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Ozzy Osbourne's family gather to lay him to rest
Ozzy Osbourne's family gather to lay him to rest

Daily Mail​

time21 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

Ozzy Osbourne's family gather to lay him to rest

Ozzy Osbourne 's widow Sharon and her family are today laying the heavy metal icon to rest in a private funeral at his Buckinghamshire home - as he desired. The Black Sabbath frontman is being buried in a freshly dug grave close to the lake at the heart of the sprawling 250-acre property near Gerrards Cross. A huge floral tribute in the grounds of the mansion spells out an affectionate tribute to the heavy metal legend, with the words, 'OZZY [expletive] OSBOURNE', on the banks of the Osbourne lake. A version of a floral 'Ozzy' tribute that featured at yesterday's memorial procession was also placed atop a fountain. Mourners expected to attend today include Metallica frontman James Hetfield, and Sir Elton John , as tents were seen across the Buckinghamshire estate's grounds. Today's events follow a funeral procession attended by thousands of fans through Birmingham city centre on Wednesday. Ozzy's widow Sharon, 72, was supported by their children Jack, Kelly and Aimee who laid floral tributes and made a peace sign as they gestured their gratitude to fans - while accompanied by Ozzy's son Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. Floral tributes to the rock star first displayed at the public memorial in Birmingham yesterday were on show for the intimate farewell. Goodwill messages have continued to pour in for Osbourne, who died aged 76 last week - and had spoken in the past about his wishes for a lack of funeral fuss. Speaking in in 2011 about how he imagined his future send-off, the Black Sabbath legend said : 'I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral - they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and 'We Are The Diddymen' if it makes 'em happy. But I do want to make sure it's a celebration, not a mope-fest.' The funeral cortege yesterday was led by a live brass band, Bostin' Brass, who performed versions of Black Sabbath songs such as Iron Man, as thousands of tearful devotees lined the streets and sang along in Ozzy's memory. Today, marquees and a music stage had been erected next to pond where the private tributes were paid at his home. Guests were seated under huge awnings due to the rain showers that had fallen earlier in the day - while catering facilities, with their own generators, were provided in the garden. A huge security operation was in place from early this morning to ensure the ceremony was strictly invitation only, in accordance with widow Sharon's wishes. A team of bodyguards and private security dog handlers patrolled the perimeter of the estate and traffic marshals directed traffic through the narrow country lane leading to the Osbourne estate. However, diehard fans did leave flowers outside the gates to their rock idol. Ozzy had spoken in 2011 about his funeral intentions, telling the Times : ' I want to make sure it's a celebration, not a mope-fest. 'I'd also like some pranks - maybe the sound of knocking inside the coffin, or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of "death". 'There'll be no harping on the bad times. It's worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives. 'So by any measure, most of us in this country - especially rock stars like me - are very lucky. That's why I don't want my funeral to be sad - I want it to be a time to say, "Thanks".' And he wrote in his autobiography I Am Ozzy, published in 2010: 'Eventually death will come, like it comes to everyone. 'I've said to Sharon: "Don't cremate me, whatever you do." I want to be put in the ground, in a nice garden somewhere, with a tree planted over my head. 'A crabapple tree, preferably, so the kids can make wine out of me and get [expletive] out of their heads. 'As for what they'll put on my headstone, I ain't under any illusions. If I close my eyes, I can already see it. Ozzy Osbourne, born 1948. Died, whenever. He bit the head off a bat.' As things have transpired, huge crowds gathered along the route hours in advance of Wednesday's 1pm start to pay their respects to the Prince of Darkness whose hits included Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The hearse carrying the singer's coffin - adorned with purple flowers spelling out 'Ozzy' - had passed the star's childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston, shortly after midday. Flowers had been placed outside the terraced property, close to Villa Park while the owners of the house put up a picture of Osbourne in the front bay window. The Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car, drove slowly along the street watched by a handful of fans and the current owner of the house. Thousands of people were pictured taking their places not only on Black Sabbath Bridge but along the city centre route along which his cortege travelled towards the Black Sabbath Bridge bench. Elsewhere in London, the Coldstream Guards payed tribute to the heavy metal legend at the changing of the guard by performing their own rendition of his hit-song Paranoid. Fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes around the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days to honour the heavy metal star who was born in the Aston area of Birmingham. Members of the public have also signed a book of condolences, opened by Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery, which is currently holding an exhibition titled Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero. While organising the procession, Birmingham City Council collaborated with the Osbourne family, who funded all of the associated costs. Ahead of today's follow-up service, the Sun quoted a source as saying: 'Singer Yungblud, who became close with Ozzy in recent years, is going to give a reading. '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.' Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates - Butler with the nickname 'Geezer', Iommi and Ward - were recently given the freedom of the city of Birmingham, which recognises people's exceptional service to the city. The group, which formed in 1968, are widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans when he appeared in the noughties reality TV series The Osbournes, starring alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack . The music star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, performed his last gig on July 5 in a concert that also saw performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. A message on screen then read: 'Thank you for everything, you guys are [expletive] amazing. Birmingham Forever,' before the sky lit up with fireworks. He had told of it being his last performance due to his health, having opened up about his battle with Parkinson's in 2020. In a statement shared last Tuesday, Ozzy's family said he died 'surrounded by love' , adding: '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 is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack. Daily Mail revealed last Wednesday that an air ambulance was called to Osbourne's grand country home as paramedics battled to save his life for two hours. Friends told the Mail's Alison Boshoff that his heartbroken wife Sharon was considering now burying Ozzy in the gardens of the 350-acre estate in an intimate family funeral. Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, and dropped out of school at the age of 15. After serving two months in prison for burglary, he decided to pursue his love of music. By 1970, Black Sabbath - originally going by the name of Earth - had gained a huge following in the US and UK with the release of their first album.

My heart ached to see Ozzy Osbourne's children standing shoulder to shoulder in the city he made so proud
My heart ached to see Ozzy Osbourne's children standing shoulder to shoulder in the city he made so proud

The Sun

timea day ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

My heart ached to see Ozzy Osbourne's children standing shoulder to shoulder in the city he made so proud

TO the sound of the fantastic Bostin Brass Band, Ozzy's cortege passed slowly along Broad Street in Birmingham. Along with the bursts of applause from the thousands of devoted fans who had lined up to say goodbye, the procession was everything Ozzy would have wanted. 3 3 This day was, as he had hoped, a celebration of his life and his legacy. His heart however, I know, would have broken to see his wife Sharon, held up by her son Jack, breaking down in tears in front of the sea of flowers that had been laid for him at the Black Sabbath bridge. Those close enough to Sharon shouted out to her and applauded in a small gesture of support. Yesterday was no doubt one of the most difficult days of Sharon's life. My heart ached as I saw Jack, Aimee, Kelly, and Louis standing shoulder to shoulder in the city their father made so proud. Losing your husband, your father, is difficult enough. Sharing that grief, although they wanted to, would have been incredibly hard. Wednesday's procession was the first of two fitting farewells to the Prince of Darkness who would have no doubt made a joke about all the fuss. As Ozzy himself said, there was no such thing as death for him. 'I will retire when I hear the nail go in the box and then I will do an encore,' he joked last year. 'I am the Prince of Darkness.' Today Sharon, their children, and Ozzy's closest friends will gather at a church in Gerrards Cross to say their final goodbyes to the pioneer of heavy metal music. Ozzy, I have been told, will then be laid to rest in the family's Buckinghamshire home where he made so many happy memories. The pain of his loss will never go away for those closest to him and for the fans who held him up as an icon. But with his music, Ozzy's legacy will continue to inspire and delight generations to come. 3

Ozzy Osbourne's family join fans in Birmingham for an emotional farewell
Ozzy Osbourne's family join fans in Birmingham for an emotional farewell

The Independent

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Independent

Ozzy Osbourne's family join fans in Birmingham for an emotional farewell

Ozzy Osbourne's family joined fans in paying an emotional farewell to the heavy metal star during a procession in Birmingham. Sharon Osbourne, who was married to the musician for more than four decades, became emotional as she stepped out of a car to view the hundreds of floral tributes and balloons laid around the Black Sabbath bench. The former X Factor judge, 72, was helped out of the first vehicle in the cortege by her and Ozzy's son Jack, who joined her at the event along with their daughters Aimee and Kelly – who all raised their hands in a peace sign while paying their respects. The family members wiped away tears at the bench as they inspected tributes, with members of the crowd shouting 'we love you Ozzy'. Sharon and her children carried a pink rose, wrapped in black paper tied with a purple ribbon, that they laid on top of the many other floral tributes that sat next to a poster of the star, which said 'Birmingham will always love you'. Sharon kissed the flower she was holding before laying it in the middle of the tributes. The hearse carrying Osbourne's coffin passed the star's childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston, at about 12.45pm on Wednesday on its route into Birmingham city centre. Flowers were placed outside the terraced property, close to Villa Park, while the owners of the house put up a picture of Osbourne in the front bay window. The Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car, drove slowly along the street on Lodge Road, watched by a handful of fans and the current owner of the house. The hearse, adorned with purple flowers spelling out 'Ozzy' and a cross on its roof, then made its way down Broad Street before stopping at the Black Sabbath bench. 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. Fans also left tributes outside a mural on Navigation Street, which was created ahead of the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park, which took place a few weeks ago. Dianne Powell, from Cannock in Staffordshire, laid flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge after Osbourne's hearse had left. She told the PA news agency: 'It was crammed in the crowd but really emotional. It's just very sad, I watched him a lot on the TV. 'It was very special to be here. There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne.' Speaking after Osbourne's hearse left the bridge, John Cahill, from Birmingham, said it was 'an emotional day for a lot of people from around the world'. He said: 'I've liked Ozzy all my life and when I heard of his passing, as you can see here, it's just touched everybody's heart. 'I just had to be here today. It's been a very emotional day, I did get emotional, I think everybody has.' Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal hugged Sharon when she arrived at the Black Sabbath bench. He told PA: '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.' 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. The group, which formed in 1968, is widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal. Osbourne, who also had a successful solo career, found a new legion of fans when he appeared in the 2000s reality TV series The Osbournes, starring alongside his wife Sharon and two youngest children, Kelly and Jack. The music star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, performed his last gig on July 5 in a concert that also saw performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. Osbourne died just over two weeks after Black Sabbath were reunited barely two miles from where they first played together more than 50 years ago.

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