The phrase “stranger than fiction” was probably coined by someone paging through the annals of British civic tributes—and now, in 2025, we may get the oddest one yet. A fast-growing petition is calling on Birmingham International Airport to swap its perfectly serviceable name for something a little more… Prince of Darkness. That’s right: a cadre of passionate fans wants to see their city’s main airport rechristened as Ozzy Osbourne International.

Arrival: Petition at the Gates

As Louder Sound details, this campaign didn’t come out of the blue—Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal icon who grew up in Birmingham’s Aston neighborhood, died this week at age 76. As tributes poured in, Dan Hudson, metal aficionado and co-host of the podcast A Gay And A Nongay, fired up a Change.org campaign to land Ozzy’s name on at least one more passenger embarkation point.

It’s not a small group either. According to Guitar.com, signatures on the petition reached over 3,500—a figure steadily climbing at the time of their report—while NME later documented the count surpassing 5,000 in under two days. Some signers left emotional tributes about what Ozzy’s music meant to them: one credited him with saving their life during middle school, another described the pivotal role of Black Sabbath’s music in overcoming adversity, including a connection to Tony Iommi’s own resilience. Even a supporter overseas wrote, “It’s because of Ozzy Osbourne that a young kid from Boston knows a lot about Aston, Birmingham.”

Hudson’s petition isn’t simply an exercise in fan devotion. He points out the UK’s evident fondness for rebranding transportation hubs after local legends—the George Best International Airport in Belfast, John Lennon Airport in Liverpool. In that context, Ozzy International feels like it’s just keeping pace. Naming an airport for the most famous son of a city that otherwise largely trades on Peaky Blinders swagger and Cadbury’s chocolate? It’s almost suspicious how much sense that makes.

Of note, although several news outlets covered the petition, one included in coverage (Yahoo) offered only policies and technical notes, without additional details on the tribute itself—a reminder that sometimes, not every article contains another layer of information.

Layovers, Legacy, and Heavy Metal Hospitality

The conversation around musical legacy and place names isn’t new, especially in a region with as much pop-cultural output as the West Midlands. But the speed with which this petition gathered momentum—and the colorful arguments used—is a case study in both celebrity mourning and civic branding. According to NME, more than 5,000 had signed in less than two days, and almost immediately fans also began calling for this summer’s Download Festival to rename its main stage in Ozzy’s honor.

“What’s next, the Prince of Wales ceremonially biting the head off a ribbon at Ozzy’s new baggage claim?” That’s probably a step too far, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t watch.

The city is already deep in a season of tribute. Louder Sound highlighted “Back To The Beginning”—Ozzy’s final charity show at Aston’s Villa Park earlier this month—which reportedly raised more than $190 million for Birmingham causes, making it the highest-grossing charity gig ever. Guitar.com reports there is even talk of a statue near Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Between the show, the petitions, and fans leaving flowers and blasting Sabbath on the streets, Birmingham’s love for its rock and roll wayward son feels downright tangible.

The Practicalities of Landing in Ozzyland

Of course, the risk of airborne puns alone could ground this proposal. (“Now boarding, flight 666 to Prince of Darkness Departures!”) But the precedent is real—George Best and John Lennon have set the bar for celebrity-invoked terminals. Ozzy’s case is perhaps even more tightly entwined with his hometown’s identity: not just a globetrotting celebrity, but the co-founder of a genre, and a man who carried Birmingham with him everywhere in song, accent, and occasionally, bat.

There’s poignancy in fans’ comments, as collected by both Guitar.com and Louder Sound, that goes beyond mere kitsch or fandom. Multiple supporters note how Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s musical achievements helped normalize the idea that Birmingham could produce world-shaking culture—something powerful to cling to in a city too often defined by industrial gray. Having arrivals and departures under an “Ozzy Osbourne International” sign would, for many, cement that idea far further than a mural or blue plaque could.

Still, not everyone’s ready to fly through a gateway so heavily branded by heavy metal. Birmingham International Airport’s officials have not yet commented, and one suspects that negotiations (if any) will involve more spreadsheets than stage dives.

Summary: Checked Baggage, Heavy Metal

So: should an airport be named after Ozzy Osbourne? For a certain subset of humanity, the answer is “of course.” For the rest of us, it’s an irresistible story precisely because it straddles that line between outrageously impractical and undeniably fitting. Naming a major transit hub for the godfather of heavy metal—whose music was once denounced in Parliament—suggests that strange times call for strange tributes.

If George Best can welcome travelers to Belfast and John Lennon can give “Imagine” a home in Liverpool, why not let Birmingham greet its guests with a little bit of “Crazy Train” energy? To quote the petitioners: “together, we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage.” And perhaps the rest of us can just marvel, suitcase in one hand, at the sheer, brilliant oddity of local pride.

Is this the best nod to Ozzy? Or simply the latest instance of fans wanting to touch down somewhere between myth and reality? And just imagine the soundtrack on the moving walkway—wouldn’t that make baggage collection far less of a slog?