Fans gathered in Birmingham, England, on July 30 to honor Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, during his funeral procession. Osbourne passed away last week at the age of 76. Born and raised in Birmingham, the city was not only his hometown but also the birthplace of Black Sabbath.
"Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham," Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal said in a statement on Tuesday.
The procession made its way down Broad Street toward the Black Sabbath Bridge, which includes life-size cutouts of Osbourne and fellow founding members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Fans have flocked to the bridge in recent days, leaving floral tributes, handwritten notes, and photos in memory of the man known as the Prince of Darkness.
One tribute tied to the bridge — an Aston Villa shirt — read: “Final Stop On The Crazy Train? But Metal Lives Forever,” referencing Osbourne’s hit single “Crazy Train” from his 1980 solo debut. Since his death, the song surged in popularity, breaking into the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time at No. 46.
For those unable to attend in person, the city offered a livestream of the memorial site. Iqbal said it was vital to provide “a fitting, dignified tribute” before Osbourne’s private family funeral.
Osbourne had retired from touring in 2023 after revealing a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Just weeks before his death, he reunited with Black Sabbath for a surprise performance in Birmingham.
"You have no idea how I feel," Osbourne told a crowd of over 40,000 that night. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
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