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CNN
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Birmingham, the home of metal, honors Ozzy Osbourne as hearse passes through
The 'home of metal' is honoring one of its most cherished sons. Thousands of Black Sabbath fans were paying their respects Wednesday to frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, was making its way down Broad Street, the city's major thoroughfare, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. 'Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi,' fans screamed as the hearse arrived. Six vehicles carrying the Osbourne family, who paid for the procession, followed. The family emerged briefly, with his wife of 43 years Sharon visibly moved. Long-time fan Antony Hunt said it has been an 'emotional' day and that he wanted to be in the city to pay his respects. 'What's amazing is there's so many, such a wide variety of age groups, from little, little children, teenagers to people in their 60s, 70s, so it's great to see that,' he said. Since Osbourne's death was announced, fans have made pilgrimages to sites around Birmingham, which has embraced its reputation as the birthplace of heavy metal. Among his peers, the singer was metal's godfather. 'Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham,' said city official Zafar Iqbal. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.' Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates, Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, were recently awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their services to Birmingham. Black Sabbath's story began in Birmingham in 1968 when the four original members were looking to escape a life of factory work. Without doubt, the sound and fury of heavy metal had its roots in the city's manufacturing heritage. Osbourne never forgot his working-class roots, and his Brummie accent remained. Black Sabbath has been widely credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy metal – aggressive, but full of melodies. Osbourne was the band's frontman during its peak period in the 1970s. His antics, on and off stage, were legendary, and often fueled by drink and drugs. He was widely known as the 'Prince of Darkness.' Prev Next The band's eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.K. top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit albums, including 1971's 'Master of Reality' and 'Vol. 4' a year later. It went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. At the final show on July 5, 42,000 fans watched the band perform for the first time in 20 years at Villa Park, home of the city's biggest soccer club, Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been in poor health in recent years, especially after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans in the early 2000s reality show 'The Osbournes' in which he starred alongside Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack.
CTV News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Birmingham, the home of metal, to honour Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse makes way through city
Floral tributes left at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in memory of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne ahead of the funeral procession, in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) BIRMINGHAM, England — The 'home of metal' is gearing up to honour one of its most cherished sons. Thousands of Black Sabbath fans will pay their respects Wednesday to frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse makes its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, will make its way down Broad Street, the city's major thoroughfare, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. Family members are expected to watch the cortege, which will be accompanied by a live brass band. Since his death was announced, fans have made pilgrimages to sites around Birmingham, which has over the decades embraced its reputation as the birthplace of heavy metal. Among his peers, Osbourne was metal's godfather. 'Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham," said city official Zafar Iqbal. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.' Broad Street closed to through traffic early Wednesday morning and will only reopen after the funeral finishes. Buses and trams have been diverted. Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates, Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, were recently awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their services to Birmingham. The group has been widely credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy metal. Osbourne was the band's frontman during its peak period in the 1970s and was widely known as the 'Prince of Darkness.' His antics, on and off stage, were legendary, and often fueled by copious amounts of drinks and drugs. Sabbath's story began in Birmingham in 1968 when the four original members were looking to escape a life of factory work. Their eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.K. top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit albums, including 1971's 'Master of Reality' and 'Vol. 4' a year later. They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. At their final show on July 5, 42,000 fans watched the band perform for the first time in 20 years at Villa Park, home of the city's biggest soccer club Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been in poor health in recent years, especially after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans in the early 2000s reality show 'The Osbournes' in which he starred alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack. The Associated Press
Associated Press
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Birmingham, the home of metal, to honor Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse makes way through city
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — The 'home of metal' is gearing up to honor one of its most cherished sons. Thousands of Black Sabbath fans will pay their respects Wednesday to frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse makes its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, will make its way down Broad Street, the city's major thoroughfare, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. Family members are expected to watch the cortege, which will be accompanied by a live brass band. Since his death was announced, fans have made pilgrimages to sites around Birmingham, which has over the decades embraced its reputation as the birthplace of heavy metal. Among his peers, Osbourne was metal's godfather. 'Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham,' said city official Zafar Iqbal. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.' Broad Street closed to through traffic early Wednesday morning and will only reopen after the funeral finishes. Buses and trams have been diverted. Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates, Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, were recently awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their services to Birmingham. The group has been widely credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy metal. Osbourne was the band's frontman during its peak period in the 1970s and was widely known as the 'Prince of Darkness.' His antics, on and off stage, were legendary, and often fueled by copious amounts of drinks and drugs. Sabbath's story began in Birmingham in 1968 when the four original members were looking to escape a life of factory work. Their eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.K. top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit albums, including 1971's 'Master of Reality' and 'Vol. 4' a year later. They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. At their final show on July 5, 42,000 fans watched the band perform for the first time in 20 years at Villa Park, home of the city's biggest soccer club Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been in poor health in recent years, especially after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans in the early 2000s reality show 'The Osbournes' in which he starred alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack.
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession today in U.K. gives Black Sabbath frontman's fans a chance to say farewell
Fans of legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne will have a chance to pay their respects to the heavy metal icon today when his funeral procession makes its way through Birmingham, England. Osbourne, who died last week at the age of 76, grew up in Birmingham, and the city in central England is where Black Sabbath was formed. "Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham," the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal said in a statement Tuesday. The procession is scheduled to start at around 1 p.m. local time (8 a.m. Eastern). It will make its way down Birmingham's Broad Street in the center of the city toward a canal bridge named in honor of Black Sabbath. The bridge features a bench with life-size cutouts of the band's four founding members — Osbourne, Terry "Geezer" Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward. Since Osbourne's death, fans have been flocking to the site to pay tribute to the singer known as the Prince of Darkness, leaving flowers, pictures and notes. "Final Stop On The Crazy Train?" a handwritten message said on an Aston Villa soccer team shirt that was tied to the bridge last week, referring to the single "Crazy Train" from Osbourne's debut solo album in 1980. The message added: "But Metal Lives Forever." After Osbourne's death, "Crazy Train" was streamed and played on the radio so much that the song made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time, ranking at No. 46 on its most recent edition. Fans who couldn't make it to Birmingham to honor Osbourne were invited to watch a livestream of the bench and bridge. Iqbal said it was important for the city to have a "fitting, dignified tribute" to the legendary rocker before the private family funeral. "We know how much this moment will mean to his fans," he said. "We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began." Osbourne retired from touring in 2023, three years after revealing that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative movement disorder. His death came less than three weeks after he appeared onstage for the final time, reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates in a Birmingham concert that featured performances from rock legends influenced by the band. "You have no idea how I feel," Osbourne told the crowd of over 40,000 fans that night, according to BBC News. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Sky News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Ozzy Osbourne cortege to travel through Birmingham
Ozzy Osbourne fans will be able to say goodbye to the heavy metal pioneer at a procession for his cortege through his home city of Birmingham tomorrow. The star's hearse will make its way down Broad Street towards the Black Sabbath bridge and bench - where thousands of fans have left flowers, messages and other tributes since his death. Osbourne, 76, died less than three weeks after performing his "final bow" in the city - the Back The Beginning reunion with his Sabbath bandmates at Villa Park, which raised about £140m for charity. Large crowds are expected to gather tomorrow as fans pay their respects to the performer who shaped heavy metal music and "proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career", the city council said. Members of Osbourne's family will also be in attendance and have funded the event, the council added. "Ozzy was more than a music legend - he was a son of Birmingham," said the city's lord mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal. "We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began." 7:56 Mr Iqbal said it was important to the city to give the star "a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral". Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates Terence "Geezer" Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward were awarded the Freedom of the City in June, before the Back To The Beginning show, honouring their "significance to the cultural and musical identity of Birmingham". The star's cortege will travel down Broad Street from about 1pm tomorrow, accompanied by a live brass band, Bostin' Brass. For those not able to make it, a live stream of the Black Sabbath bench, which has been running since Osbourne's death, will continue. There is also a book of condolence for public messages at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, alongside the Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero exhibition, highlighting his solo career achievements. Osbourne, the self-styled Prince of Darkness, pioneered heavy metal with Black Sabbath before going on to have huge success in his own right. He was famous for hits including Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, Crazy Train and Changes, both with the band and as a solo star. The singer also found a different kind of fame thanks to noughties MTV reality show The Osbournes, which followed his somewhat chaotic life with wife Sharon and two of their children, Kelly and Jack. Following his death, his family released a statement saying he died alongside them, "surrounded by love".
