
Birmingham, UK (July 29β30, 2025) β 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 bassβwares of heavy metal will roll through his hometown on Wednesday, July 30, beginning at 1 p.m. BST, before a private family funeral that eveningΒ .
π Public Procession: Broad Street to Black Sabbath Bridge
The cortege will travel slowly down Broad Street, a route deeply tied to Osbourneβs 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 daysΒ .
Accompanying the hearse will be a live brass band from Bostinβ Brass, delivering a poignant musical tribute to the βPrince of Darknessβ during the processionΒ .
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 himΒ .
π§ 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 routeΒ .
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 communityΒ .
π―οΈ 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 Ozzyβs previously expressed wishes. Sources close to the family confirm it will be a lifeβaffirming celebration, not a mournful vigil. βOzzy would never want a mopeβfest,β has been widely quotedΒ . Earlier remarks attributed to him emphasize a spirit of joy and even humor, with anecdotes about pranks and upbeat musicβbut always celebrating rather than doling out griefΒ .
πΈ Legacy, Final Performance, & Global Tributes
Ozzyβs death followed his historic βBack to the Beginningβ farewell show on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birminghamβmarking 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 streamingΒ .
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 βOzzy Osbourne: Working Class Heroβ exhibitionΒ .
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 musicΒ .
π€ Words from Birminghamβs Mayor
Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, shared:
βOzzy was more than a music legend β he was a son of Birminghamβ¦ Weβre proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all beganβΒ .
He reflected on the cityβs 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 impactΒ .
β Summary Table
Detail | Information |
Date & Time | Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 1β―p.m. BST |
Route | Hearse down Broad Street β Black Sabbath Bridge & Bench |
Music | Bostinβ Brass live brass band |
Public Access | Free; road closures from 7β―a.m.; public transport advised |
Livestream | Available at Black Sabbath bench |
Private Funeral | Small scale; celebrationβofβlife 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 himβand who gave so much back.
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