Black Sabbath’s Legendary Crown Pub Gets Historic Plaque for Birthplace of Metal

In an unexpected act of guerrilla appreciation, the Birmingham pub where Black Sabbath first performed has been adorned with an unapproved but heartfelt tribute. The Crown, located near Birmingham’s New Street Station, was the site of a mysterious late-night installation by an unidentified fan seeking to highlight the venue’s historic importance.

“I’ve just finished work and saw a man drilling into The Crown near Birmingham New Street,” witness Freddie Cartwright told Louder. “He put up what looked like a bronze or brass bat and a plaque. It was quite a dramatic scene, and he’s left now. The police robot alarm is still ringing.”

The new plaque declares The Crown as the birthplace of heavy metal, accompanied by the words:

“Preserve the music. Preserve the moments. Preserve the madness. This place should be a museum.”

The Pub That Birthed a Genre

The Crown’s reputation as a cornerstone of rock history is well earned. It hosted Black Sabbath’s first-ever live show in 1968 and later welcomed acts including The Who, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Marc Bolan, Supertramp, and Status Quo.

Although the building fell into disrepair in the 2010s, it was granted Grade II listed status in 2024, protecting it from redevelopment. According to Historic England, the venue deserves recognition “for its importance in the 1960s folk music revival, and in the late 1960s as the venue where Black Sabbath created their sound which shaped a new internationally popular genre of music — heavy metal.”

The late Ozzy Osbourne, whose funeral procession passed by The Crown earlier this year, spoke about the pub’s uncertain future in a 2024 interview. “If you want to save something, you’ve got to get off your butt and protest,” he urged fans at the time.

Local Campaigners Push to Protect Birmingham’s Music Heritage

A petition to secure The Crown and other nearby buildings as official civic assets has already gathered over 26,000 signatures, reflecting widespread public support.

Earlier in 2025, property owners Tokyo Inns submitted a proposal to expand the pub’s car park, but Birmingham City Council rejected the plan — a victory celebrated by heritage advocates.

“Time for Tokyo Inns to put forward proper refurbishment plans for The Crown as a pub and music venue right now or sell up,” the Save Station Street campaign said in a statement. “For what it’s worth, we don’t ultimately care who owns the site if it is run with integrity, for Brummies, and with respect to its legacy as one of the UK’s most progressive and historic venues.”

A Vision for ‘Sabbath Quarter’

The campaign group is also fighting separate plans to replace The Electric Cinema, the UK’s oldest working cinema, with a proposed 50-story tower. Instead, they’re championing a bold new cultural vision for the area: a “Sabbath Quarter”, designed as both a creative hub and a tourist attraction.

“‘The Beatles Economy’ in 2016 was worth £82.7 million a year and supported 2,200 jobs in Liverpool,” said Save Station Street founder Darren John. “With Birmingham’s global musical heritage across so many genres — and the cultural importance of Station Street’s venues — we expect similar economic benefits to the city from creating Sabbath Quarter.”

The mysterious plaque may not be official, but it’s already serving its purpose — reigniting conversation about preserving Birmingham’s musical landmarks and honoring the birthplace of heavy metal.