Sharon Osbourne stood arm in arm with her children Kelly and Jack on July 30 as they laid flowers at Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, England. It’s city where Ozzy Osbourne’s legendary journey began. Visibly emotional, the Osbourne family gathered to honor the man who redefined rock and captivated generations with both his music and his mischief.
It was a public goodbye for fans, but a deeply personal one for his loved ones.
Family, Fans, and Flowers
As the funeral procession moved through Broad Street, Sharon, Kelly, Jack, and Aimee emerged from their vehicle to place floral tributes where fans had already blanketed the Black Sabbath Bridge in a sea of blossoms.
A hush fell over the crowd before erupting into chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy!” as a brass band played Iron Man and Crazy Train. It was a fitting soundtrack for a man whose life was anything but quiet.
While Sharon held it together with quiet grace, Kelly and Jack flanked her protectively, sharing the weight of grief. Aimee stood nearby, quietly observing as strangers and friends alike paid tribute.
Moments earlier, the cortege had passed by Ozzy’s childhood neighborhood in Aston, with the hearse carrying a coffin adorned with bold floral letters spelling out his name. It was a full-circle farewell in the town where it all started.
A Rockstar’s Goodbye
The public procession was only part one. Following the Birmingham tribute, a private funeral service was held at a church in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.
Close friends and fellow rock royalty were expected, including Ozzy’s Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, as well as Metallica’s James Hetfield and Sir Elton John. Singer Yungblud, who had grown close to Ozzy in recent years, was chosen to give a reading.
According to family sources, Sharon and the children were “deeply moved” by the global outpouring of love. “The messages they received from Ozzy’s friends and fans around the world have meant everything,” one insider told The Sun.
Longtime friend and tour manager Graham Wright also made the journey, recalling Ozzy’s final reunion with Black Sabbath during their farewell show: “He wasn’t feeling his best, but he was determined to give fans a proper goodbye,” Wright shared.
“That’s who he was. All heart, all the way to the end.”
Ozzy’s Final Wishes: No Mope-Fest Allowed
Ozzy may have been known for his heavy metal growl, but his funeral playlist was pure Beatles.
In a 2016 interview with NME, he revealed he wanted In My Life by The Beatles played at his memorial. But don’t expect any of his own hits blasting from the speakers. “I definitely don’t want my f—— greatest hits album,” Ozzy once joked. “I’m f—— embarrassed about it.”
The icon also made it clear he didn’t want a sad affair. “I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks,’” he told The Times back in 2011. “No mope-fest.” Always one for irreverence, he even joked that the family could play “a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen” — as long as everyone left with a smile.
