Ozzy's star is shining bright for Brum

May 22 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

ROCK legend Ozzy Osbourne has put Birmingham firmly on the map after speaking of his fondness for his home town on one of America's top chat shows.

The Aston-born Prince of Darkness told ABC host Jimmy Kimmel about his pride at being the first celebrity to be honoured on Birmingham's new Hollywood-style Walk of Stars.

The news that Ozzy will get the first of many stars to line Broad Street in a celebrity induction ceremony on July 6 has travelled around the world since last Friday's announcement.

Already Broad Street's Walk of Stars website has received more than 100,000 hits and thousands of e-mails from well wishers and thousands more voting for which Brummie celebrities they would like to see honoured, with 80s pop stars Duran Duran the people's choice for the next brass star.

Meanwhile Ozzy, who is promoting his new LP Black Rain, is expected to be further banging the drum for Brum on Radio One's Chris Moyles show and Friday Night With Jonathan Ross this week.

Meanwhile Radio 2's Steve Wright made the Walk of Stars his website of the day directing even more internet traffic to Birmingham.

Broad Street business manager Steve Hewlitt said: "This has been fantastic exposure for Broad Street and for Birmingham. We knew that Ozzy would be a big name for us but never dreamt of this.

"This is being talked about all over the world, we have websites from Japan, Russia, America all linking to the website, its phenomenal.

"Luckily, our site has held up to the interest although it has been close to meltdown."

Steve was even contacted by Jimmy Kimmel's producer ahead of Ozzy's appearance for some background on Brum.

"They wanted a picture to show where the star will be so I sent them Symphony Hall and the ICC lit up by night," he said.

"They were also surprised at how many other Brummies are world famous - Cat Deeley is a big name on American Idol at the moment and they know Robert Plant, Duran Duran and UB40."

The Broad Street Business Improvement District, which runs Birmingham's Golden Mile, has also been inundated with requests from international media to cover the July 6 ceremony, including a camera crew from Japan.

And they are close to confirming three further celebrities from their website list of 12 most wanted for the next stars.

To find out more and vote, visit www.walkofstars.co.uk