The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport – it has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Well you could have to get a lot more used to it if Big Bear Music boss, Jim Simpson has anything to do with it!
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, label boss Simpson – who was the first person to ever sign the Osbourne fronted Black Sabbath all those years ago – has expressed great interest in officially renaming the cities airport after the bat-eating legend.
“I believe that there is a masterstroke that would instantly confound the cynics. Just re-name our airport. How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate? The message that would carry is instantly international, confident, powerful, unforgettable and says ‘Hey World, we are proud of our own’. Ozzy might not always have been a paragon of virtue, but he is a genuine flesh and blood Brummie.” explains Simpson on his eccentric plan to honour the rock hero after plans of a Black Sabbath day in the city fell through.
Although the idea sounds far fetched, it seems to have attracted the ears of the local council, as councillor Phillip Parkin responded saying: “It’s an interesting idea and I’ve got an open mind but I think something like that would need to be consulted on fairly widely because it’s a significant part of our infrastructure.”
However, before any nay-sayers hit out with the obvious “Liverpool did that first” by renaming theirs after The Beatles legend John Lennon – Simpson has a retaliation of his own: “Before anyone launches into a “Liverpool got there first with a John Lennon Airport” retort we should remember that their airport is distinctly unimpressive, provincial and bears no comparison with ours.”
It looks as though 2013 is already set to be an amazing year for the godfathers of heavy metal. With a new album due out in April and a tour to boot, maybe an Airport named after one of the members could top off the year. Watch this space, guys!
