Summary

Sharon Osbourne and family look at tributes in Birmingham

Live Reporting

By Vanessa Pearce, Chloe Hughes and Shehnaz Khan

  1. Thank you for following along

    That's all from our live coverage, thank you for joining us.

    What a day it's been - an incredibly emotional celebration of an Ordinary Man from Aston who captured the hearts of millions.

    We've watched the metal legend's home city come together and pay tribute to his life and career.

    Our writers were Vanessa Pearce, Chloe Hughes and Shehnaz Khan, with additional reporting from Ian Youngs, Josh Sandiford, Josh Tranter and Colin Paterson.

    See You On The Other Side.

  2. 'Ozzy Osbourne made my student's life'

    A composite image, on the left is Ozzy Osbourne wearing a purple jumpsuit with his arm around a teenage boy with shoulder length black hair, they are both smiling. In the image on the right Ozzy is pictured with the same teenager, this time outside and holding the boy in his armsSue Williams

    Following Ozzy Osbourne's death, former IT trainer Sue Williams revealed how the singer visited her home in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, in 1983 to meet one of her students.

    The student, called Don, had cerebral palsy and was having a bad day when Ms Williams learned one of his life's ambitions was to meet the Black Sabbath singer, who happened to live in the area at the time.

    She knew the previous owner of the house where Osbourne lived so tried the number she had for it and the call was picked up by one of the singer's roadies.

    A matter of days later, Osbourne walked up Ms Williams's driveway, wearing a purple jumpsuit, to meet Don and the Williams family.

    "He was totally normal and so kind and compassionate," she said. "An absolutely lovely man."

  3. 'Stunned at how much attention the Black Sabbath Bridge has had'

    Aerial shot of bridge and benchPA Media

    The cortege stopped at the Black Sabbath bench and bridge on Broad Street, which has become a place for fans to leave flowers and tributes.

    It's owned by Westside Business Improvement District (BID) which says it has been stunned with how much attention the area has attracted in recent days.

    Westside bid lady

    "It's always been a focal point," said Luisa Huggins of the BID, "but it's been incredible just to see how many hundreds and thousands of people have actually made the trip from all parts of the globe".

    "It's something that really does pay homage to such an incredible, incredible man," she added.

  4. 'Ozzy's always been one of us'

    Josh Tranter
    BBC Radio WM

    A man with grey hair and black glasses is smiling at the camera. He has a black t-shirt on that reads "the new world car ford escort"

    David Perkins, from Aston, is on Broad Street - facetiming his sister who lives in New Zealand.

    It's late at night over there.

    "She thought about it and I think the three grand put her off," David said.

    He has been a fan of Black Sabbath since he was about 18, and went to the reunion concert.

    "Ozzy put Aston and Birmingham on the map, didn’t he?"

    "He’s always been one of us… back street lad who come good.

    "When we came out of the concert, big strapping lads were crying - I think they kind of knew what was coming and now it’s actually happened, there’s going to be a lot of tears, a lot of emotion."

  5. 'Today we say goodbye to one of our own'

    Watch as a tearful BBC Radio WM presenter, Katharine Merry, in her Villa shirt, sums up how many of us felt today.

    Presenter 'tearful' as Ozzy Osbourne leaves city for final time

  6. Ozzy's tram namesake parked outside the library

    A Birmingham Midlands Metro tram, named after the star, parked outside Birmingham Library for the cortege to see.

    Ozzy came to the city in May 2016 for the unveiling of the tram, which still runs.

    Ozzy and his tramGetty Images

    Sophie Allison from West Midlands Metro said it was going to be a sad day, but also a chance to celebrate Ozzy’s huge contribution to rock music and popular culture.

    “We are proud to have one of our trams named after him, and it’s fitting that it will be part of the city’s fond farewell to one of its most famous sons.”

  7. 'The whole family are adorable'

    Josh Sandiford
    BBC News, West Midlands

    Alex, Jo and Mel, (left to right) all from the West Midlands, took time out to come and pay their respects to Ozzy.

    Alex, Jo and Mel, three blonde women with their arms round each other in front of an Ozzy Osbourne mural. Alex and Mel are holding up their index and little fingers in a "rock salute. All three are wearing black tops."

    Mel said it was important "to say goodbye to Ozzy".

    "He's a Brummie and Brummies like to support each other," she added.

    Jo, from Selly Oak, said she had fallen in love with him watching the Osbournes.

    "He's just a legend in a normal person.

    "Giving the money away to charity when he did his concert was just admirable," she adds.

    "The whole family are just adorable".

  8. 'Ozzy means the world to all of us'

    Josh Sandiford
    BBC News, West Midlands

    Ebony Rager, from Edinburgh, travelled to Birmingham as soon as she heard about the procession.

    “I found out yesterday morning and I packed my bags and hopped on the train the same evening,” she said.

    “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”

    Ozzy Osbourne and a woman.Ebony Rager

    The 28-year-old had the opportunity to meet Ozzy at Comic Con Midlands - a week after attending the Back to the Beginning concert.

    “Not only did I get to meet him, I got to gift him a bracelet which he put on as well,” she said.

    “I was surprised when he actually put it on, I wasn’t expecting it at all," she said.

    “He kept saying thank you, he was just happy to meet all of his fans.”

    A woman stands outside on a road

    Ms Rager spoke of how she happened to be listening to Ozzy when she found out he died and burst into tears.

    "Ozzy means everything. Ozzy is the definition of heavy metal and Ozzy means the world to all of us and this is a terrible loss for all of us," she said.

    “I had to come, it just feels like the end of the era, the end of the chapter.”

  9. All cards and messages to be collected for Osbourne family

    All messages left by fans will be collected for the Osbourne family to read, including cards, Birmingham City Council said.

    A card reading "No more tears"Birmingham City Council

    “Never before have I witnessed such passion from the people of Birmingham for a musician. They have lost their ‘Prince of Darkness’," deputy leader Sharon Thompson said.

    “We all know that Ozzy was an exceptional human being who was driven to entertain and ensure his city of Birmingham was never forgotten, along with his passion for charitable causes.

    "‘Birmingham Forever’ as he would say.”

  10. 'The people who loved the man and loved his music'

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent

    Watch as the Osbourne family acknowledge fans who gathered to say a final farewell, with the crowds chanting "Ozzy! Ozzy!"

    Sharon Osbourne makes peace sign to crowd - Mark Savage reporting

  11. On BBC iPlayer: Remembering a Rock God

    A documentary on BBC iPlayer hears from fans and friends as they reflect on the life and music career of the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne.

    From bat-biting rockstar and struggles with addiction to reality TV legend.

    You can watch it here.

    iPlayer page for Remembering a Rock God

  12. 'I was a baby featured in the Osbourne's show'

    Chris Steers
    BBC News, West Midlands

    Lucas Varga, from Australia, said he is the son of Sharon Osbourne's assistant.

    Stopping off in the city whilst on his way to London, he placed a card from his family at the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street.

    A man stands in front of the Black Sabbath mural

    Mr Varga said he was a baby in the TV show the Osbournes and was "devastated" when he heard the news of Ozzy's death.

    ‘My mum is Sharon's assistant, and I basically grew around the Osbournes. I see them every time I come over to the UK." he explained.

    "I’m due to see my parents in London this evening so felt I should stop by the mural to pay my respects."

  13. 'Metal personified'

    Peter Gillibrand
    BBC Newsbeat

    There were thousands of people who lined the streets to pay their respects to Ozzy Osbourne – including local metal band ‘Mount Slatra’.

    “He is metal personified. An absolute icon. A legend,” bassist Emma, 19, told BBC Newsbeat.

    The interview was interrupted with chants of ‘Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy – Oi, Oi, Oi’. Everyone joined in.

    Pointing to the crowd, Emma said Ozzy was a working class Brummie through and through

    Members of metal band Mount Slatra

    Lead singer, Ryan, 23, jumped in: “Without Ozzy, we wouldn’t have the band – full stop”.

    “We owe absolutely everything to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. For creating further bands that came along through time up until this point where we can hopefully continue that movement of metal.”

    Drummer Ben, 24, reflectd on Ozzy’s life: “Someone to be viewed upon as a really kind, working class person that worked their way up and seen as an inspiration to young musicians”.

    “The way they made music is inspiring and I think they’ll have a lasting legacy for generations.

    “Today is a poignant moment for the whole of Birmingham.”

  14. Ozzy Osbourne got a raucous and emotional send-off

    Ian Youngs
    Entertainment and Arts reporter

    Ozzy Osbourne's family have accompanied the rock legend's coffin on an emotional final journey through his home city, watched on by thousands of fans who cheered and chanted his name.

    Sharon Osbourne with daughter Kelly OsbournePA Media

    A tearful Sharon Osbourne added a pink rose to dozens of tributes, consoled by family members including children Kelly and Jack.

    The large crowd created a highly-charged atmosphere, giving the heavy metal star a respectful but fittingly raucous send-off as they chanted: "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!"

    The funeral procession was led by a brass band playing Black Sabbath songs, with Ozzy's body transported in a hearse topped by a purple floral tribute in the shape of a cross.

    You can read more here.

  15. Crowd chanted in lead-up to cortege

    Ian Youngs
    Entertainment and Arts reporter

    thousands of people stand behind metal barriers on either side of a streetReuters

    Impromptu calls of “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!” sporadically spread through the packed crowd who waited for Ozzy's cortege to appear/

    One pocket next to me had a singalong of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, and I’m sure I heard a rendition of “He’s coming home” to the tune of Three Lions.

    Some people balanced on railings and others climbed on top of a bus stop.

  16. Drake visited Black Sabbath bench

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent

    Among the most unexpected people who’ve turned up to pay tribute to Ozzy in the last week is the Canadian hip-hop star Drake.

    In the early hours of Wednesday morning, not long after the star’s death had been announced, Drake pulled up at the Black Sabbath bench in Birmingham town centre and doused it with shot of tequila in honour of a man “who lived life to the fullest”.

    One of the few people to witness it was Alex Marshall, a culture reporter at the New York Times, who’d been at a nearby Ozzy karaoke night when he stumbled into the world’s most-streamed artist.

    “I spent quite some time wondering if it was actually Drake, because you're not expecting him to turn up in Birmingham town centre,” he tells me.

    Drake has dark curly hair and dark facial hair and is wearing a maroon leather jacketReuters

    “But he was a very nice man. He talked about how he grew up watching the Osbornes, and how someone in his entourage had bought him some Black Sabbath vinyl that morning.

    “He’s probably the most famous celebrity I've randomly bumped into in any street, anywhere in the world, and apparently it's the first time he's spoken to a mainstream journalist since 2017 which I did not know at the time.

    “But respect him for giving time to the fans and to one of the few musicians around, who's more influential than him.”

  17. Sea of tributes at Black Sabbath Bridge

    Thousands of Black Sabbath fans flocked to Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne .

    People from as far away as Mexico, the USA and Poland have added to the sea of flowers and messages at Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street in the heart of the singer's home city.

    His family came to Birmingham to look at some of the tributes in what much have been a special moment for them and for the fans.

    A huge pile of floral tributes and other items at the foot of the Black Sabbath bench in Birmingham.
    A framed artist's picture of Ozzy Osbourne placed on top of a pile of flowers left in tribute to the singer.
    An engraved black tile which says "Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, 03/12/1948 - 22/07/2025, let the madness begin" in gold lettering. It has been placed behind a candle and among bunches of flowers.Reuters
    A man stood surrounded by flowers and notes and a sign saying Black Sabbath BenchPA Media

  18. On BBC Sounds: Forging Metal

    Craig Lewis
    BBC Radio WM

    Metal fans wanting to immerse themselves in the genre on this momentous occasion could take a listen to a new series.

    In the Forging Metal documentary series, musician Bev Bevan explores the origins of heavy metal music and Black Sabbath's homecoming gig with interviews and music from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Slipknot.

    It focuses on the history and culture of heavy metal music, particularly exploring the origins of the genre and its evolution.

    And it highlights the influence of bands like Black Sabbath and their Birmingham roots, showcasing how they forged a new sound that would become heavy metal.

    A poster of the Forging Metal documentary

  19. Flowers left outside Ozzy's childhood home

    Shehnaz Khan
    BBC News, West Midlands

    The Black Sabbath frontman once lived on Lodge Road in the Aston area of Birmingham.

    The terraced house lies about 15 minutes away from Villa Park - where he performed for the last time on 5 July.

    Flowers
    Bouquets of flowers on the pavementPA Media

  20. 'Ozzy signed my prosthetic foot'

    Elliott Webb
    Breakfast presenter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

    The Prince of Darkness put his signature to a Hereford veteran's prosthetic leg.

    Lots of people in Birmingham today have met Ozzy before - but among the most unusual experiences must be that of Matthew Wilson from Hereford.

    He served in Afghanistan but was injured, losing his leg in 2009.

    While staying at the military rehabilitation centre at Headley Court, Surrey, in 2010, the Prince of Darkness paid the veterans a visit.

    He got Ozzy to sign the foot on his prosthetic leg.

    "A lot of people were getting paper signatures and I just thought: 'What else?'" he said.

    Ozzy Osbourne, who has long black hair, is clutching a black prosthetic leg with a skin-coloured foot on it. He is holding a pen and has signed the footMatthew Wilson

    He said he had to beg the prosthetics centre to replace the foot so the autograph wouldn't get smudged off with wear.

    “It went in my cabinet… my wife didn’t think it was very cool, so I had to put it in storage," he told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester.

    Matthew now plans to auction off the foot - attached to the leg, in aid of Blesma, a charity for limbless veterans, and Legacy Moto - a venue offering mechanical therapy to ex-service personnel, blue light workers, and anyone suffering with mental health issues.

    "With everything going on at the moment, I thought it would be good to get it out and make good of it."