Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the central England city where Black Sabbath was formed to catch a glimpse of the heavy metal icon’s hearse.
Tens of thousands of fans turned out to pay their respects to Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday at his funeral procession in Birmingham, England, the city where the heavy metal icon grew up and his legendary band Black Sabbath was formed. Osbourne died last week at 76.
The procession made its way down Broad Street in central Birmingham to a canal bridge named in honor of Black Sabbath. Fans, many wearing black and purple in honor of the singer known as Prince of Darkness, lined the road to catch a glimpse of Osbourne’s hearse, which was adorned with purple flowers.
Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s widow, and his children Jack, Kelly and Aimee, stopped at the bridge. Sharon appeared to be overcome with grief as she laid a bouquet of flowers alongside hundreds left at a memorial surrounding the Black Sabbath bench, which features life-size cutouts of the band’s four founding members: Osbourne, Terry “Geezer” Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward.
Crowds gather at the Black Sabbath Bridge to catch a glimpse of Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, Britain, on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Tributes are displayed at the Black Sabbath Bridge during Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne view messages and floral tributes left in honor of Ozzy Osbourne at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)
Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at a memorial for Ozzy Osbourne on the Black Sabbath Bridge bench in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)
After spending several minutes at the bridge, the family turned to the onlooking crowd, and Sharon flashed a peace sign.
Fans from around the world have been making a pilgrimage to the site in the days since Osbourne’s death, which came just weeks after he performed in front of 42,000 people at Villa Park in Birmingham in a sold-out show that was billed as “Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow.”
People gather at the Black Sabbath Bridgeon Wednesday, the day of Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession, in Birmingham, England. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
A fan wearing a hat from “Ozzy Final Bow,” Osbourne’s last live performance, waits for his funeral procession in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
“Ozzy was more than a music legend,” Birmingham Mayor Zafar Iqbal said in a statement. “He was a son of Birmingham.”
Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal views the tributes at Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The procession also passed by Osbourne’s childhood home.
The event, which was paid for by the Osbourne family, was livestreamed online.
Ozzy’s wide-reaching legacy
Fans line up on Broad Street in Birmingham in memory of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday. (Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)
Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, died on July 22.
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away,” the Osbourne family said in a statement announcing his death. “He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Black Sabbath, which formed in Birmingham in 1968, was credited with pioneering the sound that became known as heavy metal. And Birmingham has embraced its label as the birthplace of the genre.
The funeral cortege for the late Ozzy Osbourne travels through his home city of Birmingham on Wednesday in Birmingham, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Osbourne, who struggled with substance abuse throughout his life, left the band in 1979. He launched a successful solo career beginning with his 1980 debut, Blizzard of Ozz, which featured the hit single “Crazy Train.”
He became known for his wild onstage persona, including infamously biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert. (He later got a rabies shot.)
Fans wait for Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Osbourne was inducted twice into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in 2006, with Black Sabbath, and again in 2024 as a solo artist.
The rocker found a new legion of fans on television in the early 2000s alongside Sharon, Jack and Kelly in the reality series The Osbournes on MTV.
See more photos from Osbourne’s funeral procession below.
Crowds watch as the hearse carrying Ozzy Osborne’s casket stops at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Flowers and other mementos are left on the Black Sabbath Bridge in honor in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Fans packed the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, England, for Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Bruce the dog, who had his name changed today to “Doggy Osbourne,” waits to pay his respects. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
A man lays flowers at a memorial for Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Fans hold up flowers and mobile phones as Ozzy Osbourne’s hearse travels through Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
A man wears a jacket with an image of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath on the day of the funeral procession of Ozzy Osbourne, in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Crowds gather at the Black Sabbath Bridge, named in honor of the heavy metal band, as the funeral cortege of Ozzy Osbourne passes through in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Tributes are seen before Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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How Ozzy Osbourne’s last show became a once-in-a-generation goodbye
Black Sabbath frontman dies just weeks after final concert performance
Louisa | La Passion Voutee
Creator of La Passion Voutee
Updated
6 min read
Ozzy Osbourne behind into a microphone while wearing blue sunglasses
Some stars shine so brightly, their light lingers long after they’re gone. Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of metal, gave fans a gift few icons manage: a goodbye on his own terms. Just 17 days after his final concert, Ozzy passed away at 76—his voice forever etched into rock history. As a longtime fan of both Ozzy and other generational talents like Prince and Michael Jackson, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of this loss. These are the artists who shaped soundtracks, culture, and identity. And with Ozzy’s passing, it feels like we’re turning the final page on an entire era.
The death of a rock legend
Ozzy Osbourne died on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at age 76. The Osbourne family confirmed he passed peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. For many of us, the announcement felt inevitable—Ozzy had faced a string of serious health challenges over the past decade, including Parkinson’s disease, a spinal injury, and a series of surgeries that forced him to cancel tour dates. Yet knowing it might happen soon did nothing to soften the blow.
When I first read the news, I thought back to watching Ozzy on TV in the early 2000s. He was unpredictable, hilarious, and hauntingly magnetic. That voice—whether screaming over Black Sabbath’s grinding guitars or crooning through “Mama, I’m Coming Home”—was unforgettable. The fact that he made it to 76, after all his personal battles, is both miraculous and deeply Ozzy.
Ozzy Osbourne pictured at a media event, known for his iconic eyewear and long hair
A farewell concert that became a final send-off
Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath for one last performance on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham—his hometown. What was billed as his farewell show now reads more like a parting gift to fans. Thousands packed the stadium to witness what would be his final public appearance. Seated on a throne for much of the night, Ozzy’s voice still carried that unmistakable edge. From “Paranoid” to “Iron Man,” it was a setlist born from decades of music history.
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Despite his limited mobility, Ozzy’s energy radiated throughout the venue. Fans didn’t come expecting perfection—they came to pay tribute, to sing with him one last time, and to be present for a moment that felt historic even before the lights dimmed. It reminded me of Michael Jackson’s This Is It rehearsals, when you saw brilliance despite the frailty. Like Prince’s final tour, Ozzy’s farewell was personal and potent.
The legacy of a heavy metal pioneer
Before Ozzy, there was no blueprint for heavy metal frontmen. As the original voice of Black Sabbath, he helped define an entire genre with songs that dared to go dark, spiritual, and socially aware. Together with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, Ozzy crafted music that confronted war, addiction, and the unknown.
Even after his 1979 departure from Black Sabbath, Ozzy’s solo career soared. With albums like Blizzard of Ozz and No More Tears, he became a defining solo act. Tracks like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” are still staples on rock radio, and his collaborations—from Randy Rhoads to Post Malone—showed a rare openness to evolution.
He sold over 100 million records across his career. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Black Sabbath, then again as a solo artist. His reality show, The Osbournes, helped bring rock icons into suburban living rooms, making him a household name all over again. Like Jackson and Prince, he transcended music.
Sharon, Ozzy, and Kelly Osbourne pose for photographers at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala
‘Back to the Beginning’ becomes his final tribute
Ozzy’s July 5 concert was always intended as a retirement event. But following his death, it’s become something much more. Back to the Beginning, a concert film of the event, will release in 2026. It features behind-the-scenes footage, fan stories, and interviews with musicians who were shaped by Ozzy’s music.
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The film’s proceeds will go to causes close to Ozzy’s heart: Parkinson’s research and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It’s more than a movie; it’s his final performance reimagined as a love letter to the fans and a nod to where it all began.
I plan to watch it in a theater if possible. The way people gathered for This Is It, or how fans of Queen clung to Bohemian Rhapsody, this concert film is poised to be cathartic for millions.
Tributes from fans and fellow musicians
The outpouring of grief and gratitude since Ozzy’s passing has been overwhelming. Gene Simmons tweeted, “Sad to report Ozzy has passed away. He was a giant. Admired and loved by millions of fans worldwide. Prayers and condolences go out to the Osborne family.” (@genesimmons).
Alice Cooper paid a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at his Cardiff Utilita Arena Show.
Across social media, fans shared tattoos, vinyl collections, and childhood memories of blasting Sabbath in the car with their parents. People gathered outside Villa Park with candles and handmade signs. To many, Ozzy wasn’t just music—he was rebellion, freedom, and identity wrapped in eyeliner and riffs.
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There’s something deeply human in mourning the artists we’ve never met. They help shape who we are. For me, Ozzy was one of those rare musicians whose voice felt like an anthem during teenage angst and a time capsule during adulthood. Even now, as I write this, I’ve got “No More Tears” playing—and I feel both comforted and devastated.
What his death means for rock—and for us
We don’t just lose a performer when someone like Ozzy Osbourne dies. We lose a voice that’s been part of our story. We lose the thrill of a new album drop or a surprise tour announcement. And we’re reminded that even legends don’t live forever.
Ozzy’s death underscores the closing of a chapter that began in the gritty ’70s. Alongside other icons like Bowie, Prince, and Jackson, Ozzy’s influence is impossible to overstate. He showed that it’s okay to be strange, to be loud, to be unfiltered. And that even in chaos, there can be magic.
A lasting echo
What do we do when our icons leave us? We listen. We watch. We tell their stories. Ozzy Osbourne didn’t just give us decades of music—he gave us a voice that never apologized for being different. He created a space for the misunderstood and made it loud.
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, if you’ve ever been saved by a song in the dark, Ozzy was likely somewhere on your playlist. And while he may be gone, his music remains. Turn it up. Scream along. Let that echo carry you.
