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Birmingham, birthplace of metal, pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne as hearse moves through city
Birmingham, known as the “home of metal,” is paying tribute to one of its most iconic figures. Thousands of fans gathered Wednesday to honor Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse traveled through the streets of the city where he was raised and where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968.
The procession moved along Broad Street, Birmingham’s main artery, heading toward the Black Sabbath bench on the Broad Street canal bridge, unveiled in 2019. As the hearse passed, fans chanted “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi.” Behind the hearse, six vehicles carried members of Osbourne’s family, who funded the procession. Sharon Osbourne, his wife of 43 years, appeared visibly emotional during the brief moments she was seen by the crowd.
Since Osbourne’s death last Tuesday at age 76, fans have flocked to various Birmingham landmarks, embracing the city’s status as the birthplace of heavy metal. Osbourne, often called metal’s godfather, was honored by city officials who recently awarded him and his Black Sabbath bandmates—the late Terence Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward—the Freedom of the City for their contributions to Birmingham.
Black Sabbath’s origins trace back to 1968 when the members sought to escape factory life. Their heavy metal sound, rooted in Birmingham’s industrial atmosphere, reshaped music history. Osbourne never lost his working-class identity, speaking with his distinctive Brummie accent. The band’s early albums, including their 1970 debut and hits like “Master of Reality” and “Vol. 4,” helped define heavy metal’s aggressive yet melodic style.
Osbourne’s stage presence and notorious offstage antics earned him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” Despite health struggles, including Parkinson’s disease diagnosed in 2019, he performed at Black Sabbath’s final show in July at Villa Park, drawing 42,000 fans. Beyond Black Sabbath, Osbourne gained a new generation of fans through the reality TV show “The Osbournes,” which featured his family and brought his personality into millions of homes worldwide.
More photos below.
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