Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession will pass by Black Sabbath Bridge in the band's hometown of Birmingham. Photo / Getty Images
Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession will pass by Black Sabbath Bridge in the band's hometown of Birmingham. Photo / Getty Images
Ozzy Osbourne will make one final trip through Birmingham in a “dignified tribute” ahead of a private family funeral.
The Black Sabbath legend and Freeman of the City of Birmingham passed away on July 22, at the age of 76, and fans will be able to line the streets ofhis home city to pay their respects on Wednesday (UK time), with the procession set to go by Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad St.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend, he was a son of Birmingham.
“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a 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 are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”
Ozzy Osbourne, pictured with daughter Kelly Osbourne, will be honoured in a public procession through Birmingham before his family convenes for a private funeral. Photo / Getty Images
Following Osbourne’s death, fans in their droves laid flowers and notes at Black Sabbath Bridge and a live camera has been set up for those who are unable to get there person.
News of Osbourne’s death was confirmed by his family in a statement, which read: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.
“We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
Meanwhile, Osbourne’s autobiography is set to be released in October.
The upcoming tome will explore the ups and downs of Osbourne’s life, including the cheating scandal that almost ended his marriage to wife Sharon Osbourne in 2016.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “This book was basically Ozzy’s last confessions and contains a lot of passages about how he is sorry for the affair.
“As he was always brutally honest during his life, it’s been decided that not a word will be changed, even about painful times in his life and how his affair affected Sharon.”
Sharon, 72, who married Osbourne in 1982, is expected to write a foreword to the book, which is titled Last Rites.
The source added: “Sharon is made of stern stuff and the publishers know she will want to leave her fingerprint on this book. Writing its foreword will also be cathartic for her and act as a way of laying Ozzy to rest.”
