On Wednesday, the city where rock legend Ozzy Osbourne calls home will see both celebrities and devoted fans gathering to bid farewell in a public procession, preceding his private funeral service.
Last Tuesday, the lead singer of Black Sabbath passed away at the age of 76, only a few weeks following their last concert together.
Mourners can bid farewell to Ozzy by joining a public tribute as his remains are transported to his hometown.
On Tuesday, it was announced that a procession carrying a famous star will journey through Birmingham, starting at 1pm, accompanied by his family. Their route will lead them to Broad Street.
The identities of the celebrities honoring the Prince of Darkness have now been unveiled, with Elton John taking the helm among the high-profile figures.
As a loyal devotee, I’ve learned that my bandmates, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler, are expected to attend the event, alongside James Hetfield from Metallica.
‘Elton John is also hoping to join the family at the church.
Sharon and her family have been deeply moved by the messages they’ve gotten, not just from Ozzy’s friends, but also from fans worldwide.
Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal, stated that the city where Ozzy Osbourne spent his childhood years will provide him with a fitting “goodbye.
He said: ‘Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham.
After receiving the Freedom of the City and his remarkable performance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park this month, the city felt it was crucial to arrange a suitable, respectful tribute before a private family funeral, considering the occasion.
We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.
It gives us great pleasure to stage this event in the city where everything started, surrounded by his beloved family. We’re thankful for their generous contribution towards making it possible, as well as the city’s efforts in providing a fitting send-off.
The city council has been actively working swiftly to organize a dignified and secure public gathering in collaboration with the Osbourne family, prior to a private funeral.
Broad Street will be closed to traffic from 7am and buses and trams will be diverted.
Earlier, Ozzy expressed that instead of a somber event, he prefers his farewell gathering to serve as an opportunity for gratitude expression.
‘There’ll be no harping on the bad times,’ he told The Times back in 2011.
It’s important to keep in mind that many individuals spend their entire lives surrounded by hardship. Consequently, considering the general state of affairs in our nation, it’s fair to say that most of us, including musicians such as myself, lead remarkably fortunate lives.
‘That’s why I don’t want my funeral to be sad, I want it to be a time to say ”thanks”.’
Ozzy emphasized that he preferred the event to be more of a joyous gathering instead of a somber affair, and he wasn’t particular about the type of music, as long as it brought delight to his dear ones.
He jokingly mentioned that he doesn’t mind at all what music is played during his funeral, as long as it includes songs from artists like Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen, which seems to please them.
Yet, during another interview some years after, Ozzy specified that A Day In The Life by The Beatles was the particular song he had in mind.
Previously, Ozzy Osbourne attributed The Beatles as the source of his inspiration to pursue a career in music. He confessed that he developed a keen interest in them following the release of their 1964 hit “She Loves You.
Instead of choosing one of his own songs, Ozzy prefers a Beatles tune to be played at his funeral instead.
In 2016, he told NME that he needed a bit more time to make his decision, and suggested that it might be something similar to ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ or ‘Revolver.’
As a committed enthusiast, I vehemently object to the suggestion of my so-called “greatest hits” album. That compilation has never seen the light of day in my personal music rotation, and truthfully, I feel rather ashamed about it. Additionally, I have no desire for a cheerful tune. In all honesty, I’m far from joyful at this moment.
Ozzie’s funeral procession will be followed by the musical group Bostin’ Brass, and it will pause at the Black Sabbath memorial bridge and bench, a spot where thousands of fans have been paying their respects since the heavy metal legend passed away last week at the age of 76, by placing flowers and tributes.
The funeral is anticipated to attract a large number of people, as fans come together to bid farewell to the trailblazer of heavy metal music. This allows his family to view the memories and tokens of affection that were created by those who admired him deeply.
The rock star died last Tuesday morning with his family confirming the news in a statement.
They expressed their deep sorrow, saying it went beyond what words could express, as they announced the passing of Ozzy Osbourne this morning.
He was spending time with his loved ones, enveloped in affection. At present, we kindly request that everyone honors our family’s privacy. This includes Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.
He leaves behind his spouse Sharon and six offspring, including Aimee (age 41), Kelly (also 41), and Jack (40), whom he co-parents with Sharon.
In addition to them, Ozzy is the father of Jessica and Louis, who were born during his marriage to Thelma Riley. Moreover, he took on the role of father figure for Elliot, whom Thelma had from a past relationship.
Over the last five years, the musician has gone through seven surgical procedures, among them being a fourth spine surgery in 2023. Since 2003, he has been dealing with Parkinson’s disease.
In the past five years, the musician has had seven operations performed on him, one of which was his fourth spinal operation in 2023. He has also been coping with Parkinson’s disease since 2003.
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2025-07-29 23:49