Music icons past and present will attend the service
OZZY Osbourne’s Black Sabbath bandmates and Sir Elton John will attend his funeral tomorrow.
The singer, who died last Tuesday aged 76, will be laid to rest in the grounds of his home, family friends say.
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Ozzy will be laid to rest in the grounds of his homeCredit: Ross Halfin
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Tributes to Ozzy in his hometown of BirminghamCredit: Alamy
His funeral cortege through Birmingham today will allow fans to pay their respects.
Wife Sharon and children Jack, 39, Kelly, 40, Aimee, 41, and Louis, 50, who is Ozzy’s son from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, will travel in cars behind the hearse.
A source said: “Sharon and the family want to celebrate Ozzy’s life with his fans, with plans for the cortege to travel through Birmingham.
“Tomorrow they will have a closed service at a church in Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
“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.”
After his death, Elton called Ozzy a “dear friend” who “secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods.”
Thousands will line Broad Street in Birmingham from 1pm as they travel to the Black Sabbath bridge.
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A live stream of the road is continuing, so fans unable to travel can watch as the hearse passes by.
The cortege will be accompanied by a brass band performance from Birmingham musicians Bostin’ Brass.
Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend — he was a son of Birmingham.
“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute.
“We’re proud to host it here with his loving family, and we are grateful they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen.”
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Yungblud will give a reading at the private family serviceCredit: Getty
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James Hetfield from Metallica will also attend the family serviceCredit: Getty
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Ozzy with Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer ButlerCredit: Getty
“HE WALKED THROUGH THE GATES ALONE” – SIR ELTON JOHN’S EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE AT OZZY OSBOURNE’S FUNERAL
On July 30, 2025, Birmingham, England, thrummed with the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne as thousands lined the streets for a vibrant funeral procession, honoring the Black Sabbath legend who passed away on July 22, 2025, at 76. The public farewell, marked by brass band renditions of “Paranoid” and “Crazy Train,” was followed by a private funeral at a church in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. It was there that Sir Elton John, defying his own health challenges, made an emotionally charged appearance. As he stepped inside, his actions left Sharon Osbourne in tears, celebrity guests in shock, and the congregation forever changed by a tribute that echoed Ozzy’s indomitable spirit.
A Birmingham Send-Off
The public procession was a celebration of Ozzy’s wishes, as he told NME in 2015: “No tears, just music and a party.” A hearse, adorned with purple floral letters spelling “Ozzy,” wound through Birmingham, pausing at his childhood home on Lodge Road and the Black Sabbath Bridge, where fans left tributes, bat-shaped balloons, and nods to the 1982 bat-biting incident. Sharon, joined by children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, Louis, and Jessica, laid a pink rose at the Black Sabbath Bench, as fans chanted “Ozzy! Ozzy!” Organized with Birmingham City Council, the event honored Ozzy’s recent Freedom of the City award. The cortege paused at Villa Park, site of his final concert on July 5, 2025, where he performed “Mama, I’m Coming Home” from a throne, his Parkinson’s and 2019 spinal injury no match for his passion.
The Private Funeral
The private funeral at a Gerrards Cross church was an intimate gathering, attended by Sharon, Kelly, Jack, Aimee, Louis, Jessica, Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Metallica’s James Hetfield, Yungblud, and Sir Elton John, among others. The church, adorned with purple and black drapes, was a serene backdrop for heartfelt eulogies. Sharon spoke of Ozzy’s journey from Birmingham’s streets to global stardom, his battles with addiction, and his love for his family. Yungblud, who gave a reading, shared how Ozzy gifted him a cross necklace, calling him “the greatest of all time.”
Elton John, frail from his own health struggles, including vision issues and diabetes, entered the church slowly, supported by his husband, David Furnish. His presence, despite his condition, was a testament to his decades-long friendship with Ozzy, forged through shared battles with addiction and collaborations like the 2020 ballad “Ordinary Man.” As Elton stepped inside, he paused at the threshold, looked toward Ozzy’s coffin, and said softly, “He walked through the gates alone…” The words, a nod to Ozzy’s fearless persona as the Prince of Darkness, hushed the room.
Elton’s Shocking Tribute
What followed left the congregation stunned. Elton, with a trembling hand, pulled a small, worn lyric sheet from his pocket and approached the piano near the altar. “I wrote this for Ozzy years ago, but never shared it,” he said, his voice breaking. “It’s time.” He sat at the piano and played a haunting, unreleased ballad titled “Prince of Darkness,” written in 2003 after Ozzy’s quad bike accident, when Elton urged him to keep fighting. The lyrics, raw and tender, spoke of a man who faced demons yet shone with love: “You walked through the gates alone, but your heart carried us all.”
Sharon burst into tears as the melody filled the church, her hands clutching Kelly and Jack. The celebrity guests—Hetfield, Iommi, Butler, Ward, and Yungblud—sat in shock, some wiping tears, others bowing their heads. The song, a private gift from one icon to another, captured Ozzy’s resilience, his humor, and his bond with Sharon, whom he called “my soul” in a 2010 The Guardian interview. Elton’s frail voice, though weakened, carried a power that echoed Ozzy’s own defiance, ending with a soft, “You’re never alone, my friend.”
Kelly later told People, “Elton’s song was Dad’s spirit in music. It broke us, but it healed us.” Jack, in a Billboard interview, said, “I didn’t know Elton had that in him. It was like Dad was singing back to us.” Yungblud, posting on Instagram, wrote, “Elton played Ozzy’s heart. That song was magic.” The congregation, including Aimee, who rarely appears publicly, stood in silence as Elton returned to his seat, supported by Furnish.
A Friendship Forged in Fire
Ozzy and Elton’s friendship, spanning decades, was built on mutual respect and shared struggles. Both battled addiction, with Elton supporting Ozzy during his 2003 recovery, visiting him and urging him to walk again, as Ozzy recalled to Yahoo Entertainment. Their collaboration on “Ordinary Man” reflected their bond, with lyrics about legacy and love. Elton’s presence at the funeral, despite his health, was a final act of loyalty, as he told The Sun, “Ozzy was a dear friend who never gave up. I had to be here.”
Ozzy’s life was a tapestry of chaos and triumph. With Black Sabbath, he sold over 100 million records, defining heavy metal with albums like Paranoid. His solo career, guided by Sharon, soared with Blizzard of Ozz and No More Tears. Despite a 2003 Parkinson’s diagnosis, a 2019 fall, and a 1989 incident where he was arrested for attempting to harm Sharon while intoxicated, their love endured, fortified by her forgiveness and his recovery. The Osbournes (2002–2005) and Ozzfest showcased his charm and influence.
A Legacy That Resonates
Elton’s tribute transformed the funeral into a celebration of Ozzy’s spirit. Fans, inspired by reports of the event, left flowers and lyric sheets at the Black Sabbath Bridge, with messages like “Prince of Darkness Forever.” Birmingham Airport announced a planned tribute mural, while Ozzy’s memoir Last Rites (set for release October 7, 2025) and a 2026 concert film of his final Villa Park performance will keep his legacy alive.
Sharon, wearing the silver locket Ozzy gave her in 1979, told Sky News, “Elton’s song was Ozzy’s voice, one last time. He walked through those gates, but he’s still with us.” The congregation, moved by Elton’s act, felt Ozzy’s presence in every note. As Yungblud said, “Elton showed us Ozzy’s never alone, and neither are we.” In Gerrards Cross, Birmingham, and beyond, Ozzy’s fire burns on, carried by a friend’s melody and a family’s love.
