Metal Legend Departs from Birmingham - Farewell to Birmingham's Heavy Metal Pioneer
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary "Prince of Darkness," passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. His memorial service is set to take place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, near London, but his funeral procession will roll through the streets of his hometown, Birmingham, England on July 30, 2025.
The streets of Birmingham were closed to traffic at 7 am on July 30, as numerous followers of Ozzy Osbourne gathered in the city's streets since early morning. The procession, accompanied by a local brass band, will travel through the city center, passing the Black Sabbath Bridge, which has become a shrine since the musician's death.
The Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, stated that Ozzy Osbourne was more than a music legend, he was a son of Birmingham. The Osbourne family is covering all costs for the security and organization of the public procession, which is expected to attract thousands of fans from around the world.
The memorial service in Gerrards Cross will see the attendance of celebrities such as Metallica frontman James Hetfield (61) and Sir Elton John (78). However, the guest list beyond family and the large gathering of fans at the public procession has not been publicly disclosed.
Yungblud (27) will deliver a eulogy at the memorial service. The service will take place in a church, where Sir Elton John will bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne. A live stream of the memorial service will be available on black Sabbath bench.co.uk.
Birmingham Live has set up an extensive live ticker on its website for the memorial service, providing updates on the procession and the service itself. Tony Iommi (77), Geezer Butler (76), and Bill Ward (77) from Black Sabbath are expected to attend the memorial service.
Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession and memorial service will be a fitting tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the world of music. Fans from around the world will gather to pay their respects to the "Prince of Darkness," as his legacy lives on.
[1] Birmingham Live [2] Metro [3] NME
- The grief-stricken citizens of Birmingham, unified by their love for Ozzy Osbourne, turned the streets into a sea of commotion days before his funeral procession, anticipating a celebration of his life that would reflect his deep roots in the city's entertainment scene.
- The funeral procession and the memorial service of Ozzy Osbourne, which mark the end of an era in the world of music, have garnered attention not just from music enthusiasts in the city of Birmingham, but also from celebrities and fans around the globe, asserting him as an icon of the music industry who left an enduring impact.
