Funeral Of A Madman

Birmingham bids farewell to its most infamous son, as the world mourns the death of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne was laid to rest yesterday in his hometown of Birmingham, England, where his music first shook the walls of working-class neighborhoods and echoed across generations. Thousands of fans, locals and global mourners lined the streets for a funeral procession.

A sleek black hearse, marked by a bold purple cross on the roof, carried his coffin adorned with a matching display of purple flowers spelling out “OZZY.” It was surrounded by fans waving banners and wearing Black Sabbath T-shirts, moved slowly through the streets of Birmingham. Local brass band, Bostin Brass, led the way with renditions of Iron Man and Crazy Train.  Fans lining the procession route cheered, sang and celebrated the life of a man who changed music forever. The atmosphere was electric, yet reverent, an outpouring of love and grief wrapped in heavy metal passion. As the procession passed his childhood home in Aston, fans left tributes including flowers, balloons, heartfelt notes and even hand-drawn portraits of the rock icon.

A Hometown Farewell

The crowd swelled as the cortege approached Black Sabbath Bridge, renamed in honor of the band that added so much to rock music. At the fan memorial just beyond the bridge, where thousands had left flowers, balloons and messages over the weeks since his death, the Osbourne family paused. Each of them displayed touching tributes to the icon through their clothing and accessories. One by one, they laid down pink roses wrapped in black paper tied with purple ribbon, the traditional Black Sabbath colors. The sight was moving. Through tears, they flashed peace signs to the crowd of grieving fans.

The city responded with chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!” and, to Sharon, “We love you!” The procession then slowly drove away, presumably to the private funeral which is being held at an undisclosed location.

Local leaders also paid their respects. Birmingham’s Deputy Leader Sharon Thompson remarked, “Never before have I witnessed such passion from the people of Birmingham for a musician. They have lost their Prince of Darkness.”

The city offered more than just words: a livestream for those abroad, a public condolence book at the Birmingham Museum, and an Osbourne exhibition. “Ozzy was more than a music legend,” said Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal. “He was a son of Birmingham.”

This wasn’t just a funeral procession; it was a city’s collective farewell to its most famous son.

A Final Bow

The singer, who was known as the Prince of Darkness for his pivotal role in shaping the heavy metal music genre, died on July 22.  His family announced his death in a personal statement that read: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”

Just two weeks earlier, he had performed his final concert Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning at Villa Park. The setlist was a celebration of both his solo and band careers, featuring solo songs, I Don’t Know, Mr. Crowley, Suicide Solution, Mama, I’m Coming Home and Crazy Train, while the group performed War Pigs, N.I.B., Iron Man and Paranoid. It was the ultimate send-off.

“You have no idea how I feel,” he told the crowd that night. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The show raised approximately $190 million (₤140 million) for three Birmingham-based charities, according to musical director Tom Morello. It was also the night Ozzy was awarded the Freedom of the City, a ceremonial U.K. honor bestowed on those who’ve shaped a community’s identity.

Brothers in Metal

Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s guitarist, spoke to ITV News days after Ozzy’s death, calling it a “shock” but also expressing belief that Ozzy had held on just long enough to perform his last show.

“I really feel — me and Geezer were talking about it last night — that we think he held out to do it. And just after that, he’s done it and said goodbye to the fans. And that was the end of it, really.”

Longtime solo guitarist Zakk Wylde reflected on their last time playing together at that farewell show, telling Guitar World:

“Seeing Oz onstage when Sabbath got done, that’s the last time I saw him. I’m blessed and grateful, man. Anything other than that would be selfish. And on top of it, to go out with what’s the biggest-grossing charity event of all? That’s unbelievable. He helped a whole lot of people instead of making a profit. My God, what an incredible master. What an incredible life.”

A Man Who Wanted Celebration, Not Sorrow

Ozzy himself once said in 2011:

“It’s worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives, so by any measure, most of us in this country – especially rock stars like me – are very lucky. That’s why I don’t want my funeral to be sad. I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks.’”

Ozzy is survived by Sharon, his wife of over 40 years, and six children: Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley; adopted son Elliot; and Aimee, Kelly, and Jack with Sharon.

Legacy of a Legend

Without Ozzy Osbourne, there might be no heavy metal genre. As the voice of Black Sabbath, he gave birth to a darker, heavier, more rebellious strain of rock music that forever changed the landscape. His creativity, edgy lyrics and boundary-pushing behavior challenged norms and gave rise to a genre that dominated stages and headphones for decades. He was the voice, the wild spirit and the unforgettable frontman who forged a new musical path. A dark, raw and rebellious sound that spoke to the misfits, the outsiders, the dreamers. Few artists command legions of fans across multiple generations as Ozzy did.

He was both an icon and an outlaw, a blueprint for generations of musicians to follow. From Metallica to Slipknot, from punk rockers to pop stars, his influence spanned genres and defied expectations. Ozzy wasn’t just heavy metal’s godfather. He was its lightning rod.

Yet, his true legacy lies beyond riffs and records. It lies in the way he made people feel.  Empowered, seen, heard. His music gave language to pain, identity and joy to those who needed escape.

His songs are memories set to music for millions. For me, they marked the milestones of a life in motion. Driving to school with my older brother, the Ozzmosis album blasting, annoying every passenger but never ourselves. Buying my first car and hearing “War Pigs” on the radio, a sign from the universe I’d made the right choice. Leaving answering machine messages for my mother from college, singing “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” After she passed, that song became my elegy to her.

I saw him live 16 times both solo and with Black Sabbath. Each show was electric and raw. When the last note faded, I never wanted to leave. He could have played all night and the crowd would have stayed.

Losing Ozzy feels like saying goodbye not only to the man but to a chapter of my life. It is a loss so deep that I’ve found myself questioning why I grieve a man I never met. But my heart knew him. My soul recognized something in him that made me a lifelong fan.

Long Live the Madman

Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t just the Prince of Darkness. He was the godfather of a sound, a symbol of rebellion, a legend and the soundtrack to countless lives. His music gave us permission to be loud, to be weird, to feel. He lived loud, wild, flawed, fearless and he left a legacy that will echo forever.

As Birmingham mourns, the rest of us turn up the volume. One more time. For Ozzy.

Because legends don’t die. They echo.