Ozzy Osbourne laid to relaxation: Birmingham offers an emotional farewell to Black Sabbath legend as tearful household lead tributes

#Ozzy Osbourne returned to the “residence of steel” for the final time on Wednesday as an emotional #Birmingham honoured considered one of its most cherished sons.

Thousands of #Black Sabbath followers paid their respects to the band’s frontman as his hearse made its method by the town middle adopted by his tearful spouse and kids.

The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died final Tuesday on the age of 76, went down Broad Street, one of many metropolis’s main thoroughfares, to the #Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019.

“Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi,” followers screamed.

Six automobiles carrying the Osbourne household adopted the hearse, accompanied by police bike riders and a police automotive. The household emerged briefly to examine the array of tributes, together with his spouse of 43 years, Sharon, visibly moved and wiping away tears.

And lengthy after the hearse had moved on for the non-public funeral, the town, which has embraced its repute because the citadel of heavy steel, was pounding to the beat of #Black Sabbath.

It was in #Birmingham, the place he grew up, that the world-conquering heavy steel band was shaped in 1968. Osbourne embraced the town in central England as a lot because it embraced him, as was evident on the streets.

Long-time fan Antony Hunt mentioned it has been an “emotional” day and that he wished to be within the metropolis to pay his respects. “What’s superb is there’s so many, such all kinds of age teams, from little, little kids, youngsters to individuals of their 60s, 70s, so it’s nice to see that,” he mentioned.

Katie Brazier, head of occasions at #Birmingham City Council, mentioned Osbourne meant “all the pieces” to the town. “He by no means forgot the place he got here from,” she mentioned. “You may nonetheless hear that Brummie accent wherever he was, you understand, I feel some individuals have hidden away from the truth that they’re from #Birmingham and so they’ve bought that accent however he stored it during.”

Osbourne and his #Black Sabbath bandmates — Terence Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward — have been not too long ago awarded the Freedom of the City in recognition of their companies to #Birmingham.

#Black Sabbath’s story started in #Birmingham in 1968 when the 4 unique members have been seeking to escape a lifetime of manufacturing unit work. Without doubt, the sound and fury of heavy steel had its roots within the metropolis’s manufacturing heritage. Osbourne by no means forgot his working-class roots.

The band has been extensively credited with defining and popularizing the sound of heavy steel — aggressive, however filled with melodies.

Osbourne was #Black Sabbath’s frontman throughout its peak interval within the Nineteen Seventies. His antics, on and off stage, have been legendary, and infrequently fueled by drink and medicines. He was extensively often known as the “Prince of Darkness.”

The band’s eponymous debut album in 1970 made the U.Okay. prime 10 and paved the best way for a string of hit albums, together with 1971’s “Master of Reality” and “Vol. 4” a 12 months later. It went on to turn into probably the most influential and profitable steel bands of all time, promoting greater than 75 million albums worldwide.

At the ultimate present on July 5, 42,000 followers watched the band carry out for the primary time in 20 years at Villa Park, residence of the town’s greatest soccer membership, Aston Villa, with Osbourne seated on a black throne. Osbourne had been ill in recent times, particularly after being identified with Parkinson’s illness in 2019.

Osbourne, who additionally had a profitable solo profession, discovered a brand new legion of followers within the early 2000s actuality present The Osbournes, by which he starred alongside Sharon and two youngest kids, Kelly and Jack.