency are part of this network, which provides young people with the chance to experience and connect with theatre. The Hippodrome has, of course, also been home to the world-renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet for the last 35 years – a jewel in the city’s cultural crown that proudly flies the flag for Birmingham when touring nationally and internationally.
So much to shout about – yet we have an ‘image issue’
The West Midlands is brimming with creative talent – but it is also evident that we suffer from an image issue. In recent decades, various negative phrases have been used to describe our region. I reject them all. I believe we should stand proudly on our cultural history and shout about our future. However, more can be done, and this requires a team effort to achieve what I know we can: a region proud of its past, confident in its present and restless to shape its future.
A region of cultural influence
We live in an evermore connected world, where cultural divides are becoming a thing of the past. This brings new and exciting opportunities to champion our region’s cultural exports to a new audience. If we overcome our current challenges, our region will continue to influence the music we listen to, the food we eat and the books we read for a very long time to come.
