Birmingham to Honour Heavy Metal Icon Ozzy Osbourne with City Procession

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Fans will be allowed to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday, as a cortege makes its way through Birmingham to commemorate the legendary musician’s life and legacy. The procession will pass notable landmarks associated with Osbourne’s career, allowing the public to bid farewell to one of Britain’s most influential rock figures.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who died aged 76 on 22 July, will be honoured with a procession beginning at 13:00 British Summer Time (BST) along Broad Street in the city centre. The route will lead to the Black Sabbath Bridge, already surrounded by tributes, letters, and floral arrangements left by devoted fans. The details were shared by BBC West Midlands presenter Ed James, who confirmed that the hearse will stop at the bench dedicated to the band.

The event, which precedes a private family funeral, has been arranged in collaboration with Birmingham City Council and Osbourne’s family, who are funding the entire tribute. Local brass ensemble Bostin’ Brass will accompany the cortege, bringing a poignant yet celebratory tone to the proceedings. Broad Street will be closed to traffic from 07:00 BST, with tram and bus services redirected throughout the day. The road is expected to reopen shortly after the event concludes.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, praised Osbourne as “a true son of Birmingham” and acknowledged his role in putting both the city and his home district of Aston on the global map. “We’re going to pay our last respects and homage to one of Birmingham’s greatest living legends,” he said. Iqbal, who queued to sign the book of condolence, added: “The love they showed for Ozzy and his family was immense.”

Tributes have arrived from around the world, including Mexico, the United States, Poland, and Greece. One handwritten message from a Greek fan read: “To our king of metal, you were a light in the darkness, the most beautiful, humble, glorious madman. We were all so lucky. Thank you for the music. Without it, I’m not sure who I’d be.”

Osbourne’s death came less than three weeks after his final appearance alongside his Black Sabbath bandmates at their farewell concert, Back to the Beginning, held at Villa Park. The event featured performances from dozens of renowned musicians, including members of Metallica and Aerosmith.

In June, Osbourne, along with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, received the Freedom of the City of Birmingham, one of the council’s highest honours. A council spokesperson stated that the tribute had been “coordinated at pace” to ensure a fitting and respectful farewell. The Osbourne family’s decision to underwrite the event’s cost has been met with public appreciation.

As the city prepares to honour one of its most iconic cultural figures, the procession promises to be both a celebration of a remarkable career and an opportunity for fans to reflect on the music that has shaped generations.