The family of Ozzy Osbourne came together in sorrow today, joining numerous Black Sabbath fans with moist eyes as they participated in a heartfelt funeral procession through the late rocker’s hometown of Birmingham, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands.
A crowd made up of loved ones, acquaintances, and loyal followers has assembled for a procession in the downtown area as a tribute to the legendary heavy metal figure, who passed away at 76 years old just recently – about fortnight after his last performance at Villa Park.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s cherished spouse, found herself shedding tears amidst the abundant floral offerings and heartfelt tributes paid in honor of her long-term husband who had passed away after more than four decades of marriage.
At the famous Black Sabbath Bridge, Sharon exited the vehicle as the funeral procession came to a stop. Her kids, Jack and Kelly, stood by her sides for support as she broke down in tears.
After them came their less frequently seen daughter Aimee, who is their third child, as well as Ozzy’s son Louis, born from his earlier marriage with Thelma Riley, trailing not far behind.
However, it seemed that Jessica, his daughter, and Elliot, his adopted son, whom he had with Thelma, were not present at the event, as they were not mentioned in the heartfelt announcement of Ozzy’s passing on July 23.
At Black Sabbath Bridge, Sharon and her family, which encompassed all of Ozzy’s grandchildren, placed flowers while the crowd echoed “Ozzy, Ozzy.” The Osbourne clan spent moments examining heartfelt tributes before collectively displaying a peace sign.
They stayed approximately five minutes near the bridge before hopping back into their vehicles and continuing with the convoy. Along Broad Street, blooms were cast upon the hearses as the procession advanced.
A significant number of people started accumulating along the procession well before the 1 pm commencement, intending to honor the musician known for his songs such as Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
Multitudes of individuals could be seen settling down, not just on Black Sabbath Bridge, but all throughout the city center’s path where his procession was scheduled to traverse en route to the Black Sabbath Bridge area.
At approximately 12:45 PM, the funeral procession with the singer’s casket, traveling along Lodge Road, Aston, past a house that was once the star’s childhood home, made its way towards the center of Birmingham city.
After the singer’s passing, flowers have been arranged exteriorly near Villa Park, and the homeowners display a portrait of Osbourne in their front-facing bay window instead.
A single Jaguar hearse, followed by six Mercedes funeral vehicles, escorted by motorcycle policemen and a patrol car, moved at a leisurely pace down the street, drawing a small crowd of spectators, including the present homeowner.
In recent days, adoring fans have been placing emotional notes and bouquets near the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street as a tribute to the legendary heavy metal musician hailing from the Aston district of Birmingham.
The general public has additionally penned messages in a book of sympathy, inaugurated by the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, that is presently showcasing an exhibition named “Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Born from Humble Origins.
In organizing the procession, Birmingham City Council worked together with the Osbourne family, who covered all related expenses.
A group of Black Sabbath enthusiasts, known as “Goose,” shared stories today about their teenage years when they first embraced heavy metal music, particularly feeling inspired by Ozzy. They gathered on Broad Street to reminisce.
In a similar vein, I discovered, much like countless others worldwide, that there existed music tailored specifically for our kindred spirits – music that resonated with us deeply.
We understood that someone else shared our feelings, and this sense of connection was a persistent comfort to us.
‘Ozzy played a significant role in introducing that to the world; he felt like an integral part of many families, and he made a profound impact on countless lives.’
Enthusiast Evie Mayo expressed that the heavy metal legend served as an inspiration not just to her, but also to all residents of Birmingham, while she stood near the Black Sabbath Bridge, anticipating his procession.
She shared with the Press Association news agency her thoughts: “I believe he was incredibly impactful and inspiring. His influence reached far and wide, particularly within Birmingham as well.
With him no longer around, you can truly sense his absence. He was an inspiring figure for many and an exceptional individual.
She stated: “His music truly inspires me; I adore it wholeheartedly. In fact, I’m learning to play the guitar so I can master some of his tunes.
The Birmingham musicians, Alicia Gardener-Trejo and Aaron Diaz, were among the performers present. They played tunes from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Alicia shared with BBC News her excitement at being part of the celebrations happening today.
I feel incredibly humbled and grateful to be performing the music of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath today. As a devoted admirer, words seem inadequate to express my feelings. Listening to Ozzy during my youth, being part of this experience is monumental for me.
Aaron stated: “The music of Ozzy and Black Sabbath truly embodies something unique about Birmingham. It’s raw, it’s heavy, but it also has a sense of humor and a touch of humility.
Lee Clarke along with his mother, Tracey, ventured a 200-mile journey from Plymouth to reach Birmingham for today’s occasion, choosing a sleeper train as their mode of transportation during the night.
In his conversation with BBC Radio WM, he expressed that he had made up his mind a while back that he’d leave once the event occurred; he was expecting a longer lead time for the departure.
It’s rather challenging for a metal enthusiast not to appreciate Ozzy Osbourne, as many of the other songs and bands we enjoy today likely wouldn’t have come into existence without his significant influence.
Over the last ten years, Tracey developed a fandom thanks to her son’s impact, and today she expressed that being present was essential to demonstrate our love for Ozzy.
‘I’m certain they are aware, yet there was a place I desired to be today, for some reason. He was a typical man with a twist – a remarkably common, unique man.’
Or
‘I’m confident they realize it, but I had this strong urge to be in a specific spot today. He was an average guy, yet he stood out – an extraordinary ordinary man.’
As a die-hard enthusiast, I couldn’t help but show my affection for the legendary Ozzy Osbourne when I arrived at the Birmingham concert carrying an umbrella adorned with miniature bats and a heartfelt sign that read: “Goodnight Ozzy – Forever Birmingham.
In the company of her mom and granny, Eliza expressed: “Ozzy is a native of our town, hailing from Aston, and he inspires youngsters such as myself to aim high. Essentially, Ozzy represents Birmingham.
Claire Finn-O’Shea, her mother, stated that Birmingham appears to be a city in grief, further explaining, “We adore what Ozzy achieved for this city. We cherish that he remained true to his roots. I anticipate feelings of sadness today when we witness the casket.
It seems incredibly significant, and the family’s kind gesture of bringing him back to Birmingham is truly heartwarming – as it offers fans an opportunity to participate, which is a tremendous event.
Previously, the Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal stated: “Ozzy wasn’t just a musical icon; he was a native of Birmingham.
After receiving the Freedom of the City and his memorable performance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park this month, the city felt it was crucial to arrange a respectful, honorable tribute prior to a private family funeral.
‘We realize how significant this event will be for his fans. We’re honored to stage it here in the presence of his family, where everything started, and we’re thankful that they have graciously agreed to cover the costs, allowing us to give him an appropriate farewell. The city is also contributing to make this happen.’
Starting today at 7 am, Broad Street is no longer accessible for regular vehicular traffic. Instead, buses and trams have been rerouted prior to the street, as it has become filled with bars that will reopen once the event concludes.
Osbourne, along with his Black Sabbath comrades – Terence ‘Geezer’ Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward – have been honored with the privilege of being acknowledged as distinguished citizens of Birmingham, reflecting their extraordinary contributions to the city.
It’s anticipated that they will be present, among other notable celebrity guests rumored for the event honoring Ozzy, there’s also Sir Elton John.
The band that came together in 1968 is often recognized for shaping and making popular the distinctive sound of heavy metal music.
In the 2000s, Osbourne, known for his own thriving solo career, gained a fresh wave of followers after featuring in the reality TV show “The Osbournes.” This series brought him into the limelight alongside his spouse Sharon, as well as their children Kelly and Jack.
In 2019, the renowned musician received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. On July 5, he played his final show, sharing the stage with bands such as Anthrax, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roskes in an extraordinary concert.
In the city where he was born, just under three weeks prior to his passing, Ozzy Osbourne graced the stage at Villa Park stadium for what seemed like a farewell concert. For the first time since 2005, he joined forces with his original Black Sabbath bandmates once again.
Over 42,000 people filled the venue to capacity for the Back To The Beginning concert. In his closing remarks, he expressed his gratitude to the audience saying, “I can’t fully express how I feel – thank you deeply from within.
The screen displayed a message: “Thank you for everything; you all are simply fantastic! Long live Birmingham, as we celebrate with fireworks lighting up the night sky.
He had revealed that this would be his final performance because of his health issues, as he shared publicly about his struggle with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
Last Tuesday, Ozzy’s family announced his passing, stating that he had died “enveloped in love.” They shared, “With a heaviness that surpasses simple words, we regretfully inform you that our cherished Ozzy Osbourne has left us this morning.
He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.
Last Wednesday, it was disclosed by the Daily Mail that an emergency helicopter was summoned to Ozbourne’s spacious rural estate due to a prolonged effort by paramedics to keep him alive for two hours.
It has been reported by friends to The Mail that Sharon, who is devastated, might hold a private family funeral for Ozzy on their 350-acre estate, choosing to bury him in the gardens there.
Born as John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy left school when he was just 15 years old.
After serving two months in prison for burglary, he decided to pursue his love of music.
By 1970, the band that was initially known as Earth, later recognized as Black Sabbath, had amassed a significant fanbase in both the United States and the United Kingdom, thanks to the debut of their first studio album.
In 1978, Ozzy parted ways with the band, followed by a divorce from his spouse Thelma Mayfair in 1982 – a woman with whom he shared two kids. This split occurred during his persistent struggles with addiction issues.
Subsequently, he wed his second spouse, Sharon. Together, they played significant roles in helping him transition into a thriving solo performer, and they welcomed three offspring into their family.
Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family’s reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001.
In 2011, he shared with The Times his thoughts about his future farewell, saying, ” frankly, I don’t mind what music they play at my funeral; they can even play a mix of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and ‘We Are The Diddymen,’ if it brings them joy.
I’d like to ensure that it’s more of a joyous event rather than a somber gathering. Additionally, a bit of humor would be great; perhaps some harmless pranks such as simulating knocking sounds from within the coffin or a video where I pretend to seek a second opinion from my doctor about his diagnosis of “life extension” instead of “death”.
Instead of dwelling on past hardships, it’s important to acknowledge that many individuals spend their entire lives enduring difficulties.
In essence, when you consider all aspects, the majority of people living here, including celebrities such as myself, lead remarkably fortunate lives. Consequently, rather than having a somber funeral, I prefer it to be a moment for expressing gratitude instead.
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2025-07-30 16:21