Before being laid to rest, Ozzy Osbourne has taken one final journey through his beloved Birmingham. As he receives a hero’s send off, the Black Sabbath icon’s memorial procession to honor the star is taking place in his hometown.
The 76-year-old heavy metal legend passed away on July 22. A private funeral will follow a public service in his honor later this week. As a special procession descended from the city’s Broad Street, his family made the decision to give fans one last chance to pay their respects to the legendary rock star.
The procession passed the Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, where hundreds of floral tributes to the music icon have been laid out in their symphony. Sharon Ozzy’s wife made a wonderful gesture to Birmingham just before the star’s passing.
In the special procession, which included a live brass band, Bostin’ Brass, Ozzy was followed by his family, including his wife Sharon and his children Aimee, Kelly, Jack, Jessica, and Luis.
A grieving Sharon, 72, reached out to admire the gorgeous flower tributes and hand-written notes that had been left on the streets by fans.
The crowd was waved in applause as it wasn’t just Sharon and the kids, but also all of Ozzy’s many grandchildren.
Broad Street was closed to traffic at 7am after the procession started at 1pm. The council is assisting with the road closure while Ozzy’s family will bear the costs.
Around 12.45 p.m., the hearse’s entrance into Birmingham city center passed the star’s childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston.
Since the singer’s passing, flowers have been erected outside the terraced property near Villa Park, and a photo of Osbourne has been displayed there by the house’s owners.
A few fans and the current home owner watched as the Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars slowly travel along the street while being accompanied by a police motorcycle rider and a police car.
Ozzy had been “desperate to return home” in recent years after receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and he had already made it back to England before passing away.
The moving statement read “Birmingham, England July 22, 2025,” indicating that Ozzy had finally fulfilled his long-awaited wishes and made it home for one last time.
Birmingham band Bostin’ Brass is leading the rocker’s cortege. Ozzy the mechanical bull, which his wife Sharon made for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, was unveiled at a party in New Street Station.
Aaron Diaz, the band’s leader, described the situation as having a mix of nerves and honor in the lead up to the performance. It certainly has a high pressure level. You sense a lot of responsibility.
The city has been incredibly moved by Ozzy, who is one of Birmingham’s own, in the past few days, according to the trumpet player.
We’re going to really enjoy playing a fitting tribute to him and participating in the crowd of thousands that day.
Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said, “Ozzy was more than just a music legend. He was a son of Birmingham.”
His impact on world music is undeniable, but what makes him so special to us is his humble beginnings and steadfast love for this city.
Some of Ozzy’s long-term friends and collaborators will be present at the funeral after decades in the music industry.
Along with Ozzy’s Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler, Elton John is expected to perform the Prince of Darkness’s farewell.
Yungblud, a singer who has a long-standing relationship with the singer, and James Hetfield from Metallica have also been invited.
Sharon and Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, and Louis’ children, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, led the mourners.
Ozzy was raised in the working-class neighborhood of Aston, where he developed the distinctive Brummie accent that is still a hallmark. He was born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, at a maternity hospital in Marston Green.
Ozzy’s passion for heavy metal began to develop when he and fellow Birmingham musicians Geezer Butler, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward formed Black Sabbath in 1968.
Ozzy and the rest of Black Sabbath performed at the sold-out Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park just three weeks before his passing.
His deep connection to the city and its people was demonstrated by the show’s symbolic return.
Ozzy continued to care about his hometown despite spending decades in the limelight. His thick Birmingham accent, which is frequently mentioned in media, is still a badge of honor and a reminder of his city’s blue-collar heart.
Ozzy has long been regarded as a “local lad who done good” by local fans. Before the procession, hundreds of fans gathered at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham to pay their last respects to Ozzy.
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Source: Mirror
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