With a thundering “Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy! Oi Oi Oi!” Birmingham said goodbye to his favorite son Ozzy Osbourne during a city -wide celebration. Thousands of fans gathered in the city center, along the Broad Street and near the Black Sabbath Bridge. The atmosphere was mostly happy – a suitable tribute to a man who once said that he did not want a depressing funeral.
Officially, the municipality came together for a mourning procession in honor of Osbourne, which died on July 22nd at the age of 76. But then the musician fans transformed a normally melancholy event into a lively celebration of life and music that stretched over Osbourne’s hometown. Many wore Black-Sabbath clothing and went with walking sticks-an allusion to the style of the “Prince of Darkness”.
Black-Sabbath hits boomed from pubs and trucks, and fans of all ages laid notes, flowers and even a Star Wars VHS box of monuments in the city, including the now closed Crown Pub, where Black Sabbath once started.
“A few wistful moments, but it was a celebration”
“There were a few touching moments because everyone loves him, but everyone came to celebrate life,” says Mikee Smith, 36, who had traveled from Worcester and visited the crown for a photo. “It was an uplifting experience.”
“Whatever I felt about sadness on the train journey here was immediately evaporated when I became part of the crowd that was waiting for the procession,” added Mark Dubanowski, 34, member of the Death Metal band Desecrator from Worcester. “The atmosphere turned around.”
The procession paid by the family of the musician led Osbournes coffin in a black corpse car. The local band Bostin ‘Brass ensured the musical framework that reflected both the spirit of New Orleans and the culture of Birmingham – with the aim of keeping tears within limits. The group played stirring versions of Black-Sabbath and Osbourne classics such as “Iron Man” and “Crazy Train”, which they had already rehearsed in 2022 to unveiled the Ozzy-the Bull monument at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The moment at the bridge
When there was a serious moment, it was the, as an Osbourne family, including widow Sharon, at which Black Sabbath Bridge briefly got out of her cars. The rocker’s children and grandchildren looked at the huge mountain of flowers and letters and read some of the warm messages. The family hugged and shed tears, but the fans quickly tried to raise the mood, called “Ozzy Forever!” And “Sharon, We Love You” before scanding the musician’s name together.
The family stayed only a few minutes before moving on and the barriers were released for the fans. It was a conscious decision, many said to give Osbourne the ceremonial award he had always wanted. After visiting the murals, the museum and the bridge, many gathered in the pub along the canal, with a pint in hand and a toast on the deceased legend, which had returned to Birmingham in later years – a moment that closed a circle for the city.
“He embodies the pride of Birmingham”
Osbourne came from a working -class family in Birmingham, a former industrial city that has only recently had a revival. Aaron Diaz, trumpeter and band leader by Bostin ‘Brass, sees Osbourne’s promotion from the boy from Aston to the world -famous musician as a mirror of the development of the city. “Ozzy is an indelible part of Birmingham’s music scene. It stands for so much that makes pride, modesty and humor of the city,” says Diaz. “He has really become a totem for the city. Birmingham’s journey also reflects his rebirth as a cult figure and metal god.”
For many fans, Osbourne was a hope for a city that was often overshadowed by London. Many waited a long time to take a quick photo on the Black Sabbath Bridge or to sign the memorial book in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. After the procession, the waiting time was over an hour to sign the book – which is to be presented to the Osbourne family. Justin Reeves, visitor supervisor in the museum, estimated that at least 1,000 fans had signed the book by the early afternoon of the day and at least 11,000 since Osbourne’s death. Although he saw some tears and shared emotional moments with visitors, he was touched by global encouragement.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” says Reeves. “We had visitors from London, Argentina and São Paulo. Everyone said: ‘Birmingham is so beautiful. People here are so nice.’ One said: ‘Just as you celebrate your local heroes, that’s nowhere else.’ It was very enriching for the soul to experience it. “
“Ozzy Osbourne put Birmingham on the map”
One of the fans in line was the 31-year-old Hayden Worton from Birmingham, who recently visited Osbourne’s last concert back to the starting in nearby Villa Park.
“I was in many, many concerts, and that was the best I’ve ever experienced,” said Worton. “When he played ‘mom, I’m coming home’, there was no eye dry. It was a great farewell. He meant everything for Birmingham. He put Birmingham on the map.”
Another locals, Sarah Edwards, 45, regularly visited the memorials in Birmingham and has left flowers and messages since the musician’s death. Edwards was born in the same hospital as Osbourne, and her father was friends with him at a young age. She said she had never experienced that the community had gathered for a local legend.
“This is the first time,” she said after visiting the recently unveiled Black Sabbath wall painting by artist MR Mural, where many fans laid out flowers. “We are the second largest city in England, and we have never experienced anything like this. It was very nice because I met great people, and everyone is here for the same reason. It is nice that everyone here is happy.”
Ozzy Osbourne: His home was Birmingham
“Birmingham shaped me because I come from here,” Osbourne once said Huffington Post. “I had no choice but to be a humie – and that’s great.”
Although many British musicians and artists have died in recent years, some fans were only able to name Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022 as similarly significant for British culture. “She was Royalty,” said Dubanowski. “But Ozzy too. He was a rock royalty.”
But even if the fans said goodbye to a beloved musician, it was clear that Osbourne would never really disappear. “If someone you have followed all your life and who you love dies, and this person is suddenly gone, that’s sad,” said Edwards. “But I know that Ozzy Osbourne will always be here.”