Thousands of fans are gathering across Birmingham ahead of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral on Thursday, turning the city into a tribute site for the legendary Black Sabbath frontman. The 76-year-old singer, who died last Tuesday, will be laid to rest in the grounds of his home, according to close family friends.
“Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham,” the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, said in a statement published by CBS News.
Family, Friends & Fellow Rock Legends Set to Attend
The private service will include Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, their children, Jack, 39, Kelly, 40, Aimee, 41, and their son, Louis, 50, from a previous marriage. Black Sabbath bandmates and longtime friends like Sir Elton John are expected to attend.
Singer Yungblud, a close family friend, will give a reading during a closed ceremony at a church in Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
Cortege Winds Through Streets Packed With Mourning Fans
(Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)A funeral procession began at 1 p.m. local time, moving through Birmingham. Floral tributes have piled up at Black Sabbath Bridge, and fans filled the streets with balloons, handmade signs, and tears. A live stream allowed fans to watch as Sharon and the family traveled behind the hearse in separate vehicles.
Ozzy Remembered as a ‘God of Metal’
One devoted fan, Austin—also known as “Ozzy”—told Sky News, “He was the god of metal… His on-stage antics were insane, zero to hero, that’s what he is. Words cannot describe what they were to people.”
Another fan named Goose told PA Media that Ozzy was a symbol of belonging. “That’s when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us… Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member.”
Following Osbourne’s passing, his iconic hit “Crazy Train” saw a massive surge in streams and radio play, so much so that it landed on the Billboard Hot 100 for the very first time, debuting at No. 46 on the latest chart.
Fans Set Up Camp & Honor Ozzy’s Legacy
(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Fans began gathering early, some waiting on camp chairs, others displaying banners and art.
One Birmingham-based artist said, “Ozzy has a great legacy, he was born and raised here. He resonates with so many people—it’s not just about the music for me.”
Funeral Procession Begins at 1 P.M. Local Time Through Central Birmingham
CBS reported Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession is set to begin at approximately 1 p.m. local time (8 a.m. Eastern), making its way down Broad Street in the heart of Birmingham.
The route will pass Black Sabbath Bridge, a tribute site that features a commemorative bench with life-size cutouts of the band’s original members: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler & Bill Ward.
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Thousands of Fans & Loved Ones Line Birmingham Streets for Beloved Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Farewell