Birmingham, England – July 31, 2025 — In a moving display of love, remembrance, and hometown pride, Jack, Sharon, and Kelly Osbourne visited Birmingham, England this week to pay tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic “Prince of Darkness” and founding father of heavy metal. The visit comes just weeks after Ozzy’s passing, which sent shockwaves through the music world and left millions of fans mourning across the globe.
The Osbourne family returned to Ozzy’s birthplace—where his storied career first began—to view the public tributes, murals, and memorials that have sprung up throughout the city in honor of the rock legend. Emotional scenes unfolded as fans and locals gathered to pay their respects alongside the family, transforming parts of Birmingham into a living shrine to the Black Sabbath frontman whose unmistakable voice and onstage antics revolutionized rock music.
Sharon Osbourne, visibly moved, spoke briefly to the crowd near a newly unveiled statue of Ozzy in Aston, the neighborhood where he was born in 1948. “This city made Ozzy who he was,” Sharon said. “He never stopped loving Birmingham, no matter how far he traveled. To see all of you here remembering him with such passion and respect—it means everything to us.”
Fans and passersby applauded as Sharon placed a bouquet of white roses at the foot of the statue, which depicts Ozzy mid-performance, microphone in hand, head thrown back in a familiar pose of unbridled rock energy. Behind her, daughter Kelly Osbourne clutched her father’s signature round glasses and wiped away tears, while Jack Osbourne nodded solemnly, hand on his mother’s shoulder.
The visit was part of a series of commemorative events organized by the Birmingham City Council in collaboration with local artists and musicians. Since Ozzy’s death earlier this month at the age of 76, tributes have poured in from every corner of the globe, but none more heartfelt than those from his home city. A mural painted in Digbeth’s Custard Factory district features a vivid portrait of the young Osbourne in his 1970s prime, alongside lyrics from Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”—one of the band’s most iconic hits.
“Ozzy was one of us,” said Tony Murphy, a lifelong Birmingham resident and self-described Sabbath superfan who turned out to see the Osbourne family. “He never forgot where he came from. He put this city on the map for metalheads everywhere.”
City officials have confirmed that talks are underway to rename a portion of Broad Street—the city’s entertainment hub—as “Ozzy Osbourne Way.” A concert tribute featuring fellow rock legends and a lineup of emerging metal bands influenced by Black Sabbath is also scheduled for later this year at Villa Park Stadium.
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne, rose from working-class beginnings in Birmingham to global superstardom as the frontman of Black Sabbath, a band credited with birthing the heavy metal genre. His distinctive voice, dark lyrics, and unorthodox stage presence set a new standard for rock music, while his personal journey—marked by struggles with addiction, public scandals, and health challenges—was always raw, human, and deeply compelling.
In recent years, Ozzy had battled various health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and complications from multiple surgeries. Despite this, he remained active in music and public life, often expressing his desire to return to the stage and to one day perform again in Birmingham. Though that dream never came to fruition, his spirit was undeniably present during the Osbourne family’s emotional homecoming.
Kelly Osbourne, speaking briefly to reporters, described her father as “a fighter, a legend, and above all else, a dad who loved deeply.” She added, “Being here in Birmingham with all of you—his people—makes it easier to say goodbye.”
As night fell over the city, candles flickered at various tribute sites, including a Black Sabbath bench in Centenary Square and a growing wall of messages and memorabilia outside the O2 Academy Birmingham. Guitars, tour shirts, vinyl records, and hand-written letters filled the spaces—each one a testament to the enduring influence Ozzy Osbourne had on music and culture.
Though the Osbourne family’s visit was brief, it left a profound impression on those who gathered to share in the remembrance. For Birmingham, and for the world, Ozzy Osbourne will never be forgotten. His legacy lives on not only in the music he created but in the millions of fans who found power, rebellion, and hope in his voice.
As Sharon Osbourne said in closing, “He gave his life to rock and roll—and you gave it back in love.”
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