Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, died last week and will be laid to rest on Wednesday July 30 at a private family funeral. The rock star, who passed away on July 22, 2025, will be honoured with a special procession through Birmingham city centre before the service.
The procession will begin at 1pm on Broad Street, led by a live brass band, Bostin' Brass, and will travel to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where floral tributes have been left. The cortege will be followed by Osbourne's family, with the route closed to traffic from 7am.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, said: '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 earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.' The costs of the procession have been covered by the Osbourne family.
Broad Street will be closed from 7am, with buses and trams diverted. The road is expected to reopen after the event. For those unable to attend, a live feed of Black Sabbath bridge is available, and a book of condolence has been opened at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, alongside the Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero exhibition.
Other tributes include a Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street, the Ozzy the Bull statue at New Street Station, and The Station pub, where Black Sabbath first played in 1968. Osbourne had expressed a desire to return to the UK, saying in 2022: 'I’m fed up with people getting killed every day... it’s f***ing crazy.' He died surrounded by his family, who asked for privacy.
