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Ozzy Osbourne: The airport

Dec 28, 2012, 9:01 GMT

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne is set to have an airport named after him.

The heavy metal legend's moniker has been put forward to be the new title of Birmingham International Airport after council bosses decided to name it after a local hero.

Record company boss Jim Simpson - who discovered Ozzy and his first band Black Sabbath - believes it would be a fitting tribute to the singer, who was born in Aston in the English city, and is backing the idea wholeheartedly.

Jim said: 'I believe it would be a master stroke that would instantly confound the cynics.

'How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate? The message 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.'

Councillor Philip Parkin has confirmed talks had taken place to change the name of the terminals and that a tribute to Ozzy or Black Sabbath has been considered.

When asked whether he'd be prepared to change the title of the airport, he replied: 'It's an interesting idea and I've got an open mind. I would be interested to know what people thought about it.'

Several airports in cities throughout the world have been named after famous people who were born there.

Liverpool's Speke Airport was renamed John Lennon Airport to honour the late Beatles star, while Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport in California was renamed the Bob Hope Airport in 2003.