Birmingham, UK (July 29โ30, 2025) โ The city of Birmingham is preparing a moving public tribute to one of its most iconic sons, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, just two weeks after his final concert in the city. The bassโwares of heavy metal will roll through his hometown on Wednesday, July 30, beginning at 1 p.m. BST, before a private family funeral that eveningย .
๐ Public Procession: Broad Street to Black Sabbath Bridge
The cortege will travel slowly down Broad Street, a route deeply tied to Osbourneโs roots in Aston, Birmingham, and end at the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, a spontaneous memorial site where fans have laid thousands of flowers and messages in recent daysย .
Accompanying the hearse will be a live brass band from Bostinโ Brass, delivering a poignant musical tribute to the โPrince of Darknessโ during the processionย .
The city-wide tribute was organised by Birmingham City Council in close coordination with the Osbourne family, who generously funded all associated costs to ensure a fitting farewell from the heart of the city that shaped himย .
๐ง Logistics & Viewing Details
To accommodate the expected crowds, Broad Street will be closed to traffic starting at 7 a.m. BST. Buses and trams will be rerouted, and attendees are advised to use public transport and arrive early to secure a spot along the procession routeย .
Fans unable to attend in person will still be able to join the tribute via a livestream focused on the Black Sabbath bench, offering a shared moment for the global fan communityย .
๐ฏ๏ธ Private Family Funeral: A Small, Celebratory Service
Following the public procession, a private and intimate funeral will be held for close family and friends in line with Ozzyโs previously expressed wishes. Sources close to the family confirm it will be a lifeโaffirming celebration, not a mournful vigil. โOzzy would never want a mopeโfest,โ has been widely quotedย . Earlier remarks attributed to him emphasize a spirit of joy and even humor, with anecdotes about pranks and upbeat musicโbut always celebrating rather than doling out griefย .
๐ธ Legacy, Final Performance, & Global Tributes
Ozzyโs death followed his historic โBack to the Beginningโ farewell show on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birminghamโmarking his final live performance and the reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup. The event raised significant funds for charities and drew massive global attention via pay-per-view streamingย .
Since his passing, cities the world over have held vigil-like tributes. In Birmingham, thousands have flocked to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, transforming the site into a living memorial. A dedicated book of condolences is also open at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, home to the ongoing โOzzy Osbourne: Working Class Heroโ exhibitionย .
Music legends including Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward (his Black Sabbath bandmates), Yungblud, Robert Plant, Gene Simmons, and others have shared tributes mourning the loss of a pioneer who altered the face of rock musicย .
๐ค Words from Birminghamโs Mayor
Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, shared:
โOzzy was more than a music legend โ he was a son of Birminghamโฆ Weโre proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all beganโย .
He reflected on the cityโs pride in staging a tribute fitting for an artist so closely tied to its identity, noting that Ozzy and his Black Sabbath bandmates had recently been granted the Freedom of the City as a testament to their cultural impactย .
โ Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 1โฏp.m. BST |
| Route | Hearse down Broad Street โ Black Sabbath Bridge & Bench |
| Music | Bostinโ Brass live brass band |
| Public Access | Free; road closures from 7โฏa.m.; public transport advised |
| Livestream | Available at Black Sabbath bench |
| Private Funeral | Small scale; celebrationโofโlife style |
| Honours | Freedom of the City awarded on June 28, 2025 |
Fans around the world can tune in to the livestream tomorrow morning to pay their respects alongside those gathered in Birmingham. This tribute marks not just the passing of a music icon, but the honoring of a man who remained rooted in the city that shaped himโand who gave so much back.
Leave a Reply