Ozzy Osbourne‘s grief stricken widow Sharon was supported by her children and thousands of fans today as she laid a single rose for her late husband during his poignant funeral procession through the streets of Birmingham.
The Black Sabbath frontman, who died last week aged 76, was commemorated in a parade through his hometown – with his family pausing at Black Sabbath Bridge to an outpouring of love from the crowd.
Sharon and Ozzy’s children Jack, Kelly and Aimee laid their own floral tributes at the site – 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.
The funeral cortege 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.
Huge crowds gathered along the route hours in advance of the 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’ – 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.
Sharon Osbourne was emotional as she was seen in Birmingham today with son Jack
Sharon Osbourne gave a peace sign towards Ozzy Osbourne fans turning out in Birmingham
Sharon Osbourne is seen today attending her late husband Ozzy’s funeral procession
She was supported by family members in Birmingham city centre
Sharon leans on her son Jack for support as she clutches on to a bouquet of flowers
Ozzy Osbourne’s tearful widow Sharon Osbourne is pictured giving a peace gesture to fans
Two of Ozzy and Sharon’s children Jack and Kelly embraced at Black Sabbath Bridge
Sharon Osbourne hugs Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Zafar Iqbal as she looks at tributes left to her late husband
The hearse carrying the singer’s coffin was adorned with purple flowers spelling out ‘Ozzy’
Sharon Osbourne and other family members have been attending today’s funeral procession
Sharon was seen beside her children including Jack and Kelly Osbourne
Ozzy’s widow, Sharon Osbourne and his daughters Aimee and Kelly become emotional as the funeral procession makes its way through Broad Street
The funeral cortege including six cars stopped along Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham
There were chants of ‘Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy’ from fans thronging the city centre streets
Crowds turned out in their thousands to pay their respects to Ozzy Osbourne
Spectators have been lining the streets of Birmingham’s Broad Street thoroughfare
Tearful tributes have been shared to Ozzy Osbourne as his funeral parade takes place today
Huge crowds have turned out in Birmingham for rock legend the Black Sabbath star’s funeral
Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal MBE pays tribute at the Black Sabbath star’s cortege travels through England’s second city
Fans clamer onto roof to catch a glimps of the heavy metal legend’s funeral procession
Ozzy Osbourne, who died last week aged 76, recently performed at Villa Park in Birmingham
Fans have been gathering today ahead of his funeral procession through England’s second city
This floral tribute shared the message to the late Ozzy Osbourne that ‘Birmingham loves you’
Mourners have been gathering in Birmingham city centre for Ozzy Osbourne’s send-off
Ozzy Osbourne funeral procession
Black Sabbath
bridge
Broad Street
Cortege procession
starts at 1pm
300ft
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.
Fans clapped and cheered chanting ‘Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy’ as the rock legend’s hearse passed through the streets of Birmingham as tearful Sharon watched on and brushed away tears.
Superfan Amy Maybury said: ‘Everyone was clapping and singing and celebrating his life, it was a beautiful atmosphere. So many people united together to pay their respects to their hero.
Jack Osbourne holds his mother’s Sharon’s hands as the procession makes its way through Birmingham
Kelly wraps her arm around her mother, as both she and Jack support her on the way back to their car
Sharon, Kelly and Jack approach tributes left by Ozzy’s adoring hometown
Grieving widow Sharon walks slightly ahead of her three children as she prepare to lay down a bouquet of flowers for her husband
Kelly, Jack and Sharon together as they prepare to say their final goodbyes to Ozzy
Sharon lays down a bouquet of flowers for her husband Ozzy in his hometown of Birmingham
Kelly waves to fans who packed the streets to view her father’s funeral procession
Ozzy Osbourne’s family members stand among the crowd as Ozzy’s funeral procession makes its way through Birmingham
Sharon Osbourne raises her fingers into the sky alongside her daughter Aimee
Kelly wore Ozzy’s trademark purple glasses in a heartbreaking nod to her father at his funeral procession today
The family enter a car following an outpour of tributes to Ozzy from the city of Birmingham
Ozzy Osbourne’s coffin and cortege is seen passing his childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston
Tributes were displayed outside the home where Ozzy grew up in the district of Birmingham
‘The streets were lined with rows and rows of fans standing on tiptoes trying to get a glimpse, hanging out of windows and waving their phones in the air in a desperate bid to capture the moment on video.’
Amy, 32, who has been a fan since she was a young girl, told the Mail: ‘He was my idol. I grew up listening to him from the age of eight as my family were big fans.
‘It was fitting to be here today to say goodbye. Luckily I was early and got a place at the front and saw the whole funeral procession
‘Sharon, bless her, looked very upset when she got out of the car with the kids to look at tributes. She was wiping away tears for her beloved Ozzy. It was very touching.’
DJ Amy from Wolverhampton, who has been living in Birmingham for the past seven years, said: ‘I was so shocked when Ozzy passed away, it hasn’t really hit me yet.
‘I’ve seen him live three times but sadly missed his last show. He was the epitome of heavy metal – a star right until the end. I’ll really miss him.
‘I laid some sunflowers for him last week at the bench and put up a little memorial plaque. ‘I’ll never forget him and his great music and the impact he made to my life. He inspired me to play guitar.’
Aircraft engineer Jebald Ulay, 45, a fan originally from the Philippines, said: Ozzy’s influence on heavy metal music has had ‘repercussions around the world’, dubbing him ‘the best’.
Thousands gather around tributes at the Black Sabbath Bridge, named in honour of the heavy metal band
Emotions ran high as admirers of the Black Sabbath legend lined the streets of his home city
Fans of all ages have been turning out to pay tribute to the late heavy metal rocker
Aficionados have been congregating in Birmingham city centre as part of the day’s events
An emotional fan watches as Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession makes its way through Birmingham
A dog named Bruce but also dubbed ‘Doggy Osbourne’ was among those pictured today
The funeral procession for Ozzy Osbourne has attracted scores of early arrivals
Locals have been lining up to pay their respects to the late heavy metal icon
Ozzy is pictured here with his wife Sharon Osbourne, in Los Angeles in September 2017
His nurse wife Jenny, 39, added: ‘We saw him back in 2018 and it is a night we’ll never forget. He was my idol and he taught us that it is OK to be different. He was an ordinary guy but became extraordinary with his huge musical talent.
‘There is a small Filipino community in Birmingham and we all love Ozzy.’
Ben Alexander, 24, drummer and manager of thrash metal band Mount Slatra, said: ‘He was a larger than life character, energetic and kind, and the pioneer of heavy metal music.
‘He inspired me and many others and we all owe a lot to him. His death was very sad and too sudden.’
One Black Sabbath fan gathering along Broad Street, giving the name of Goose, told today of discovering heavy metal as a teenager and feeling uplifted by Ozzy.
They said: ‘That’s when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us.
‘We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence.
‘Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people’s lives.’
Fans have been sharing embraces as they mourn Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham
These admirers congregated on what is popularly known as Black Sabbath Bridge in the city
People were congregating hours in advance of the funeral procession scheduled for 1pm
Praise is continuing to pour in for heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, pictured in June 2007
Flowers, notes and floral tributes on the Black Sabbath Bridge bench are seen in Birmingham
Queues formed along Birmingham city centre streets ahead of the memorial parade
Huge crowds have been gathering in Birmingham awaiting Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral cortege
This Black Sabbath devotee was among the many out in Birmingham today to pay respects
Also turning out in Ozzy Osbourne’s honour were fans Jerald and Jenny Ulay
Masses of floral tributes have been piling up at Birmingham’s Black Sabbath Bridge
Fellow fan fan Evie Mayo said the heavy metal star had inspired her and everyone in Birmingham, as she waited by the Black Sabbath Bridge for his cortege to arrive.
She said: ‘I think he was so influential, he was such an inspirational person.
‘I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well.
‘Now that he’s not here any more, you can feel the impact of it. He inspired a lot of people and he was a great person.’
She added: ‘He inspired me by, I love his music, absolutely love his music. I’m learning guitar so that I can learn some of his songs.’
Birmingham-based musicians Alicia Gardener-Trejo and Aaron Diaz were also there, performing songs by Ozzy and Black Sabbath, with Alicia telling BBC News of being ‘super-excited’ to be involved amid today’s commemorations.
She said: ‘It’s a huge honour to be playing the music of Ozzy and Black Sabbath today. I’m a huge fan. I’m pretty speechless. Growing up, listening to Ozzy – it’s huge to be part of this.’
Aaron said: ‘Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s music really represents something about Birmingham – there’s grit there, there’s heaviness, but there’s also humour and there’s a sort of humility in it as well.’
Ozzy Osbourne’s widow Sharon was accompanied by family and dignitaries at today’s event
Family members including Sharon (centre) and children Jack and Kelly honoured the rock star
T-shirts and memorabilia have been shown from Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig at Villa Park
This large mural in honour of the former Black Sabbath frontman is among the tributes
Newspaper tributes as well as floral arrangements have been placed to mark Ozzy’s passing
Dawn Woolven (pictured) was wearing a Black Sabbath as she joined the throng of mourners
Fans awaiting the arrival of his funeral cortege held floral tributes
Black Sabbath fan Amy Maybury is seen here giving a the recognised hard rock hand gesture
Fans have been lining Broad Street leading towards Birmingham city centre for the event
This is among the items placed today in Birmingham ahead of Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral