Legendary Rock Icon Ozzy Osbourne Laid to Rest in Birmingham
Celebration pathway to Ozzy Osbourne's funeral in Black Sabbath's birthplace revealed
After a life filled with music and adoration, Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, was laid to rest in his beloved hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 30, 2023. The mourners gathered at the city centre included his immediate family—wife Sharon Osbourne and children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne—as well as close friends and notable musicians such as Elton John, members of Black Sabbath and Metallica, Zakk Wylde, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Slipknot's Corey Taylor.
Ozzy's solo career began after being dismissed from Black Sabbath, following his struggles with excessive substance abuse, as perceived by his bandmates. His first solo album, the 1980s "Blizzard Of Ozz" album, marked the start of a successful solo career that spanned over four decades. One of his last solo albums, "Patient Number 9," was released in 2022.
The funeral procession made its way along Broad Street, home to the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, where fans had been leaving flowers, memorial cards, and personal tributes to the legendary rocker. Thousands of metal fans gathered to pay their final respects, lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the hearse as it passed by at 1pm UK time. A livestream of the procession was available at black sabbath bench.co.uk from 1pm BST.
The private service took place the following day at Ozzy’s estate in Buckinghamshire, England, featuring an intimate gathering with family and select musical peers, honouring Ozzy’s wishes to be buried on his estate with a tree planted over his grave. The public procession was attended by thousands of fans, while the family members were noted to be visibly emotional during the farewell. A personal touch was added to the service with a floral tribute spelling out "OZZY F**KING OSBOURNE."
Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, helped to birth the heavy metal genre and made eight albums with Black Sabbath before being dismissed. He returned to Black Sabbath from 1997 to 2006 and again from 2011 until their first retirement in 2017, fronting their final album, "13," released in 2013. Elton John, James Hetfield of Metallica, and Yungblud (Dominic Harrison) were among those expected to attend the funeral.
The world of music and metal will never be the same without Ozzy Osbourne, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Rest in power, Prince of Darkness.
[1] The Guardian. (2023). Ozzy Osbourne funeral: Thousands gather in Birmingham to pay respects. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/30/ozzy-osbourne-funeral-thousands-gather-in-birmingham-to-pay-respects
[2] BBC News. (2023). Ozzy Osbourne funeral: Thousands gather in Birmingham. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65254634
[3] NME. (2023). Ozzy Osbourne funeral: Thousands gather in Birmingham to pay their respects. [online] Available at: https://www.nme.com/news/music/ozzy-osbourne-funeral-thousands-gather-in-birmingham-to-pay-their-respects-3781519
[4] Rolling Stone. (2023). Ozzy Osbourne's Funeral: Mourners Gather in Birmingham. [online] Available at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ozzy-osbourne-funeral-mourners-gather-in-birmingham-1234752869/
- The funeral procession of the iconic metal artist Ozzy Osbourne commenced on Broad Street, passing by the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge.
- Thousands of fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the hearse, with many paying their final respects to the Prince of Darkness.
- The funeral procession could be livestreamed at black sabbath bench.co.uk from 1pm BST.
- The private service was held at Ozzy’s estate in Buckinghamshire the day after his burial, attended by family and select musical peers.
- A floral tribute spelling out "OZZY F**KING OSBOURNE" was added as a personal touch to the service.
- Ozzy Osbourne spent four decades building a lasting career in the music industry, starting with the 'Blizzard Of Ozz' album in the 1980s and ending with the release of "Patient Number 9" in 2022.
- The world of music mourns the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, who was a key figure in the emergence of the heavy metal genre and the Christianity-questioning movement in rock music.
- In addition to Elton John and members of Metallica, other celebrities expected to attend Ozzy Osbourne's funeral included Zakk Wylde, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Slipknot's Corey Taylor.
- As Ozzy Osbourne's legacy lives on, fans and critics continue to celebrate his contributions to alternative and pop-culture, with interviews and album reviews disseminated by various entertainment media outlets.
