Ozzy Osbourne procession ‘fitting tribute to working class hero'
Councillor Zafar Iqbal said it was 'very emotional' to see Sharon, 72, and the family at the event, which drew huge crowds who chanted 'Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi'.
The family of Ozzy Osbourne, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, embrace as they view the messages and floral tributes left at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham (Joe Giddens/PA)
Mr Iqbal hugged Sharon after she arrived in Broad Street alongside Osbourne's hearse on Wednesday afternoon, but told the PA news agency he wanted to keep what they said to each other private.
He said: 'It was a very emotional thing when she came out of the car, I hugged her and she hugged me, it was a private moment.
'It was incredibly emotional for me to see her and the family. They are such a loving family and you can see how loving they are.
'I think Ozzy was so cared for, and the love they showed, the fans showed, and the city showed him today was incredible.
'This is our city, this is the greatest city in the world and this is what we can do.'
Mr Iqbal added: 'It was very emotional and a great turnout with thousands of fans lining the streets.
'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.
'Like his final gig, he came back home and we were proud to have him.
Sharon and Kelly Osbourne lay flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge (Joe Giddens/PA)
'I have been here since seven o'clock this morning 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.'
Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates – Terence 'Geezer' Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward – were recently given the freedom of the city of Birmingham, which recognises people's exceptional service to the city.
Mr Iqbal said: 'I got to know him in the last few weeks when we gave him the freedom of the city and he was just so humble, so down to earth.
'He was a working class hero.
The hearse carrying Ozzy Osbourne (Joe Giddens/PA)
'I couldn't tell he was a rock star, he was just an ordinary guy, so caring.
'He had working class roots and he loved his fans, he loved his city, he always promoted Birmingham wherever he went, he was proud to have been born in Aston.
'His slogan was 'Birmingham Forever' and that makes me such a proud citizen.
'It was a last hurrah for him today.'
Musicians from Bostin Brass played Black Sabbath songs to accompany the cortege, and fans threw flowers at the hearse while it slowly passed through the city on Wednesday.
Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, died at the age of 76 just over two weeks after Black Sabbath were reunited barely two miles from where they first played together more than 50 years ago.
The Back to the Beginning concert on July 5 took place at Villa Park and saw performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses, with Black Sabbath the last to appear on stage.
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Kelly Osbourne reveals dad Ozzy's 10 words of wisdom as she grieves for the late rock icon
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The Sun
2 hours ago
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Kelly Osbourne reveals dad Ozzy's 10 words of wisdom as she grieves for the late rock icon
KELLY Osbourne has shared her rocker father's 10 words of wisdom following his sad death. In a touching tribute to the star, Kelly re-shared a clip from the family's hit MTV reality show The Osbournes in which Ozzy spoke profoundly about his outlook on life. 4 4 4 Kelly shared the heart-warming clip amid her own devastating grief for the rocker. In the clip, Ozzy can be heard sharing some poignant words. He said: "Listen, all you've got to worry about is getting through today. "That's all you've gotta worry about." He then added: "Just live each day to the fullest. "Don't worry, you've got to stop worrying." Kelly uploaded the throwback clip to her Instagram story after sharing a photo from a tribute to Ozzy following his private funeral on the grounds of the family's Buckinghamshire estate. His grieving daughter has now shared a picture of a wreath, which read: 'Ozzy f***ing Osbourne,' which was placed by the bank of the water. The emotional funeral service saw 110 of Ozzy's nearest and dearest join his wife Sharon and his children Jack, 39, Kelly, 40, Aimee, 41, and Louis, 50, who is Ozzy's son from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. A family friend told The Sun that Ozzy and Sharon's home was decorated with pictures of the Black Sabbath rocker - and that they had planned to give mourners a photograph of him to take home with them. They added: 'Ozzy's service was a beautiful tribute. As well as tears, there was laughter.' Stars including Ozzy's Black Sabbath bandmates, Metallica's James Hetfield, punk singer Yungblud and Sir Elton John were all at the service to say goodbye. Rock icon Marilyn Manson was also among the mourners who attended, after flying in from the US, along with Ozzy's guitarist Zakk Wylde and Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor. The road leading to Ozzy and Sharon's home, close to Gerrards Cross, was closed from 1pm. Guests were sent a simple black invitation with a picture of a cross that read: 'In loving memory of Ozzy Osbourne.'
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5 hours ago
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