Birmingham bids farewell to its celebrated figure - Birmingham says goodbye to its shining luminary
Ozzy Osbourne, the man who invented heavy metal music with Black Sabbath, received a fitting farewell in Birmingham, England, on July 30, 2025. A week after his passing at the age of 76, the city paid tribute to its beloved son, with a historic funeral procession that traversed the streets of his hometown.
The procession, financed by the Osbourne family to give Ozzy "the send-off he deserved," started from the family home and made its way down Broad Street, one of Birmingham's main thoroughfares. The route was symbolic, stopping at key locations that encapsulated Ozzy's life and career.
The procession culminated at the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, a canal bridge named in tribute to the iconic band. Fans gathered at this site, and Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's widow, paused to lay flowers amid a growing memorial while the couple’s children stood alongside her.
Thousands of fans lined the streets, celebrating Ozzy not only as a music icon but as a son of Birmingham. The funeral cortege preceded a private family service. The procession underscored key aspects of Ozzy’s life—his connection to Birmingham, the band he helped found in 1968, and his influence on heavy metal music worldwide.
The Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal, publicly acknowledged Ozzy's impact, calling him "more than a music legend—he was a son of Birmingham." The Bostin Brass band accompanied the family, adding a poignant touch to the occasion.
The funeral procession occurred just days after an emotional farewell concert at Villa Park Stadium, where Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath and other legendary rock bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. Reports suggest that Ozzy's wife, Sharon, is considering burying him on the family's 350-acre estate.
In an interview with "The Times," Ozzy spoke about his ideas for his own funeral: "I don't want my funeral to be sad. I want to say 'thank you' that way." The city of Birmingham is planning to bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday, with Broad Street set to be closed to traffic from 7:00 AM local time, and buses and trams diverted for the funeral procession.
Entertainment world bid an emotional farewell to Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary heavy metal music figure, in a grand funeral procession held in Birmingham, a city known for nurturing celebrities. The procession, filled with music enthusiasts, celebrating the life of the icon, also highlighted his connections to Black Sabbath, the city, and his global influence on music.
