Thousands of grief-stricken fans packed Birmingham city centre today to bid farewell to heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, whose funeral cortège wound through the streets of his beloved hometown in an emotional public procession that saw widow Sharon Osbourne break down in tears at the Black Sabbath Bridge.
The 76-year-old Prince of Darkness, who died on 22 July following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, was honoured with a spectacular send-off through England’s second city, with mourners lining Broad Street from early morning to pay their respects. The procession, which began at 1pm BST, featured the local Bostin’ Brass band performing haunting renditions of Black Sabbath classics including “Iron Man” and “Paranoid.”
Sharon Osbourne, accompanied by the couple’s children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee, emerged from the funeral cortège at the Black Sabbath Bridge, where thousands of floral tributes have transformed the landmark into a makeshift shrine. The 72-year-old television personality was visibly overcome with emotion as she laid her own flowers at the site, making a peace sign gesture to acknowledge the sea of fans who had gathered to support the family.
City Comes to Standstill for Birmingham’s Most Famous Son
The hearse carrying Osbourne’s coffin passed the singer’s childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston, at approximately 12:45pm, where current residents had placed a photograph of the rock icon in their front window. The Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars, escorted by police motorcycle riders, moved slowly through streets packed with mourners, many of whom had travelled from across the globe.
Birmingham City Council worked “at pace” with the Osbourne family to coordinate the massive public event, with roads closing from 7am to accommodate the expected crowds. Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal described Osbourne as “more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham,” adding that the city was “proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began.
It was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral,” Iqbal stated. “We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.”
Family Funds Entire Procession as Final Gift to Fans
In a gesture that touched many Birmingham residents, Sharon Osbourne and her children personally funded all costs associated with the public procession, including road closures and security measures. This proved particularly significant given Birmingham City Council’s well-documented financial struggles, with the authority facing a £204 million budget shortfall and ongoing refuse collection strikes.
The procession route took the cortège along Broad Street to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, landmarks that have become pilgrimage sites for metal fans worldwide. Since news of Osbourne’s death broke, these locations have been covered in flowers, handwritten messages, and memorabilia from grieving fans.
A book of condolences remains open at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which is currently hosting the exhibition “Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero.” Museum officials report unprecedented numbers of visitors signing the book and viewing the exhibition.
Emotional Scenes as Fans Say Goodbye
One longtime fan, identifying himself only as Goose, spoke movingly about discovering heavy metal as a teenager through Osbourne’s music. “That’s when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us,” he said, fighting back tears. “Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people’s lives.”
The public procession was livestreamed via the Black Sabbath bench website, allowing millions of fans worldwide to participate in the farewell. Social media platforms were flooded with tributes using the hashtag #OzzyForever, with fans sharing memories and photographs from decades of concerts.
We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence,” another fan explained, describing the impact of Osbourne’s music on working-class youth in Britain and beyond.
Death Follows Triumphant Final Performance
Osbourne’s death on 22 July came just 17 days after his emotional farewell performance at Birmingham’s Villa Park stadium. The “Back to the Beginning” concert, which featured a reunion of Black Sabbath’s original lineup for the first time in 20 years, saw the ailing rocker perform from a throne as he could no longer stand.
“You’ve got no idea how I feel,” Osbourne told the 42,000-strong crowd, his mascara smeared by tears. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The concert, which also featured performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and numerous other metal legends, raised £140 million for charities including Birmingham’s Acorns Children’s Hospice and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Sharon Osbourne had revealed in February that her husband was unable to walk due to Parkinson’s disease, though she noted the condition “doesn’t affect his voice.”
Family Statement Confirms Peaceful Passing
The Osbourne family announced the rock legend’s death in a statement that read: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The statement was signed by Sharon and the couple’s children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee, as well as Osbourne’s son Louis from his first marriage. No specific cause of death was given, though Osbourne had battled numerous health issues in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease diagnosed in 2019 and complications from a 2019 fall that dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a 2003 ATV accident.
Black Sabbath Bandmates Pay Tribute
Surviving Black Sabbath members, who were thought to have roles in today’s procession, have been devastated by the loss of their frontman. Guitarist Tony Iommi wrote: “I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park. It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him.
Bassist Geezer Butler added: “Goodbye dear friend – thanks for all those years – we had some great fun. 4 kids from Aston – who’d have thought, eh? So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston.”
The band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, pioneered heavy metal music and influenced countless artists across multiple generations. Their dark, heavy sound and theatrical performances revolutionised rock music and created a genre that continues to thrive more than five decades later.
Legacy of Birmingham’s Prince of Darkness
Born John Michael Osbourne on 3 December 1948 in the working-class Aston area of Birmingham, the future rock star overcame dyslexia, poverty, and a brief stint in prison for burglary to become one of music’s most recognisable figures. His journey from factory worker to global icon embodied the dreams of countless Birmingham youth.
Beyond his musical achievements, which included successful solo albums like “Blizzard of Ozz” and hit singles including “Crazy Train,” Osbourne found renewed fame in the 2000s through the MTV reality series “The Osbournes,” which introduced him to a new generation as a loveable, if eccentric, family man.
Industry experts estimate Osbourne’s influence extends to thousands of bands worldwide, with his vocal style and stage presence setting the template for heavy metal performance. His infamous stunts, including biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert, became the stuff of rock legend.
Airport Petition Gains Momentum
A petition to rename Birmingham Airport as “Ozzy Osbourne International Airport” has gathered over 46,000 signatures since the singer’s death. Airport representatives have confirmed they are “considering ways to honour Osbourne’s legacy,” though no official decision has been announced.
The private funeral service, details of which have not been released, will follow today’s public procession. The family has requested privacy for this portion of the farewell.
As Birmingham bid farewell to its most famous musical son, the city that Osbourne “put on the world map” demonstrated the profound impact one working-class lad from Aston could have on global culture. From the packed streets to the mountains of flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge, the outpouring of grief and gratitude proved that while the Prince of Darkness may have left the stage, his legacy will echo through Birmingham and beyond for generations to come.
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