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Daily Record
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ozzy Osbourne funeral details in full as fans say final goodbye to Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne will take his final journey through his beloved city of Birmingham today - eight days after his tragic passing at the age of 76 Eight days after his tragic passing, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne is set to make his final journey through the city that made him. Today the Black Sabbath frontman's body will be taken by hearse through the streets of Birmingham, giving fans a chance to say farewell before his private funeral. The Prince of Darkness died at the age of 76 on Tuesday, July 22, just weeks after what would become his final performance at Birmingham's Villa Park during his epic Back to the Beginning show. Today, the city of Birmingham prepares to honour one of its own in a public procession filled with music, tributes and mourning fans. The cortege will begin its journey down Broad Street at approximately 1pm, passing through landmarks which honour the rock legend's life and career. Among the key stops will be the now-famous Black Sabbath Bridge, where fans have covered a bench with heartwarming tributes and heartfelt messages since news of his death. The hearse will be accompanied by a moving live performance from a Birmingham based brass band, as well as other local musicians. Additionally a tram named after Ozzy, which was unveiled in 2016, will be parked nearby outside the Birmingham Library as the procession moves through the city. Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, spoke ahead of the event, underlining the significance of Osbourne's legacy to the city. "Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham," he said. "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." He continued: "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." The procession through Birmingham offers fans their chance to pay tribute and a private service will follow at a church in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. A source told The Sun that the funeral guest list includes several of the star's longtime friends and other musicians. The source stated: "His Sabbath bandmates, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, will be there, along with James Hetfield from Metallica." "Elton John is also hoping to join the family at the church. Sharon and his family have been so touched by messages they received not only from Ozzy's friends, but also his fans around the world," they concluded. Additionally, Yungblud, who formed a close bond with Ozzy in his later years, is expected to attend and give a reading at the private service. Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne, along with their children Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis, will follow the hearse in private cars. The ceremony will be closed to the public, allowing the family to say their final goodbyes in private.
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ozzy Osbourne: Birmingham to say final goodbye to Black Sabbath singer
Eight days after his death, Ozzy Osbourne will make his final journey through his home city of Birmingham as fans, friends and family say Black Sabbath singer's body will be taken in a hearse through the city on Wednesday, on the way to his private by the family of the heavy metal pioneer, who grew up in Aston, the event is a chance for the city to pay its last respects to one of its "greatest legends", the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, event will also allow those among the cortege to see the many floral tributes and messages left by his legions of fans on Black Sabbath Bridge. Many travelled to the city from all over the world – including Mexico and the USA – in the days since his death was announced on 22 July, almost three weeks after he performed at Black Sabbath's farewell gig, Back to the Beginning. What to expect during the procession A hearse and accompanying vehicles will slowly make their way down Broad Street from about 13:00 (12:00 GMT).The procession will travel to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and floral cortege will be accompanied by a live performance from Birmingham-based Bostin' Brass Band and other local musicians.A tram, named after Osbourne, unveiled in 2016, will also be parked nearby outside Birmingham Library while the cortege moves through the city council said the event was expected to draw large crowds of fans gathering to say goodbye to the man who "helped shape the global heavy metal genre" and "proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham". Broad Street will be closed to through traffic from about 07:00, with buses and trams diverted during the event and stewards will be on hand to help for locals will be managed where possible but cannot be guaranteed, the council said, and Broad Street will reopen as soon as possible after the planning to come along have been urged to arrive early, use public transport and follow safety those unable to attend, the live stream of the Black Sabbath bench will continue to operate online. Bostin' Brass Band will be playing music as the cortege makes its way along Broad group, who started off as a marching band in Digbeth, described themselves on their website as "Birmingham's very own second-line, jazz, funk and ska soul stew".Speaking to BBC Midlands Today, band member Aaron Diaz said he was both nervous and honoured to be taking part."It's certainly high pressure," he said. "You do feel a weight of responsibility."We're really going to enjoy paying a fitting tribute to him and being part of the crowd of thousands that's going to turn out on the day." What does the event mean to Birmingham? Many if not all fans, both local and from outside the city, agree that Birmingham is the appropriate location for the procession to take Tomlinson, from Birmingham, said having the procession in Osbourne's home city was "amazing" because it was "where he should rightly be"."He was always proud to be a Brummie," she added. "He makes me proud to be a Brummie. It will be good to have him back one last time." Luisa Huggins, of Westside Business Improvement District, which owns the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street, said it had become a focal point in the last few days."It's just been a really positive thing to see people coming to Birmingham to take part in paying homage and honouring the legend who Ozzy Osbourne was," she said."He was so proud to be from Birmingham and I think as fellow Brummies we were really proud to have him as one of our own as well." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
