Ozzy Osbourne’s Family Join Thousands of Fans at Funeral Procession

Kelly Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, and Jack Osbourne view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne on Black Sabbath Bridge.
Photo: Loannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu via Getty Images

The late Ozzy Osbourne, who died at 76 on July 22, was honored with a public funeral procession in his hometown of Birmingham on Wednesday. Family members Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, and Jack Osbourne were among the thousands of people who stopped by the Black Sabbath Bridge to pay tribute during the livestreamed event. Memorial services will continue when the Prince of Darkness is laid to rest in front of his family (and several famous friends) in a private ceremony on Thursday.

Osbourne’s coffin, transported inside of a hearse decorated with a purple crucifix and his name in flowers, traveled down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, which have long been gathering spots for fans. Visibly emotional Sharon, who appeared to be wearing her late husband’s wedding ring on a necklace, got out to view fan tributes and lay flowers with her children Jack and Kelly Osbourne. She flashed his signature peace sign at the crowd, which chanted “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi oi oi!” and “Thank you, Ozzy” throughout the procession.

Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal also stopped by to pay his respects. “A moving tribute to a music legend and proud son of our city,” he tweeted of the procession afterward. “His legacy will echo through Birmingham forever.”

The Black Sabbath Bench account streamed an aerial angle, while the Associated Press had a camera set up on the street. Both videos are currently available to replay on YouTube.

Osbourne will be laid to rest on Thursday in a private ceremony for family and friends at a church near his home in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, according to the Times of London.

Sir Elton John is among several musicians who were expected to bid their final farewells to Osbourne at the private funeral, the Times reported before the funeral. “His Sabbath bandmates, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, will be there, along with James Hetfield from Metallica,” a source added to The Sun. Metallica’s Rob Trujillo has also confirmed on Instagram that the band would be attending the funeral. Singer Yungblud would reportedly “give a reading” at the ceremony. Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, and Zakk Wylde (Osbourne’s guitarist) were also in attendance, reports US Weekly.