The event will be streamed live online
Birmingham, United Kingdom, is set to honor one of its most beloved sons, Ozzy Osbourne, with a public procession on Wednesday, July 30th. The cortege, carrying Ozzy’s family, will travel down Broad Street, allowing fans to pay their final respects to the music icon.
Starting at 1 pm BST, the hearse and accompanying vehicles will slowly make their way along Broad Street, passing by the Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, where a sea of heartfelt messages and floral tributes have accumulated in recent days. The procession will be accompanied by a live performance from local musicians, Bostin’ Brass, providing a final musical tribute to Ozzy’s extraordinary life and legacy.
Large crowds are expected as fans gather to say goodbye to the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre and proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career. This public event also offers Ozzy’s family a chance to witness the immense outpouring of love and memories from his loyal fan base.
Just last month, on June 28th, Ozzy and his fellow Black Sabbath band members were awarded the Freedom of the City, a testament to their enduring impact.
Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, expressed the city’s sentiment, “Ozzy was more than a music legend—he was a son of Birmingham. Following his recent Freedom of the City award and celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert, it was crucial for the city to support a fitting and dignified tribute before his private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We’re proud to host it here with his loving family, in the place where it all began, and we’re grateful that they’ve generously funded this event to ensure he receives the farewell he deserves.”
Birmingham City Council has worked quickly with partners and the Osbourne family to coordinate a respectful and safe public event, with the family kindly covering all associated costs. The Council also extends its thanks to businesses and residents in the Broad Street area for their cooperation, as well as to West Midlands Metro and West Midlands Police for their support in ensuring fan safety.
Broad Street will be closed to through traffic starting at 7 am. Buses and trams will be diverted during this time. Local access will be managed, but cannot be guaranteed. Broad Street will reopen as soon as possible after the event.
Stewards will be on hand. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, use public transport, and follow safety guidance on site.
For those unable to attend, the live stream of the Black Sabbath bench will continue to operate and is accessible online.
Last week, Osbourne passed away at the age of 76, 17 days after his final performance as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. The all-star Back to the Beginning saw Ozzy perform five songs from his solo career before he was joined by his Sabbath bandmates for a four-song set. A few days after, he announced his final memoir, Last Rites, set for release this fall.
The news of his death has seen his music soar as sales and streams have greatly increased, marking significant milestones. Despite being a signature anthem, “Crazy Train” initially stalled at No. 108 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release in 1980. However, it recently debuted on the chart at No. 46 after his death, becoming his first song as a title artist to reach the all-genre Streaming Songs chart.
“Mama, I’m Coming Home” reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992, making it his most successful single as a lead artist on that chart. It recently re-entered the chart at No. 49 following his passing, according to Billboard.
“Mama” re-enters the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart at No. 1 with “Train” debuting at No. 2. However, their positions flip on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and come in at No. 6 and 7 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The Hot Hard Rock Songs chart consists of solo Osbourne or Black Sabbath songs within the top seven positions.
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 28, 2025
