Campaign Growing To Have OZZY OSBOURNE Knighted

The Pulse Of Radio reports that a woman who has launched a Facebook campaign to have Ozzy Osbourne knighted has already gotten more than 4,000 of the 5,000 signatures she has aimed for, according to the Birmingham Mail. 45-year-old Helen Maidiotis' site, The Knighthood Of Ozz, has already gotten the endorsement of the BLACK SABBATH singer's daughter Kelly, who tweeted, "This really needs to happen."

Maidiotis originally wanted all four original members of the group to receive a knighthood, but when told that was unlikely, she settled on Ozzy.

She explained, "Our campaign has reached Buckingham Palace, as a friend of mine had sent off letters explaining about our battle for Ozzy's knighthood — and they have replied positively."
Maidiotis added that she is hoping to reach 5,000 signatures in time for SABBATH's performance in London's Hyde Park on July 4. She said that she intends to "see this right through to the end, whatever the outcome."

Ozzy is one of England's most recognizable figures as well as one of the country's most popular and long-lasting rock singers. He and BLACK SABBATH arguably invented the sound of modern heavy metal and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.

Ozzy had a tough early life in the industrial city of Birmingham and used to think growing up poor was the cause of all his family's problems. "I grew up in a poor part of Birmingham, in a place called Aston, and I used to sit there thinking, 'Wouldn't it great if this happened...' and 'Wouldn't it be great if my dad won the lottery...'" he told The Pulse Of Radio. "I thought all the family hardship was caused over lack of money, you know. And that's not the case."

After years as a solo act with occasional SABBATH reunion tours, Ozzy and the band made their first studio album together in 35 years in 2013. Titled "13", it was the band's first chart-topper in the U.S. and first in the U.K. since 1971.

The group recently wrapped up a short North American run last week in Los Angeles.

Ozzy will be honored by the MusiCares MAP Fund at the organization's 10th annual benefit concert, to take place on May 12 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.