THE former 'punk rock' mayor of Frome visited Birmingham’s Black Sabbath Bridge last week to pay respects to Ozzy Osbourne, joining a massive crowd at the now-iconic site of tribute to the rock icon.

Once profiled by Kerrang! as the “punk rock mayor” of Frome, Andy Wrintmore has long been an advocate for grassroots culture, mental health awareness and working-class pride. Standing among the sea of tributes, he reflected on how music shapes identity and community.

The Black Sabbath Bridge, formally the St Ambrose Bridge, crosses the River Rea in Birmingham. Renamed in 2019 to honour the city’s iconic heavy metal band, it features artwork celebrating Black Sabbath’s legacy. It has since become an important site for fans to gather and pay tribute following Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing.

Andy said: “Myself and two friends headed up to Birmingham to visit the Black Sabbath Bridge as soon as we could after hearing the news of Ozzy’s passing. It felt really important to us to make what we’ve dubbed ‘our Black Sabbath pilgrimage’ to pay our respects.

“I was first introduced to Ozzy’s music via a Black Sabbath compilation that a teacher at Frome College made for me — thank you, Mr Randall — I was learning to drum at the time and was completely and utterly absorbed with discovering rock and heavier music. Making me hip to Sabbath, and by extension Ozzy’s solo output at this point, I can say was life-changing.”

For Andy, the visit wasn’t just about paying tribute — it was a reminder of the community spirit that has always been important to him in Frome. He has spent a lot of time supporting local projects and mental health causes, and he sees a real connection between the grit in Black Sabbath’s music and the strength of working-class towns like his own.