The city of Birmingham is set to pay a heartfelt tribute to one of its most famous sons, legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne, with a special cortege procession through the heart of the city. The procession, which will travel along the iconic Broad Street, reflects the deep-rooted connection between the Black Sabbath frontman and the city where his story began.
Born John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, at a maternity hospital in Marston Green, Ozzy was raised in the working-class district of Aston, where he developed the distinctive Brummie accent that remains one of his trademarks. It was in the streets of Birmingham that Ozzy's love for heavy metal grew, with the rocker and fellow Brummie musicians Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward forming Black Sabbath in 1968. The band’s distinctive sound would go on to define an entire genre and put Birmingham on the global music map.
The upcoming procession will pass through key landmarks that honour Ozzy’s musical legacy, including the Black Sabbath Bridge and the commemorative bench on nearby Broad Street. These spots have become important sites for fans from around the world who have always been eager to connect with the birthplace of heavy metal. Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend, he was a son of Birmingham. His impact on global music is undeniable, but it’s his humble beginnings and enduring connection to this city that make him truly special to us.”
The tribute comes after Ozzy's emotional return to Aston earlier this month, where he and the rest of Black Sabbath performed at the sold-out Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. The show was a symbolic homecoming that proved his deep bond with the city and its people. Despite decades in the global spotlight, Ozzy has never lost his affection for his hometown. His thick Birmingham accent, often referenced in media, remains a badge of honour and a reminder of his roots in the city's blue-collar heart.
Hundreds of fans are already gathering to pay their final respects at Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham ahead of the procession. The cortege, along with the Osbourne family, is expected to stop at the Black Sabbath bench, where thousands of tributes, balloons and flowers have been left since the heavy metal icon died last week. The Osbourne family is expected to look at the sea of tributes when the cortege reaches Broad Street at around 1pm. Crowds of people, many wearing Ozzy Osbourne T-shirts and holding posters and other tributes, are already waiting behind metal barriers all along Broad Street, with Black Sabbath music playing loudly and chants of “Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy” from the crowds.
The funeral is set to be attended by some of Ozzy's long-term friends and collaborators, including Elton John, Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, James Hetfield from Metallica, and singer Yungblud. The mourners will be led by Ozzy's wife Sharon and his children Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.
