Birmingham Weeps: A Final, Thundering Goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness
The heart of British heavy metal fell silent, then erupted in a wave of sorrowful applause as thousands lined the streets of Birmingham to bid farewell to their native son, the one and only Ozzy Osbourne. The legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, whose voice defined a genre, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy as colossal as his sound.
Leading the city in its grief was his rock, his partner in life and chaos, Sharon Osbourne. In a raw, heartbreaking display of grief, she broke down in tears, a poignant moment of public sorrow for a life lived so loudly. She was held and supported by their family: their children Jack (39), Kelly (40), and Aimee (41), alongside Ozzy’s son from his first marriage, Louis (50). With trembling hands, Sharon acknowledged the crowd, reading messages from devoted fans and flashing a peace sign—a simple gesture that spoke volumes.
A City Pays Homage on Hallowed Ground
The funeral procession was a pilgrimage through the history of rock. A hearse, bearing the icon, made its solemn journey down Broad Street. Its final stop was a place of reverence for metalheads worldwide: the Black Sabbath Bridge. From the crack of dawn, the streets transformed into a sea of black, a legion of devoted fans who came to honor their king. They clutched homemade signs, treasured memorabilia, and banners that screamed their love for the man who gave a voice to the outsider.
In a final, fitting tribute to the “Prince of Darkness,” many were adorned in bat-themed attire and vintage Black Sabbath tour shirts. The air, thick with emotion, was punctuated by the soaring, mournful notes of a live brass band, Bostin’ Brass, a nod to Ozzy’s deep Birmingham roots. Beside the casket, a stunning floral arrangement simply spelled out “OZZY,” as chants of his name rose and fell between tears and heartfelt applause.
Zafar Iqbal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, stood with the mourners, offering a powerful message on behalf of the city. “Ozzy was more than a music legend—he was a son of Birmingham,” he declared. “We are immensely proud to host this tribute for one of our greatest, most cherished icons.”
A Family’s Public Grief, A Wife’s Private Heartbreak
The most gut-wrenching moments came when the family paused at the Black Sabbath memorial bench. Clutching an arrangement of pink and purple flowers wrapped in somber black paper, Sharon, flanked by Jack and Kelly, was visibly overcome by a wave of grief. Kelly leaned on her brother for support, the family unit a fragile portrait of loss amidst the massive crowd. As Sharon approached the barricades, fans who had shared in their lives through television and music for decades shouted, “We love you, Sharon!”—a chorus of support for the matriarch of metal.
Her pain had been eloquently shared just days earlier in a statement that captured the depth of their bond:
“This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… a rock god… the Prince of Darkness. But to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.”
A Legacy Beyond the Music
While Birmingham gave its hero a public send-off, a private family service is scheduled to take place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. The intimate gathering is expected to be attended by a constellation of rock royalty and close friends, a testament to the man behind the myth. Among those anticipated to pay their respects are:
- Yungblud, who is reportedly set to give a reading
- His Black Sabbath brothers: Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward
- James Hetfield of Metallica, a band profoundly influenced by Sabbath’s sound
- The legendary Sir Elton John
The news of Ozzy’s passing sent shockwaves across the globe, with tributes pouring in from fellow legends like Rod Stewart and Noel Gallagher. His journey was the stuff of fiction: a working-class boy from Aston, Birmingham, who battled dyslexia and poverty to become one of the most recognizable and influential figures in music history.
From the infamous bat incident to the groundbreaking reality show The Osbournes, which endeared him to a whole new generation, Ozzy was the raw, unfiltered, and often unpredictable soul of rock and roll. Yet, beneath the mayhem, he was a man of profound emotion, incredible resilience, and an unwavering love for his family. His final years were a courageous battle against mounting health issues, including a debilitating spinal injury and a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis revealed in 2020. A forthcoming documentary, No Escape From Now, chronicling these final years, is slated to premiere on Paramount+ later this year, ensuring his story will continue to be told.
He was a survivor, a poet of the dark, and a loving husband and father. He’s gone, but his voice will never fade. Long live the Prince of Darkness.