Ozzy Osbourne drew tens of hundreds to the streets of Birmingham on Wednesday (July 30) as mourners lined Broad Street to honor the late Black Sabbath icon with a public funeral procession following his death on July 22 at age 76.

The hearse carrying Osbourne’s casket handed the Black Sabbath Bridge, the place his widow, Sharon Osbourne, and their kids Aimee, Jack and Kelly Osbourne stepped out to absorb the ocean of tributes left by grieving supporters. Sharon, visibly emotional and looking out dangerously frail, leaned on her kids as they walked collectively. After just a few quiet minutes on the bridge, she turned to the group and raised Ozzy’s trademark peace signal.

The crowd erupted into chants of “Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, oi oi oi!” and “Thank you, Ozzy” because the household returned to the automobile. Purple floral preparations spelling out “Ozzy” rested atop the casket. A personal memorial was scheduled for later that day at an undisclosed location, restricted to shut family and friends.

Earlier within the day, a neighborhood brass band kicked off the procession with renditions of Osbourne’s classics, together with “Iron Man.” The tribute adopted Osbourne’s closing public look in Birmingham earlier this month throughout “Back to the Beginning,” a farewell live performance celebrating Black Sabbath’s legacy. Though seated as a result of spinal accidents and Parkinson’s illness, Osbourne attended the occasion and was described as being in good spirits.

Ozzy’s dying marked the top of a decades-long profession that helped form heavy metallic and redefine rock efficiency.

Known for his haunting vocals and theatrical stage presence, Osbourne rose to fame within the Nineteen Seventies because the frontman of Black Sabbath. With tracks like “Paranoid,” “War Pigs” and “Iron Man,” the band laid the inspiration for heavy metallic. Osbourne later discovered solo success with hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” and have become a popular culture fixture by means of his actuality TV present, The Osbournes, and his unfiltered public persona.

Concerns have additionally grown round Sharon Osbourne’s well being following her emotional look on the procession. Supporters on-line expressed fear after seeing her visibly distressed and bodily leaning on her kids. Sharon, 71, has beforehand spoken about her personal medical points, together with a hospitalization in 2022. She has misplaced a drastic quantity of weight within the interim, and followers are anxious she might endure additional well being issues as a result of Ozzy’s dying.

“Seeing Sharon so fragile at the Black Sabbath bench, standing in front of all the tributes, completely shattered it was so hard to watch,” one particular person wrote. “She looked like a woman holding herself together by a thread, surrounded by so much love and yet completely lost without him.”

Another added, “Sharon Osbourne is inconsolable. Mannnn, i hope she survives the heartbreak. She really loved Ozzy.”

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