Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler to Be Honored in February

Legendary Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler is slated to be the next famous Birmingham native to be honored on the city's Broad Street Walk of Stars. 

A ceremony marking the occasion will take place February 3 during half-time of the Aston Villa versus Burton Albion soccer match, reports the Birmingham Mail. Villa is reportedly Butlers favorite soccer club.

February 3 is an important date in Black Sabbath history. It is the anniversary of Black Sabbath's first gig, which occurred in the city of Birmingham. Furthermore, this coming February 3 will mark one year since Black Sabbath's final show ever, and 50 years since its first.

Butler will join his bandmates, Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi, on the Walk of Stars. Osbourne recieved the award in 2007. Iommi received it in 2008.

Butler is being honored for his part in the heavy metal musical revolution that Black Sabbath helped ignite, beginning in the late-1960s. He is Black Sabbath's chief lyricist and is held in high esteem by fellow musicians for his riff-driven style and for being one of the first bass players to embrace the use of effects pedals, particularly wah-wah.

The Birmingham Walk of Stars is a section of sidewalk on Broad Street in Birmingham, meant to honor famous locals for their contributions to music, television, film, radio, theater, sports, business and literature.  

Walk of Stars chairman Jasper Carrott told Birmingham Mail that "Lots of people have been invited" to the ceremony, including Iommi and Osbourne, but he couldn't confirm who is planning to show up.

"But hopefully there will be a good showing from the rock fraternity," he said, adding the Butler is also well-known in England for his charitable work.

If Butler's bandmates do show up to support their bassist, it'll be the first time the band has appeared together publicly since its final concert.

Earlier this week, Butler said he believes Black Sabbath is truly done performing. Though he plans to continue writing and recording music, he says with Osbourne embarking on his own farewell tour (which will keep him busy through 2020), it's unlikely Sabbath will have the time or the ambition to reunite for any one-off shows.

"...[Which] I'm fine with," he said. "We went out on a high, and it's best not to drag it out."



Photo: Getty Images


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