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Global News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Ozzy Osbourne to be honoured with funeral procession in Birmingham, England
Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with a funeral procession in his hometown of Birmingham, England. The rock icon, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, will ride through the streets of Birmingham in a hearse on Wednesday, July 30, according to the Birmingham City Council. 'The city of Birmingham is to pay its final respects to one of its most cherished cultural icons Ozzy Osbourne as his cortege and family visit Broad Street in the city that he loved,' city council announced in a press release on Tuesday. The hearse carrying Osbourne's body and accompanying vehicles will make their way down Broad Street from 1 p.m. local time to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and tributes in recent days for the War Pigs singer. Story continues below advertisement The cortege will be accompanied by a live brass band performance — local musicians Bostin' Brass — a final musical moment to honour the legacy of Osbourne, according to the press release. The event is expected to draw large crowds of fans as they gather to say goodbye to 'the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre and who proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career, whilst allowing his family a chance to see the many memories of his loyal fans have left alongside flowers and tributes.' 6:36 Ozzy Osbourne was 'ground zero' for heavy metal: Musicians, fans mourn loss of Black Sabbath icon 'Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham. Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral,' Coun. Zafar Iqbal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement '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, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves,' Iqbal added. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Birmingham City Council worked with partners over the weekend to coordinate the 'respectful and safe public event' in collaboration with the Osbourne family, 'who have kindly funded all of the associated costs.' For those unable to attend, there will be a livestream of the Black Sabbath bench online for viewing. 2:06 Remembering Ozzy Osbourne: 5 times he truly reigned as the Prince of Darkness Just over two weeks before his death, Osbourne delivered his last-ever live performance with the original lineup of Black Sabbath at Villa Park soccer stadium in their home city of Birmingham, central England, on July 5. Story continues below advertisement The singer sang from a black throne that rose up from under the stage. 'Let the madness begin!' he urged as he took the stage. Later, he paid tribute to fans. 'I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,' the Crazy Train singer said. 'You're all … special. Let's go crazy, come on.' Osbourne performed several songs solo before being joined onstage for the first time in 20 years by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with Paranoid, one of its most famous songs. On July 22, his family announced that Osbourne had died, saying, 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his six children. It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and… — Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 22, 2025
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How to watch Ozzy Osbourne's Birmingham cortege procession from home ahead of funeral
If there's one thing the last month has shown, it's that people from all over the globe will come to Birmingham in honour of Ozzy Osbourne. They came for fan get-togethers at the city's murals and tourist spots ahead of his last performance at Villa Park Stadium on Saturday, July 5 and, in the days since he died aged 76, they've been flocking to town to sign the books of condolence at the museum and to lay flowers, cards and tributes at Black Sabbath bench. The star died on Tuesday, July 22 and now it's been confirmed that he will be returning to Birmingham for one last time, with his cortege journeying to Broad Street to pass those tributes. Read more: Ozzy Osbourne funeral procession live stream details Read more: Birmingham Airport confirms Ozzy Osbourne memorial plans amid call to rename BHX Once again, fans are expected to head to the city in honour of the singer and to show support for his family who are expected to travel with him. They're encouraged to head into town early via public transport, with stewards and security on hand to help steer people safely along the route. The costs of this are being covered by the Osbourne family with Birmingham City Council involved in the planning. READ MORE: Pictures show raw emotion of Ozzy Osbourne fans laying Birmingham tributes For those who can't make it into town to secure their place along the short route from Five Ways to the bridge, there is a live camera set up which streams views of Black Sabbath bridge around the clock. You can tune in to it here, so you'll be able to see the cars as they pass. We'll be reporting live from Broad Street tomorrow too. Birmingham City Council has an online book of condolence that fans from around the world can sign if they're not in the city to take part but wish to leave a message of support for Ozzy and his family. You can find it on the council website here. The physical books of condolence can be located at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition Working Class Hero is currently on too.
News24
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Thousands to pay tribute as Birmingham bids farewell to Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with a funeral cortege through his hometown of Birmingham on Wednesday before a private family service. Fans have flocked to Black Sabbath Bridge, leaving tributes to the iconic figure who passed away on 22 July at age 76. As the frontman of Black Sabbath, Osbourne played a pivotal role in pioneering heavy metal. Heavy metal hell-raiser Ozzy Osbourne will be laid to rest on Wednesday, with thousands set to bid the legendary musician a final farewell when his funeral cortege drives through his UK hometown. Officials in the central city of Birmingham said Tuesday they have worked with his family to draw up the details of Osbourne's last goodbye before a private funeral service. 'Ozzy was more than a music legend - he was a son of Birmingham,' Zafar Iqbal, the lord mayor of the central English city, said in a statement. 'It was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral,' he said. Osbourne, nicknamed the 'Prince of Darkness' and who once bit a bat while on stage while performing with his Black Sabbath band, died on July 22 at the age of 76. READ | Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath's bat-biting frontman, dies aged 76 The heavy metal star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, passed away just over a fortnight after playing a final gig before a sold-out crowd in Birmingham. Birmingham City Council said Osbourne's funeral cortege would pass slowly through the city from 13:00 (12:00 GMT) down Broad Street to Black Sabbath Bridge. The hearse and vehicles will be accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin' Brass. '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,' Iqbal said. Thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes at the bridge in recent days, mourning the death of the musician who was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal, an offshoot of hard rock. AFP Iqbal said the Osbourne family 'have kindly funded all of the associated costs' of the funeral. Black Sabbath enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1970s and 80s after forming in Birmingham in 1968. Black Sabbath's eponymous 1970 debut album made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records, including their most famous song, 'Paranoid.' The group went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was added for a second time last year as a solo artist. Osbourne gained notoriety for his outlandish stunts, many of them fuelled by his lavish use of drugs and alcohol. In 1989, he was arrested for drunkenly trying to strangle his wife Sharon, which he once mentioned in a 2007 interview. His live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly the 1982 gig in the US city of Des Moines when he bit a bat on stage. Osbourne said he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it was not until he took a bite that he realised it was real.
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ozzy Osbourne funeral procession to ride through UK hometown
Black Sabbath fans will get to honor Ozzy Osbourne in a funeral procession in his hometown. The heavy metal legend, who died July 22 at 76, will ride through the streets of Birmingham, United Kingdom, on the morning of Wednesday, July 30, according to the Birmingham City Council. Osbourne's body will travel in a hearse accompanied by a brass band and head to Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have already paid their respects with flowers and tributes, per a release from the council. A live stream of the Black Sabbath bench is available online. The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and legendary rocker died just weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final show in England. The July 5 concert was a reprieve from the English singer's harrowing battle with Parkinson's disease, which had rendered him unable to stand or walk without assistance. Black Sabbath bassist reflects on rehearsing with 'frail' Ozzy Osbourne for farewell show The U.K. procession will take place ahead of a private family funeral, which has yet to be disclosed. Osbourne's family will be covering all costs for the procession. A family statement shared with USA TODAY after his passing said the rocker died in Birmingham, England, "surrounded by love." He leaves behind Sharon Osbourne, his wife of more than 40 years, as well as daughters Jessica, Aimee and Kelly and sons Elliot, Louis and Jack. Johnny Depp joins Alice Cooper for Ozzy Osbourne tribute Osbourne was one of the most iconic figures in rock, molding the sound and perception of heavy metal with his one-of-a-kind voice and shocking antics. He followed his rock zenith with a reality TV career, making him as well known for biting the head off a bat on stage as his bemusing bickering at home with his wife and kids. Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri and Edward Segarra
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sharon Osbourne's incredible gesture to city of Birmingham ahead of Ozzy's funeral
Sharon Osbourne has made an incredible gesture to the city of Birmingham ahead of her husband Ozzy Osbourne's funeral tomorrow Sharon Osbourne has made an incredible gesture to the city of Birmingham ahead of Ozzy Osbourne's funeral. Ozzy died last week following a string of health issues, just weeks after his final gig. The Black Sabbath rocker got to return to his hometown of Birmingham one more time for his gig at Villa Park and lived his final days there with his family. A private funeral will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 30) and before that, a special procession will be held down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench. The road will be closed from 7am and preparations will get underway before the procession starts at 1pm. The family will follow the cortege down Broad Street and past Black Sabbath bench and bridge, where floral tributes have been left for Ozzy. It has been revealed that Sharon has funded all the security and costs for the procession. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, said: "Ozzy was more than a music legend - he was a son of Birmingham. "Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans." He added: "We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves." Birmingham City Council have been facing financial strain over the past few years. In 2024, they had to make cuts to local services and residents saw a council hike of nearly 10 per cent amongst other cost cutting and income collecting measures. A council report in January said they needed to make "savings" of £153 million for the 2025/26 budget. Counciller Rob Pocock, the cabinet member overseeing the council's transformation, said in January that "another tough budget" had to be agreed and delivered. Council leader John Cotton also said that "significant progress" had been made. "The progress of the last 12 months will be maintained and the savings for 2025/26 will be backed by detailed and credible delivery plans that have undergone rigorous due diligence," he said. Ozzy's love of Birmingham is clear and he had been desperate to move back to the UK. However, his move home was delayed time and time again by his ailing health - but he finally made it back this year for one final gig.
