Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with a public procession through Birmingham ahead of a private family funeral, in line with his wishes for a celebration rather than a sombre event.
The Black Sabbath frontman, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, previously expressed his desire for a joyful farewell, stating, “I want it to be a celebration, not a mope-fest.”
On Tuesday, Birmingham City Council confirmed plans for a public tribute on Wednesday afternoon. The procession will begin at Broad Street and proceed to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where fans have left tributes. A brass band from Bostin’ Brass will accompany the cortège.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, described Osbourne as “a son of Birmingham,” highlighting the significance of his recent “Freedom of the City” award and performance at the “Back to the Beginning” concert earlier this month.
A source told People that Osbourne’s family, including wife Sharon and children Aimee, Jack and Kelly, are “planning a small, private funeral that will be a celebration of his life.” The family is said to be “grateful for the special family time they had together before Ozzy passed.”
In a 2011 letter published in The Times, Osbourne shared his funeral wishes, joking about pranks and music selections, but emphasised his desire to avoid a sorrowful ceremony. “It’s worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives. So by any measure, most of us... are very lucky,” he wrote.
Osbourne, diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003, had continued to perform despite health challenges. His final concert, held on July 5 in Birmingham, featured appearances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and others, marking the end of an iconic era in rock history.
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