Ozzy Osbourne’s Family and Fans Bid a Joyous Farewell to Birmingham’s Prince of Darkness

30 July 2025

(L-R) Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne during Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession. Leon Neal/Getty

On July 30, 2025, in the city where he first made his mark, thousands of fans gathered to bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne. As his flower‑draped coffin wound its way down Broad Street in Birmingham, chants of “Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy – oi oi oi” echoed through the streets. The procession halted at the iconic Black Sabbath bench and bridge, once tributes of metal lore, now adorned with photos and flowers from all over the world. Sharon Osbourne, visibly moved and dressed in black, led the tributes alongside their children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis, the latter making a rare public appearance. In unison, the family laid floral tributes and gave peace signs to the crowd, making solidarity visible and emotional.

The day offered fans and family alike an opportunity to honour Ozzy's legacy as more than the Godfather of Metal. Oakwood’s Bostin Brass band performed renditions of "Iron Man" and Osbourne’s solo hit "Crazy Train" while fans showered the hearse with flowers and applause. City officials had worked with the family to organise the event, which was funded entirely by the Osbournes themselves ensuring that the city could host the celebration properly.

Many mourners carried banners and wore tattoos and shirts proclaiming Ozzy’s name. One elder tribute read: “To our king of metal, a light in the darkness,” capturing the emotional resonance the musician held for his hometown. Birmingham’s city council had recently recognised him with Freedom of the City status just weeks before his death. Mayor Zafar Iqbal remarked on Osbourne’s role in putting working‑class Birmingham on the map, asserting the occasion was a deeply deserved homage.

Close family members including his widow and four of six children walked behind the coffin in solemn silence, pausing at the Black Sabbath bridge for a moment of reflection before continuing their journey. Sharon Osbourne, standing near the memorial bench, wiped tears as she absorbed the enormity of the tribute. Fans pressed against barriers, many holding lit candles or holding back tears at seeing the rock legend’s final procession.

The public ceremony was followed by a private burial planned for later the same day in Gerrards Cross. Close family, longtime friends, and fellow musicians including Elton John, James Hetfield and Yungblud are expected to attend. The family source told Ozzy “would never want a mope‑fest,” and that the funeral was intended to be a “celebration of life” honouring his wishes.

Famously dubbed the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne had joked years ago in a 2011 column that his funeral playlist could include Justin Bieber or Susan Boyle anything to keep the mood light. He warned against dwelling on the bad times, reinforcing his preference for joyful remembrances over solemn ceremonies.

Just 17 days before his death, Ozzy took his final bow on stage at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham, performing seated on a throne amid a farewell tour dubbed “Back to the Beginning.” Though Parkinson’s disease had robbed him of mobility, his voice and presence remained iconic till the end. The concert was streamed live, attracting nearly six million viewers worldwide and raising some £140 million for children’s hospitals and charity causes in Birmingham.

Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. His death came as a shock even to family members: his sisters recalled speaking to him only weeks earlier, unable to conceive that such a milestone goodbye could happen so soon.

Over the decades, his influence spanned far beyond rock music. He helped bring heavy metal into mainstream culture as lead singer of Black Sabbath, and as a solo artist shaped generation after generation. He also broke barriers of celebrity authenticity on reality television through shows like The Osbournes. Industry peers and fans across genres from rock and metal to pop consistently highlighted his mischievous creativity and defiant spirit in public remembrances following his death.

In a city once better known for industry than entertainment, Ozzy’s life and departure became a collective moment of pride and gratitude. The procession of fans lining the streets came as a public expression not only of loss but of belonging. The event, live‑streamed for global fans, offered closure. For local residents, the bench and bridge served as a living monument to a musician who defined a genre and carried his Birmingham roots with pride.

Ozzy’s funeral embodied his own philosophy a life hard-lived, and at the end rejoiced at rather than mourned. From mourners chanting his name to Bostin Brass playing through tears, the spirit of celebration permeated grief. As the coffin left the city behind, the memory of the Prince of Darkness remained alive in the cheers and flowers along Broad Street.