BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Fans of Ozzy Osbourne will have a final opportunity to pay tribute to the heavy metal icon in his hometown of Birmingham, U.K., as his funeral cortege makes its way through the city center.
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, died on July 22 at the age of 76. This came just weeks after he reunited with his bandmates for a farewell concert in Birmingham and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham on June 28.
The specific cause of Osbourne’s death has not been disclosed by his family. He had been living with Parkinson’s disease and faced various health challenges in recent years, including complications from a fall in 2019.
On Wednesday, beginning at 1 p.m. BST, Osbourne’s hearse will travel down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, where fans have been leaving flowers and handwritten messages. Birmingham City Council announced this in a press release on Tuesday.
The procession will include a live performance by local brass band Bostin’ Brass, offering “a final musical moment to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne.”
“The event is expected to draw large crowds as fans gather to say goodbye to the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre,” the city council stated. The council added that the occasion would allow Osbourne’s family to see the many memories his loyal fans have left alongside flowers and tributes.
In a 2011 “Dear Ozzy” column for The Times, Osbourne expressed his desire for his funeral to be a celebration rather than a somber occasion. “I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen if it makes ’em happy,” Osbourne said.
He added that he wanted some humor at his funeral, suggesting pranks like the sound of knocking inside the coffin or a video of him asking for a second opinion on his “death” diagnosis. “I don’t want my funeral to be sad. I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks,"” he concluded.
During his final performance with Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler, and Bill Ward on July 5, Osbourne told the crowd of 42,000: “You’ve no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, said in a statement, “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, it was important that the city supports a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.”
Osbourne’s family said in a statement, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
