Ozzy Osbourne’s final farewell in Birmingham began Wednesday as the heavy metal icon’s funeral cortege moved through his hometown. Eight days after his death, fans from Mexico to America joined locals lining Broad Street to honor the Black Sabbath frontman. The procession started at 1 PM near the renamed Black Sabbath Bridge. Floral tributes have piled high there since his July 22 passing. A live brass band performance accompanied the hearse. Meanwhile, the Ozzy-named tram stood parked nearby as a silent tribute.
Therefore, Birmingham Council closed Broad Street to traffic for the event and urged fans to arrive early. Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal called it a chance to honor “one of our greatest legends.” The procession passed key landmarks, including the memorial bench now covered in handwritten notes from grieving fans. Local musician Aaron Diaz of Bostin’ Brass Band said: “We feel the weight of responsibility to give Ozzy a fitting tribute.” The group blended jazz and ska sounds as the cortege advanced past crowds. These crowds wore Sabbath shirts and held up devil horns.
Moreover, Ozzy Osbourne’s final farewell in Birmingham became an international event. Fans like Rachel Tomlinson noted: “He was always proud to be a Brummie – this is where he should rightly be.” Visitors photographed the bridge tributes, some leaving guitar picks or liquor bottles beside the flowers. Westside BID’s Luisa Huggins observed: “People came worldwide to honor the legend Ozzy was.” The bench she maintains has become a shrine. It is covered in messages like “Prince of Darkness Forever” beside childhood photos of the Aston-born star.
While Birmingham celebrates its most famous rock export, some residents grumbled about transport disruptions. Buses diverted around Broad Street until late afternoon as the procession concluded at a private family service. For those unable to attend, the city live-streamed the memorial bench where Ozzy’s statue might one day stand. As brass notes faded, Birmingham said goodbye to the working-class kid. He turned industrial grit into global metal glory, proving you could take Ozzy out of Birmingham, but never Birmingham out of Ozzy.
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