Crowds of devoted fans filled the streets of Birmingham on Wednesday to witness Ozzy Osbourne’s final journey through the city he called home. The legendary Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away last week at the age of 76, was honored with a moving procession ahead of his private funeral.
The hearse carrying Osbourne’s coffin traveled through the city center, pausing at ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’ where his family — including his wife Sharon and children Aimee, Kelly and Jack — laid roses among the many floral tributes left by fans.
The bench commemorating the band became a focal point for mourners paying their respects. Sharon, overcome with emotion, flashed a peace sign to the crowd before departing with her family, including several of Osbourne’s grandchildren.
Fans crowded rooftops, leaned out of windows and stood atop bus stops to glimpse the procession. The route began in Aston, Osbourne’s childhood neighborhood, passing his old home on Lodge Road and Villa Park stadium — the site of his farewell concert just weeks earlier.
Supporters chanted his name, threw roses at the hearse and made the iconic metal ‘devil horns’ gesture. His coffin was adorned with purple flowers spelling ‘Ozzy’ while a local band, Bostin Brass, played Black Sabbath hits like ‘Iron Man’ ahead of the motorcade.
In a 2011 interview, Osbourne said he did not care what music played at his funeral, as long as it felt like a celebration and not a somber occasion. That spirit was evident along Broad Street, where fans came to honour the Prince of Darkness with energy and gratitude.
Living up to his wishes, Birmingham gave its most famous son a fitting farewell — loud, heartfelt and unforgettable.
Osbourne rose to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, the Birmingham-born band that helped define heavy metal when they formed in 1968. Earlier this year, he and his bandmates — Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward — were awarded the Freedom of Birmingham for their contributions to music and the city.
In recent years, Osbourne had struggled with his health, including a 2019 Parkinson’s diagnosis. Still, he made surprise appearances, including a memorable performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. His final live show took place on July 5 at Villa Park, with major acts like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Anthrax joining the tribute.