Ozzy Osbourne funeral latest: Birmingham procession to take place as Sharon, family and celebrity guests to attend private service

Ozzy Osbourne's funeral - key points

• Everything you need to know ahead of Ozzy's funeral
• How to watch the Black Sabbath bench livestream
• PICTURES: Fans arrive early to get a spot near the Black Sabbath bridge bench
• Graffiti artist Mr Murals helps touch up murals before the funeral procession
• What Ozzy's fellow artists said in tributes after his death

How to watch the Black Sabbath bench livestream

The Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street is where Ozzy’s funeral cortege will pause before continuing on its way.

The tribute spot has become a hub for fans and stars wishing to pay their respects - Ozzy’s family will stop to read some of the tributes later today.

There is a livestream of the location, so fans unable to be in Birmingham today can still tune in. However, the BBC reports that owners Westside Business Improvement District are struggling to keep up with the online viewing demand.

PICTURES: Fans line the streets of Birmingham ahead of Ozzy funeral procession

(Getty)

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

(AFP/Getty)

VIDEO: Ozzy Osbourne reveals the song that changed his life

‘I couldn’t live without her’: A timeline of ‘soulmates’ Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s relationship

The Prince of Darkness first met his wife in 1970 when her father was Black Sabbath’s manager - my colleague Lydia tracks their relationship from the very beginning.

Yungblud's moving tribute to Ozzy

British rock singer Yungblud, who performed at the Black Sabbath farewell show and is believed to be attending the private service later today, wrote that he was “ truly heartbroken” at Ozzy’s death.

“I didn’t think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don’t. I will never forget you - you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage,” he wrote.

“Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own. You asked me once if there was anything you could do for me and as I said then and as I will say now for all of us the music was enough. You took us on your adventure - an adventure that started it all.

“I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time.”

Thousands of fans travel to Birmingham... and the pints are already flowing

As the morning has gone on, thousands more have joined the crowds to celebrate the life of the rock legend.

Fans have travelled from across the Midlands, with hundreds decked in Black Sabbath concert T-shirts and blasting music from handheld speakers. Pints are flowing at the Wetherspoons opposite the Black Sabbath bridge, with punters here since 8am.

Ozzy Osbourne lookalikes are dotted around, as well as dedicated fans in their camping chairs, who have been here since the early hours of the morning.

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

Mayor calls Ozzy Osbourne 'a son of Birmingham'

The city’s mayor Zafar Iqbal said in a statement: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham.

“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.”

He continued: “We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”

Ozzy fan renames his pet 'Doggy Osbourne' for the day

Roy Brown-Lowe, 64, has travelled here today with his pet hound Bruce, who has been renamed ‘Doggy Osbourne’ for the day. Asked what the musician means to Birmingham, he responded: “Ozzy Osbourne is Birmingham. Look at the people here, Birmingham loves Ozzy and Ozzy loved Birmingham”.

Roy Brown-Lowe, 64, with his faithful hound Bruce, who has been renamed ‘Doggy Osbourne’ for the day. (The Independent/Caspar Barnes)

REVIEW: Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s historic farewell show was less Live Aid, more Loud Aid

With merging and collaborating metal acts swapping over on a revolving stage, it’s a fast-spinning Lazy Susan of metal history. Yet there’s precious little ego and plenty of heartfelt humility, Mark Beaumont wrote in his five-star review of Back to the Beginning:

'Ozzy Osbourne was completely himself... money didn't change him'

Ryan Darling, 23, Emma Powell, 19, Ben Alexander, 24, have all travelled up from the West Midlands to pay their respects. As a younger generation of heavy metal fans, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have been instrumental in them forming their own heavy metal band Mount Slatra.

Asked what their favourite aspect of Ozzy was, Ryan said: “He was completely unapologetic and himself, well and truly throughout. Money didn’t change him, he was working class from the beginning and even when finding success as a musician both solo and in Black Sabbath, he was always unapologetically Ozzy Osbourne.”

L-R: Ben, Emma and Ryan of the heavy metal band Mount Slatra, who travelled to Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne (The Independent/Holly Evans)

Ozzy Osbourne flung open hell’s musical gates – and changed the world

If you haven’t yet read this fantastic tribute to Ozzy from Mark Beaumont, now would be the time! Mark was also at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert, Back to the Beginning - I’ll share his review (also brilliant) shortly.

Couple Karen and Steve Brookhouse: 'There will never be another Ozzy'

Decked in full Black Sabbath clothing, Karen and Steve Brookhouse, aged 54 and 65, have come to pay their respects to the man who has been “the soundtrack of their lives”.

“There will never be another Ozzy,” Karen said. “Ozzy’s music has been there through the good times and the bad, as long as I can remember so we just felt we had to be here.”

The couple had been unable to secure tickets for the Black Sabbath’s last concert so had travelled here “to say goodbye”.

Such is their love for the band that they chose a Black Sabbath song for the first dance at their wedding. “He was amazing. It was an honour to see him,” Steve said.

Hundreds of people are already gathered at the barriers

Over three hours before the procession, several hundred people have already gathered along the barriers, turning the street into a sea of black and purple. Some fans have been here since 5am to show their respects.

Ozzy Osbourne wanted his funeral to be ‘celebration, not a mope-fest’

The ‘Prince of Darkness’, – once notorious for his hard-living antics that included biting the head of a dead dove and “snorting a line of ants” – previously opened up about his vision for a send-off.

“I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are the Diddymen if it makes ’em happy – but I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest,” he said in a fan Q&A back in 2011.

Full story:

Graffiti artist Mr Murals helps touch up murals before the funeral procession

Graffiti artist Daniel, who goes by his professional name Mr Murals, was not born and raised a heavy metal fan, despite his roots being in Birmingham and fully being aware of Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on the city.

“I was asked seven weeks ago to help with murals in the city ahead of the final Black Sabbath concert. I’ve listened to them more in the last few weeks than I ever have, and it’s been amazing to be part of. I’ve been down here early this morning touching up the murals ahead of the procession, and then I’ll be going down to watch.”

Graffiti artist Mr Murals has been working on the murals around Birmingham ahead of Ozzy's funeral procession (The Independent/Holly Evans)

What Ozzy's fellow artists said in tributes after his death

Senior reporter Holly Evans is in Birmingham ahead of the funeral procession

Holly writes: “On Navigation Street in Birmingham, graffiti artists are touching up the Black Sabbath mural ahead of today’s procession. Music is playing from a loudspeaker and hundreds of flowers have been placed on the pavement.”

Bouquets of flowers line the Ozzy Osbourne mural in his hometown of Birmingham (The Independent/Holly Evans)

Flower arrangements outside the Ozzy Osbourne mural (The Independent/Holly Evans)

Ozzy Osbourne funeral: Where is it, what time, who’s going and how to watch

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the funeral procession:

Fans prepare to say final goodbye to the Prince of Darkness

Ozzy Osbourne fans are to pay their respects to the heavy metal star in a procession taking place in his home city of Birmingham.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who played a farewell gig in the city earlier in the month, died at the age of 76 last Tuesday.

The hearse carrying Osbourne will make its way down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath bench and bridge from around 1pm on Wednesday.

His family members are expected to watch the cortege, which will be accompanied by a live brass band.

Fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes around the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days to honour the heavy metal star who was born in the Aston area of Birmingham.

Members of the public have also signed a book of condolences, opened by Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery, which is currently holding an exhibition titled Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero.

Fans are preparing to say goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne (Getty)

Who are Bostin' Brass Band, the group playing alongside Ozzy's hearse?

Bostin' Brass Band will be playing music as Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral cortege makes its way along Broad Street in Birmingham later today.

The group, who started off as a marching band in Digbeth, described themselves on their website as “Birmingham's very own second-line, jazz, funk and ska soul stew”.

Speaking to BBC Midlands Today, band member Aaron Diaz said he was nervous but honoured to be taking part.

“It's certainly high pressure,” he said. “You do feel a weight of responsibility.

“We're really going to enjoy paying a fitting tribute to him and being part of the crowd of thousands that's going to turn out on the day.”

PICTURES: Fans arrive early to get a spot near the Black Sabbath bridge bench

Fans arriving early to get their spot near the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham ahead of funeral procession for Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne through the streets of Birmingham, following his death last week aged 76.

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

Flowers, tributes and a brass band outside the Black Sabbath bench

If you’re not able to be in Birmingham for Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession, you can always tune into the livestream aimed at the Black Sabbath bench.

As you can see, fans have laid hundreds of bouquets of flowers, along with tributes, artwork and balloons, around the bench which has now been cordoned off.

There also appears to be a saxophonist performing to passers-by.

A screenshot of the Black Sabbath bench livestream in Birmingham (Screenshot)

Birmingham mayor describes Ozzy Osbourne as 'son of Birmingham

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal has described Ozzy Osbourne as a “son of Birmingham” ahead of today’s funeral.

He said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham. Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.

“We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”

In pictures: Fans arrive and floral tributes laid ahead of funeral

The first eager metalheads have already arrived in Birmingham to see off Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal.

Thousands are expected to line the streets as Mr Osbourne’s coffin is driven through his hometown of Birmingham to a private funeral.

(Jacob King/PA Wire)

Eliza Finn-O'Shea, 10 from Birmingham with floral tributes left at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Ozzy Osbourne funeral: Where is it, what time, who’s going and how to watch

Below we have an explainer of everything you need to know about today’s events.

Read here.