On July 22nd, the world received the news that Ozzy Osbourne, the Godfather of heavy music and culture, had sadly passed from this earth at the age of 76. What made the confirmation of his passing especially poignant was that Ozzy left just weeks after taking the stage for the final time during his Back to the Beginning homecoming in Birmingham. 

Affirmed as "the most important day in metal," by the concert's musical director in Tom Morello, the event carried not only the significance of Ozzy's final bow, but included an assembly of metal music heavyweights ranging from Metallica, Slayer, Gojira, Tool, Lamb of God, and countless more - all of which arrived enthusiastically to offer their tribute at the altar of Ozzy. 

And while the final performance from Ozzy proved a powerful moment of which the gravity has yet to full be realized, those unforgettable moments onstage are underscored by what actually happened following the monumental farewell. Back to the Beginning was always envisioned as not only Ozzy's final performance, his final go round with the original line-up of Back Sabbath, but also as a way of giving back to the community that championed Ozzy. 

For a man that fiercely lived life to the fullest, he seemed to embrace finality with the same resolve. Such that he leveraged his platform to give back in the biggest of ways. Back to the Beginning raised more than 190 million dollars - all for local charities including the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s. While the numbers are considered estimates, even preliminarily, that tally eclipses some of the most notable charity concerts of all time in both FireAid and Farm Aid. 

Ozzy's final act reiterates one of the many reasons that his legacy is so ubiquitous and his loss is so seismic. Having gifted the world a lifetime of music and art that forever stands the test of time, Ozzy punctuated a charmed life with a final selfless act - a show of gratitude that went far beyond the banter from the stage and created real life impact. In the wake of his passing, Birmingham has seen an outpouring of genuine love and appreciation, reverence and respect as fans from all walks have descended upon the the birthplace of metal to offer Ozzy his flowers. 

Photographer Sam John Jones has submitted captivating images that convey the prevalent sense of grief and gratitude that line the streets of the city. Congregating at heavy metal landmarks like Black Sabbath bridge on Broad Street and the mural of Ozzy near New Street station, fans are paying their respects to the Prince of Darkness in a way that suggest that heavy metal didn't just lose its forefather, but rather, the world lost a remarkable human. 

See the collection of photos below.