Thousands of people lined the streets of Birmingham this afternoon (July 30) for Ozzy Osbourne‘s funeral procession.
The cortege on the city centre’s Broad Street was led by local musicians Bostin’ Brass who played Black Sabbath and the late icon’s classics including ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Crazy Train’ from 1pm BST.
A reef of purple flowers with his name was also laid next to Osbourne’s coffin while fans chanted “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy” throughout the procession.
At one point the Osbourne family exited their vehicles to stop at a fan memorial at the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench. Here, a visibly emotional Sharon Osbourne, who was seen clutching her late’s husband’s ring which she had tied onto a chain around her neck, was consoled by her children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee. Kelly appeared to be wearing Ozzy’s iconic round, purple-tinted sunglasses.
They each laid flowers on top of the hundreds of tributes, read notes left by fans and also made the peace sign to those who had travelled to Birmingham to mourn the heavy metal pioneer, following his death on July 22. He was aged 76.
Also seen around the city is a new sign on Broad Street that reads, “Forever Ozzy. Birmingham will always love you”, and a new mural on Granville Street, which joins others on Navigation Street and Digbeth.
Sharon Osbourne cries and makes sign to cheering crowd
Ozzy Osbourne’s family led tributes to the rock star at his funeral procession this afternoon pic.twitter.com/7iVd4tMtZj
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 30, 2025
Osbourne family arrives at Black Sabbath bridge to say final farewell to Ozzy 💔 pic.twitter.com/oH9LCX2c8B
— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) July 30, 2025
Ahead of the ceremony, the hearse carrying Osbourne’s coffin passed the star’s childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston. Flowers were also placed outside the terraced property, close to Villa Park, while the owners of the house put up a picture of the late icon in the front bay window.
In attendance was Councillor Zafar Iqbal, who described the procession as “very emotional and a great turnout with thousands of fans lining the streets” (via The Independent)
“It was well organised, we looked after all the fans and I think it was a fitting tribute to a legend who was a Brummie through and through, he added. “Like his final gig, he came back home and we were proud to have him. I have been here since 7am talking to fans and the emotions were really high, people just loved Ozzy and you could really feel that when you were there.
“I think we should be a really proud city. I’m proud that we delivered one of the best send-offs I have seen in my time.”
Prior to his funeral, Osbourne said that his one wish was that it wouldn’t be a “mope fest” and instead a celebration of his life.
In a Dear Ozzy column for The Times in 2011, the Prince of Darkness was asked if he had any plans for his own memorial.
“I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are the Diddymen if it makes ’em happy,” he wrote at the time. “But I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest.”
He added: “I’d also like some pranks: maybe the sound of knocking inside the coffin; or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of ‘death.’ There’ll be no harping on the bad times.”
A private funeral for family and friends is also taking place this afternoon but no details have been made public yet.
Shortly after news of his death broke, fans came together to call for both Birmingham Airport and a stage at Download Festival to be renamed after the late singer. A Change.org petition for the former got over 5,000 signees in less than two days, and currently stands at over 52,000 signatures.
Countless fans and figures from the music world have shared tributes to the ‘Crazy Train’ singer since his death – including Zak Starkey, Adam Sandler, Ghost’s Tobias Forge, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Yungblud, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jack White, Coldplay, Gojira and Jake E Lee. Touching messages have also been shared by his Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler.
Zakk Wylde also recently reflected on his final moments with Osbourne following the metal icon’s death.
His death came shortly after the music icon took to the stage for the huge ‘Back To The Beginning’ gig in Birmingham on July 5 – marking his final show both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. While a cause of death has not been revealed, he had been dealing with a myriad of health issues for numerous years, including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
That final show has brought in “a ton” for charities Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice, and a film documenting the gig is currently in production from Mercury Studios and is set to arrive in cinemas in 2026.
