Thousands of metal fans filled the streets of Birmingham to bid an emotional farewell to heavy metal legend, Ozzy Osbourne.
Devoted followers of both Black Sabbath and Osbourne’s solo career lined Broad Street from early in the morning, after the Osbourne family announced that the funeral procession would pass by the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge. Since the news of Ozzy’s passing on July 22, fans have been leaving flowers, tribute cards, and personal messages at the site.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the funeral cortege—escorted by police—arrived at the memorial spot as hundreds of fans chanted Osbourne’s name. Meanwhile, tens of thousands more across the globe watched the emotional moment via livestream.
Six police motorcycles led the procession, followed by the Bostin’ Brass Band playing Black Sabbath’s classic “Iron Man” from the band’s iconic 1970 album “Paranoid”.
There were deeply emotional moments as the hearse carrying Ozzy Osbourne arrived at the memorial, with purple flowers spelling out “OZZY” placed beside his coffin. The singer’s grieving family—his wife Sharon, son Jack, daughters Aimee and Kelly, along with Kelly’s husband, Slipknot’s Sid Wilson, and their infant son Sidney—stepped out of a black people carrier to greet the crowd, lay flowers, and read some of the heartfelt tributes left by fans for the beloved 76-year-old icon.
As the family departed for a private funeral service at a church in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the gathered crowd—many visibly moved and in tears—chanted Ozzy’s name once again, in a powerful farewell to the Prince of Darkness.
