Birmingham, England – Emotions ran high as Ozzy Osbourne’s family honored his memory with a poignant funeral procession through his hometown of Birmingham, England. Hundreds of fans lined the streets, offering their final farewells to the legendary music icon.
Following a visit to Broad Street, Ozzy’s coffin was adorned with purple flowers before pausing at the iconic Black Sabbath bridge. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, visibly distraught, was comforted by daughter Kelly Osbourne, with son Jack Osbourne close by. Aimee Osbourne and Ozzy’s son, Louis Osbourne (from a previous relationship), also offered signs of support to the grieving crowd.
Ozzy will be officially laid to rest in a private ceremony later today, according to BBC News. He passed away on July 22 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, at the age of 76.
“It is with profound sadness that we report the passing of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne,” his family stated in a heartfelt message to *Us Weekly*. “He was surrounded by his family and loved ones, and we respectfully request privacy during this difficult time.”
The funeral procession followed Ozzy’s farewell concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham on July 5th, where he delivered a five-song solo set before joining bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for an additional four tracks. “It’s so good to be on this f*ing stage, you have no idea,” he exclaimed to the crowd, “Let the madness begin!”
Just weeks prior, Ozzy revealed through an interview with *The Guardian* that his wife, Sharon Osbourne, conceived the idea for the concert “to give him a reason to get up in the morning.”
Following the concert, Kelly Osbourne dispelled speculation surrounding her father’s health. “Yes, he has Parkinson’s, and yes, his mobility is completely different than it used to be, but he’s not dying,” she shared on Instagram.
Ozzy’s family was surprised by his death, particularly his sisters Jean Powell and Gillian Hemming who had reunited with him at the Black Sabbath show. “He was frail, but it still came as a shock,” Powell, 85, told *The Mirror*.
Ozzy’s health struggles, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, had led to limitations in his mobility, with him revealing in a May interview with *The Guardian* that he was no longer able to walk due to his condition. He described his preparation for the concert, including weight training and cycling, aided by a dedicated caregiver.