Ozzy Osbourne to be honoured with funeral procession in Birmingham, England
The rock icon, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, will ride through the streets of Birmingham in a hearse on Wednesday, July 30, according to the Birmingham City Council.
'The city of Birmingham is to pay its final respects to one of its most cherished cultural icons Ozzy Osbourne as his cortege and family visit Broad Street in the city that he loved,' city council announced in a press release on Tuesday.
The hearse carrying Osbourne's body and accompanying vehicles will make their way down Broad Street from 1 p.m. local time to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and tributes in recent days for the War Pigs singer.
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The cortege will be accompanied by a live brass band performance — local musicians Bostin' Brass — a final musical moment to honour the legacy of Osbourne, according to the press release.
The event is expected to draw large crowds of fans as they gather to say goodbye to 'the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre and who proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career, whilst allowing his family a chance to see the many memories of his loyal fans have left alongside flowers and tributes.'
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'Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham. Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral,' Coun. Zafar Iqbal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said in a statement.
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'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves,' Iqbal added.
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Birmingham City Council worked with partners over the weekend to coordinate the 'respectful and safe public event' in collaboration with the Osbourne family, 'who have kindly funded all of the associated costs.'
For those unable to attend, there will be a livestream of the Black Sabbath bench online for viewing.
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Remembering Ozzy Osbourne: 5 times he truly reigned as the Prince of Darkness
Just over two weeks before his death, Osbourne delivered his last-ever live performance with the original lineup of Black Sabbath at Villa Park soccer stadium in their home city of Birmingham, central England, on July 5.
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The singer sang from a black throne that rose up from under the stage.
'Let the madness begin!' he urged as he took the stage.
Later, he paid tribute to fans.
'I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,' the Crazy Train singer said. 'You're all … special. Let's go crazy, come on.'
Osbourne performed several songs solo before being joined onstage for the first time in 20 years by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with Paranoid, one of its most famous songs.
On July 22, his family announced that Osbourne had died, saying, 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.'
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his six children.
It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.
We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.
Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and… pic.twitter.com/WLJhOrMsDF
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 22, 2025
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The Province
2 days ago
- The Province
Birmingham, the home of metal, honours Ozzy Osbourne as hearse passes through
Published Jul 30, 2025 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 3 minute read Sharon Osbourne, Jack Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne and Aimee Osbourne view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne from fans at Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge as his funeral cortege travels through his home city of Birmingham on July 30, 2025 in Birmingham, England. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on July 22nd at the age of 76. His death occurred just a little over two weeks after his final live performance at the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — The 'home of metal' is honoring one of its most cherished sons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Thousands of Black Sabbath fans were paying their respects Wednesday to frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, was making its way down Broad Street, the city's major thoroughfare, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. 'Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi,' fans screamed as the hearse arrived. Six vehicles carrying the Osbourne family, who paid for the procession, followed. The family emerged briefly, with his wife of 43 years Sharon visibly moved. Long-time fan Antony Hunt said it has been an 'emotional' day and that he wanted to be in the city to pay his respects. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'What's amazing is there's so many, such a wide variety of age groups, from little, little children, teenagers to people in their 60s, 70s, so it's great to see that,' he said. Since Osbourne's death was announced, fans have made pilgrimages to sites around Birmingham, which has embraced its reputation as the birthplace of heavy metal. Among his peers, the singer was metal's godfather. Sharon Osbourne, Jack Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne and Aimee Osbourne view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne from fans at Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge as his funeral cortege travels through his home city of Birmingham on July 30, 2025 in Birmingham, England. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on July 22nd at the age of 76. His death occurred just a little over two weeks after his final live performance at the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images 'Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham,' said city official Zafar Iqbal. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.' Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates, Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, were recently awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their services to Birmingham. Black Sabbath's story began in Birmingham in 1968 when the four original members were looking to escape a life of factory work. Without doubt, the sound and fury of heavy metal had its roots in the city's manufacturing heritage. Osbourne never forgot his working-class roots, and his Brummie accent remained. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Black Sabbath has been widely credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy metal — aggressive, but full of melodies. Osbourne was the band's frontman during its peak period in the 1970s. A public tribute is displayed as Ozzy Osbourne's funeral cortege travels through his home city of Birmingham on July 30, 2025 in Birmingham, England. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on July 22nd at the age of 76. His death occurred just a little over two weeks after his final live performance at the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images His antics, on and off stage, were legendary, and often fueled by drink and drugs. He was widely known as the 'Prince of Darkness.' The band's eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.K. top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit albums, including 1971's 'Master of Reality' and 'Vol. 4' a year later. It went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. At the final show on July 5, 42,000 fans watched the band perform for the first time in 20 years at Villa Park, home of the city's biggest soccer club, Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been in poor health in recent years, especially after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans in the early 2000s reality show 'The Osbournes' in which he starred alongside Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack. Read More Vancouver Canucks Columnists News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Birmingham pays its respects to local hero and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne
New Osbroune grew up in the English city, which is also where Black Sabbath was formed Ozzy Osbourne returned to the "home of metal" for the last time on Wednesday as an emotional Birmingham, England, honoured one of its most cherished sons. Thousands of Black Sabbath fans paid their respects to the band's frontman as his hearse made its way through the city centre followed by his tearful wife and children. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, went down Broad Street, one of the city's major thoroughfares, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. "Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi," fans screamed. Six vehicles carrying the Osbourne family followed the hearse, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car. The family emerged briefly to inspect the array of tributes, with his wife of 43 years, Sharon Osbourne, visibly moved and wiping away tears. And long after the hearse had moved on for the private funeral, the city, which has embraced its reputation as the citadel of heavy metal, was pounding to the beat of Black Sabbath. An emotional day It was in Birmingham, where John (Ozzy) Osbourne grew up, that the world-conquering heavy metal band was formed in 1968. WATCH | Birmingham remembers Ozzy Osbourne: Media Video | Ozzy Osbourne: Family, fans send off heavy metal icon Caption: Thousands of heavy metal fans lined the streets of Birmingham, England, on Wednesday to bid farewell to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne. A band performing the Black Sabbath classic Iron Man led the funeral procession in Osbourne's home city, while his wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly laid down flowers at a floral tribute. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Osbourne embraced the city in central England as much as it embraced him, as was evident on the streets. Long-time fan Antony Hunt said it has been an "emotional" day and that he wanted to be in the city to pay his respects. "What's amazing is there's so many, such a wide variety of age groups, from little, little children, teenagers to people in their 60s, 70s, so it's great to see that," he said. Katie Brazier, head of events at Birmingham City Council, said Osbourne meant "everything" to the city. "He never forgot where he came from," she said. "You could still hear that Brummie accent wherever he was, you know, I think some people have hidden away from the fact that they are from Birmingham and they've got that accent but he kept it all the way through." Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates — Terence (Geezer) Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward — were recently awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their services to Birmingham. City roots in the music, too Black Sabbath's story began in Birmingham in 1968 when the four original members were looking to escape a life of factory work. Without doubt, the sound and fury of heavy metal had its roots in the city's manufacturing heritage. Osbourne never forgot his working-class roots. The band has been widely credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy metal — aggressive, but full of melodies. Osbourne was Black Sabbath's frontman during its peak period in the 1970s. His antics, on and off stage, were legendary, and often fuelled by drink and drugs. He was widely known as the "Prince of Darkness." The band's eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.K. Top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit albums, including 1971's Master of Reality and Vol. 4 a year later. It went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. At the final show on July 5, 42,000 fans watched the original band perform together for the first time in 20 years at Villa Park, home of the city's biggest soccer club, Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been in poor health in recent years. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans in the early 2000s reality show The Osbournes in which he starred alongside Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Ozzy Osbourne, godfather of heavy metal who later found fame on reality TV, dead at 76
Family of Black Sabbath frontman says he died 'surrounded by love' Caption: Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of heavy metal band Black Sabbath, died Tuesday at the age of 76. No cause of death was released. He had played his last concert with Black Sabbath just two and a half week ago in his hometown of Birmingham, U.K., Here he is seen performing during a 2016 Black Sabbath concert in Budapest, Hungary. (Balazs Mohai/The Associated Press) Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of the 1970s heavy metal band Black Sabbath, earned his infamy biting the head off a bat on stage and pursuing a drug-fuelled lifestyle before reinventing himself as a lovable if often foul-mouthed reality TV star. Osbourne, known to fans as the "Prince of Darkness" and the godfather of heavy metal, died Tuesday morning at the age of 76, according to a family statement. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," said the statement sent to CBC News on behalf of the family. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time." No cause of death was released, but he'd had a string of health issues in recent years. Parkinson's diagnosis Osbourne announced in January 2020 that he had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's disease, known as Parkinsonism or Parkin 2, a nervous system disorder that affects movement. In an interview with Good Morning America at the time, he said the diagnosis came after a fall. He also had to cancel tour dates in 2019 due to health troubles. Also in 2020, he told GQ that he had emphysema, saying he feared that as a result of this diagnosis, he could die if he fell ill with COVID-19. He also had a long history of drug use and heavy drinking. Osbourne kicked off his career in the early 1970s, blaring out Black Sabbath hits such as Paranoid, War Pigs and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Those plus a string of solo releases saw him sell more than 100 million records worldwide. He was twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — once with Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, who was also his manager; their three children, Jack, Kelly and Aimee; and three children from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, Jessica, Louis and Elliot; as well as several grandchildren. Sabbath fired Osbourne in 1979 for his legendary excesses, which included showing up late for rehearsals and missing gigs. "We knew we didn't really have a choice but to sack him because he was just so out of control. But we were all very down about the situation," wrote bassist Terry (Geezer) Butler in his memoir, Into the Void. Osbourne re-emerged the next year as a solo artist with Blizzard of Ozz and the following year's Diary of a Madman, both hard rock classics that went multi-platinum and spawned enduring favourites such as Crazy Train, Goodbye to Romance, Flying High Again and You Can't Kill Rock and Roll. Photogallery | Ozzy Osbourne: Life and times of the 'Prince of Darkness' Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Return to Sabbath and a final show He returned to Black Sabbath in 1997 and in 2013 released the band's final album, 13, along with two other original members — Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi. The band toured until 2017. The original four-man Sabbath lineup, including drummer Bill Ward, reunited for the first time in 20 years earlier this month on July 5 for what Osbourne said would be his final concert. "Let the madness begin!" he told 42,000 fans in Birmingham. Metallica, Guns N Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Anthrax, Rival Sons and Mastodon all did sets. Tom Morello, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Billy Corgan, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, Sammy Hagar and more made appearances. "Black Sabbath, we'd all be different people without them, that's the truth," said Pantera singer Phil Anselmo on stage. "I know I wouldn't be up here with a microphone in my hand without Black Sabbath." WATCH | Osbourne's farewell performance with Black Sabbath on July 5: Media Video | See Ozzy Osbourne play final show, weeks before his death Caption: Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath played an emotional farewell gig in Birmingham, England, on July 5 in front of tens of thousands of fans. After the show, fans paid tribute to the godfather of heavy metal, who died Tuesday at the age of 76. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. A rocker and a shocker The hard riffs and dark subject matter — from depression to war to apocalypse — were combined with an instinct for Halloween theatrics. Osbourne became known for stunts such as throwing raw meat into the audience and, in 1982, biting the head off a bat thrown on stage by a fan. He always insisted he thought it was a toy until he bit into it, realized his mistake and rushed to hospital for a rabies shot. He later sold branded bat soft toys with a removable head. Osbourne was a regular target for conservative and religious groups concerned about the negative impact of rock music on young people. He always acknowledged the excesses of his lifestyle and provocative lyrics — but poured scorn on the wilder reports that he was an actual devil-worshipper. "I've done some bad things in my time. But I ain't the devil," he said in a 2010 biography. "I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time." Image | ROCK HALL Caption: Black Sabbath members, from left, Geezer Butler, Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward react after the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York in 2006. (Mike Segar/Reuters) Open image in new tab Life and legacy of a legendary musician Born John Michael Osbourne, he was the fourth of six children, growing up in Aston, in the city of Birmingham in central England. He struggled with dyslexia, left school at age 15, did a series of menial jobs and at one point served a brief prison sentence for burglary. Then came Black Sabbath. "When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f--king way." Image | People-Ozzy Osbourne Caption: Osbourne, left, and his wife, Sharon, at the Metal Hammer Golden God awards in London in 2020. That year, he revealed he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a nervous system disorder that affects movement. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/The Associated Press) Open image in new tab It was those latter stages of his life that provided the setting for his reinvention in 2002 as the star of U.S. reality TV show The Osbournes, featuring the rocker and his family members, including wife, Sharon, and two of their five kids, Jack and Kelly. Cameras followed the aging rock god as he ambled around his huge house, pronouncing on events in his heavy, Birmingham accent and looking on bemused at the antics of his family — a format that won them all legions of new fans. Ozzy remembered His bandmates paid tribute to him on Tuesday in a post on Instagram with the simple message "Ozzy Forever." Elton John, also on Instagram, called him "a dear friend and a trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods." Rod Stewart told Osbourne in an Instagram post to "sleep well." "I'll see you up there — later rather than sooner," he joked. British TV host Piers Morgan, a longtime friend to Sharon Osbourne, remembered Osbourne as "one of the greatest rock stars in history, and a wonderful character." "Truly one of the funniest people I've ever known," Morgan wrote in a post on X. "I once asked him what was the best moment of his life and he replied instantly: 'Meeting Sharon.' My heart breaks for her. 💔" Britain's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, a member of parliament representing a Birmingham constituency, wrote on X that she was devastated to hear the news of his death. "One of the greatest gifts my city gave the world," Mahmood said. And MTV expressed sadness at the loss of a "rock and roll icon."
