Thousands Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in Emotional Funeral Procession” Witness the outpouring of love and respect for the metal legend as fans line the streets of Birmingham to bid farewell. Fans chant ‘Ozzy forever’ and Sharon Osbourne lays flowers on star’s final journey through Birmingham.

A city mourns. An era ends. But the legend of Ozzy Osbourne roars on.

Today, the streets of Birmingham overflowed with emotion as tens of thousands of fans gathered to bid a final, thunderous farewell to the city’s most famous son: Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, who passed away last week at the age of 76.

A Procession Fit for a King

From the early hours, Broad Street—Birmingham’s “Golden Mile”—became a river of black-clad fans, flowers, and tributes. The air was thick with both grief and celebration as Ozzy’s funeral cortege made its way through the heart of the city he loved so deeply.

The procession wound past landmarks of Ozzy’s life: his childhood home on Lodge Road in Aston, where fans left flowers and heartfelt notes; Villa Park, home of his beloved Aston Villa FC; and finally, the Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, now transformed into a shrine of photographs, cards, and purple blooms.

A Family’s Grief, a City’s Love

Ozzy’s wife Sharon, accompanied by their children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and Louis, stepped from their cars to lay flowers at the Black Sabbath Bench. Through tears, Sharon managed a peace sign to the thousands chanting “Ozzy forever!” and “We love you, Sharon!”—a moment captured in countless photos and shared across the world.

Fans noticed Sharon wore Ozzy’s wedding ring on a chain around her neck—a tender symbol of enduring love that moved many to tears.

A Joyful Send-Off, As Requested

Ozzy had always insisted his funeral should be a celebration, not a somber affair. “There’ll be no harping on the bad times,” he once joked, even suggesting he’d welcome pranks or an outlandish playlist. Today, the city honored that wish: despite the tears, the mood was defiantly joyous, with brass bands leading the cortege and fans throwing flowers onto the hearse, which was filled with purple floral arrangements spelling out “OZZY.”

Tributes from All Walks of Life

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, called Ozzy a “working class hero” and “the king of Birmingham.” Former Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson, standing among the crowd, reflected: “He’s an icon, and Birmingham is the UK symbol of rock and roll. Today reminds us what this city is all about.”

For many, Ozzy was more than a rock star—he was family. “Growing up, Ozzy was like a distant uncle,” said comedian Samantha Marlow-Kent, one of the first fans on Broad Street that morning.

A Legacy That Will Never Die

As the barriers lifted and the crowd surged onto the Black Sabbath Bridge, chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!” echoed through the city. Sharon, Kelly, and Jack, supported by each other and the love of thousands, held up peace signs in a final, tearful salute.

Birmingham will never forget its prince. And as the sun set over Broad Street, one thing was clear: Ozzy Osbourne’s spirit will forever haunt—and inspire—the city he called home.