Fans around the world are tuning in and lining the streets of Birmingham today as the funeral cortège for BLACK SABBATH icon Ozzy Osbourne makes its way through the city he once called home.
Beginning at 1 p.m. local time (5:00 a.m. PDT / 8:00 a.m. EDT), the procession is traveling down Broad Street, passing by Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where thousands of mourners have laid flowers, tributes, and personal messages over the past several days.
This public farewell is taking place ahead of a private funeral ceremony and is being livestreamed by major media outlets including The Independent, CNBC, Sky News, and Associated Press, (see below) allowing fans worldwide to join in honoring the Prince of Darkness.
Adding to the emotional send-off, Bostin’ Brass, a local brass band, is performing live along the route — offering a moving musical tribute to one of heavy metal’s most legendary figures.
Crowds have gathered in the heart of Birmingham, many wearing BLACK SABBATH shirts and holding handmade signs, to bid farewell to the man who helped define a genre and carried the city’s identity with him across the globe.
Zafar Iqbal, Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham. We’re proud to host this tribute with his loving family in the place where it all began.”
In collaboration with the Osbourne family, who have generously covered the costs, Birmingham City Council organized the procession to give both the family and the public a dignified moment of remembrance.
Visitors can also leave written messages in a book of condolence located at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which currently hosts the “Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero” exhibition, spotlighting his solo career.
As the world says goodbye, Birmingham stands still to honor one of its most iconic sons.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.