Ozzy Osbourne‘s family were today united in grief as they joined tens of thousands of tearful Black Sabbath fans at an emotional funeral procession in the late singer’s home city of Birmingham.
Family, friends and devoted fans have gathered for a parade through the city centre to pay their respects to the heavy metal icon who died aged 76 last week – two weeks after he performed for the final time at Villa Park.
Ozzy’s beloved widow, Sharon Osbourne, broke down in tears as she was overcome by the sea of flowers and tributes left for her late husband, whom she was married to for over four decades.
As she funeral cortege arrived at the iconic Black Sabbath Bridge, Sharon stepped out of the car and was flanked by their children, Jack and Kelly, who held her up as she burst into tears.
Following closely behind was the couple’s third child, their rarely seen daughter Aimee, and Ozzy’s son Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
But his daughter, Jessica, and adopted son, Elliot, whom he shared with Thelma did not appear to be in attendance, having also not been mentioned in the family’s touching statement announcing Ozzy’s death on July 23.
At Black Sabbath Bridge, Sharon and the family – which included all of Ozzy’s many grandchildren – laid flowers as the crowd chanted ‘Ozzy, Ozzy’. The Osbournes spent time looking at the heartbreaking tributes before raising their hands in a peace sign.
They spent around five minutes at the bridge before returning to the cars and moving on with the procession. Flowers were thrown onto the funeral cars as the cortege moved down Broad Street.
Sharon Osbourne gave a peace sign towards Ozzy Osbourne fans turning out in Birmingham as she was joined by family. (L-R) Jack, Kelly, Sharon, Aimee and Louis from Ozzy’s first marriage
Sharon Osbourne is flanked by children Jack and Kelly as she stepped out at Black Sabbath Bridge
Ozzy Osbourne’s cortege through Birmingham today as fans to pay their respects. Sharon puts a peace sign in the air. (L-R) Jack, Kelly, Sharon, Aimee, Louis
Sharon Osbourne was emotional as she was seen in Birmingham today with son Jack
Sharon Osbourne is seen today attending her late husband Ozzy’s funeral procession
She was supported by family members in Birmingham city centre
Tearful tributes have been shared to Ozzy Osbourne as his funeral parade takes place today
Ozzy Osbourne, who died last week aged 76, recently performed at Villa Park in Birmingham
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his six children following his death aged 76 on Tuesday (Ozzy pictured with kids Louis left and Jessica right in 1978)
Ozzy’s first wife Thelma pictured with their children Jessica, Louis and Elliot, right, who the Black Sabbath singer adopted from a previous marriage
The hearse carrying the singer’s coffin passed the star’s childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston, at about 12.45pm on its route into Birmingham city centre.
Flowers were placed outside the terraced property, close to Villa Park, since the singer’s death, while the owners of the house put up a picture of Osbourne in the front bay window.
The Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car, drove slowly along the street watched by a handful of fans and the current owner of the house.
Fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes around the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days to honour the heavy metal star who was born in the Aston area of Birmingham.
Members of the public have also signed a book of condolences, opened by Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery, which is currently holding an exhibition titled Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero.
While organising the procession, Birmingham City Council collaborated with the Osbourne family, who funded all of the associated costs.
One Black Sabbath fan gathering along Broad Street, giving the name of Goose, told today of discovering heavy metal as a teenager and feeling uplifted by Ozzy.
They said: ‘That’s when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us.
‘We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence.
‘Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people’s lives.’
Jack and Kelly embrace one another (left) as Sharon (centre) and Aimee (next to Sharon) break down in tears at the procession
Jack Osbourne greets family members as Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral cortege travels through his home city of Birmingham
Spectators have been lining the streets of Birmingham’s Broad Street thoroughfare
Emotional tributes are being paid in Birmingham to heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne
Huge crowds have turned out in Birmingham for rock legend the Black Sabbath star’s funeral
Fans have been gathering today ahead of his funeral procession through England’s second city
This floral tribute shared the message to the late Ozzy Osbourne that ‘Birmingham loves you’
Mourners have been gathering in Birmingham city centre for Ozzy Osbourne’s send-off
Fans of all ages have been turning out to pay tribute to the late heavy metal rocker
Aficionados have been congregating in Birmingham city centre as part of the day’s events
A dog named Bruce but also dubbed ‘Doggy Osbourne’ was among those pictured today
The funeral procession for Ozzy Osbourne has attracted scores of early arrivals
Locals have been lining up to pay their respects to the late heavy metal icon
Ozzy is pictured here with his wife Sharon Osbourne, in Los Angeles in September 2017
Masses of floral tributes have been piling up at Birmingham’s Black Sabbath Bridge
Fans have been sharing embraces as they mourn Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham
These admirers congregated on what is popularly known as Black Sabbath Bridge in the city
People were congregating hours in advance of the funeral procession scheduled for 1pm
Praise is continuing to pour in for heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, pictured in June 2007
Flowers, notes and floral tributes on the Black Sabbath Bridge bench are seen in Birmingham
Queues formed along Birmingham city centre streets ahead of the memorial parade
Huge crowds have been gathering in Birmingham awaiting Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral cortege
This Black Sabbath devotee was among the many out in Birmingham today to pay respects
Also turning out in Ozzy Osbourne’s honour were fans Jerald and Jenny Ulay
Fellow fan fan Evie Mayo said the heavy metal star had inspired her and everyone in Birmingham, as she waited by the Black Sabbath Bridge for his cortege to arrive.
She told the PA news agency: ‘I think he was so influential, he was such an inspirational person. I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well.
‘Now that he’s not here any more, you can feel the impact of it. He inspired a lot of people and he was a great person.’
She added: “He inspired me by, I love his music, absolutely love his music. I’m learning guitar so that I can learn some of his songs.’
Birmingham-based musicians Alicia Gardener-Trejo and Aaron Diaz were also there, performing songs by Ozzy and Black Sabbath, with Alicia telling BBC News of being ‘super-excited’ to be involved amid today’s commemorations.
She said: ‘It’s a huge honour to be playing the music of Ozzy and Black Sabbath today. I’m a huge fan. I’m pretty speechless. Growing up, listening to Ozzy – it’s huge to be part of this.’
Aaron said: ‘Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s music really represents something about Birmingham – there’s grit there, there’s heaviness, but there’s also humour and there’s a sort of humility in it as well.’
T-shirts and memorabilia have been shown from Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig at Villa Park
This large mural in honour of the former Black Sabbath frontman is among the tributes
Newspaper tributes as well as floral arrangements have been placed to mark Ozzy’s passing
Dawn Woolven (pictured) was wearing a Black Sabbath as she joined the throng of mourners
Fans awaiting the arrival of his funeral cortege held floral tributes
This admirer had Ozzy Osbourne’s first name painted on their hand held up in his honour
Black Sabbath fan Amy Maybury is seen here giving a the recognised hard rock hand gesture
The streets of Birmingham have been packed with people turning out today to pay tribute
Fans have been lining Broad Street leading towards Birmingham city centre for the event
This is among the items placed today in Birmingham ahead of Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral
Lee Clarke and his mother Tracey travelled 200 miles from Plymouth to get to Birmingham for today’s event, boarding a sleeper train overnight.
He told BBC Radio WM: ‘I decided long ago, when it happened I would go – thought we’d get more notice.
‘Its pretty hard to be a metalhead and not like Ozzy Osbourne – all the other music, the other bands, they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for him.’
Tracey told of becoming a fan over the past decade due to her son’s influence and said of their arrival today to join the crowds: ‘It’s just feel the need to be here and show the family how loved Ozzy was.
‘I’m sure they know, but it’s just somewhere I felt I wanted to be today. He was an ordinary man – an extraordinary, ordinary man.’
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Eliza turned up bearing an umbrella with model bats attached, as well as a sign saying: ‘Goodnight Ozzy – Birmingham forever.’
Eliza, accompanied by her mother and grandmother, said: ‘Ozzy is a local lad, a boy from Aston, and he’s allowed kids like me to dream big – Ozzy is Birmingham.’
Her mother Claire Finn-O’Shea described Birmingham as ‘a city in mourning’, adding: ‘We love what Ozzy did for the city. We love that he stuck to his roots. I feel like we will get upset today when we see the coffin.