It's only fitting that the "Prince of Darkness" is getting a proper funeral sendoff. While he may "See you on the Other Side," Ozzy Osbourne is getting one more tribute on this side in Birmingham.
The City council in John Michael (Ozzy) Osbourne's hometown of Birmingham, England says fans will be able to pay respects on Wednesday when a hearse carrying Ozzy's remains drives through the streets accompanied by a brass band. Yes, a brass band, Bostin Brass. Not exactly churning Black Sabbath-like heavy metal. It's also thought the surviving members of Black Sabbath will participate.
The procession will culminate at the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, a tourist attraction to the band. Thousands of fans have left messages and flowers in tribute to the pioneering heavy metal singer at the bench since he died last week at 76.
Birmingham's Lord Mayor says it'll be a fitting and dignified tribute ahead of a private funeral adding that the Osborne family is covering all costs for their procession.
“It was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral," Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal said told The Guardian. "We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.”
Ozzy Osbourne died last week at the age of 76 after a years-long battle with Parkinson's.
It was in the steel mill city of Birmingham that Osbourne, with bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, formed the heavily influential Black Sabbath (originally dubbed Earth) in 1968.
Sabbath's run of albums from their debut "Black Sabbath" in 1970, through "Never Say Die!" in 1978 set the stage for nearly all of the heavy metal scene of the decade, and influenced countless bands across the 80s, 90s and even to this very day. It's not hyperbole to say that Ozzy and Black Sabbath were the "Big Bang" of heavy metal.
The exodus of Osbourne in 1979 set him off on a solo career that was just as influential, helping launch the 1980s hair metal scene and making him one of the biggest musical acts in the world.
Osbourne died just over two weeks after his final performance, a gathering in the band's hometown with other musical tributes from the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Guns N'Roses, and many more. Ozzy got on stage for eight songs - four with his solo band, and four with his Black Sabbath mates - all while seated in a black (what else?) throne clearly showing the legendary frontman was struggling.
But Ozzy, so often rising from the ashes over his five-plus decade career, summoned one more short performance for the 40,000 fans in attendance.
“Let the madness begin!” he urged as he took the stage, and later paid tribute to fans.
“I don’t know what to say, man, I’ve been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Osbourne said. “You’re all … special. Let’s go crazy, come on.”
It was the first time in 20 years he played with Black Sabbath. Both the band and Osbourne as a solo artist have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
He has struggled with health issues since 2003 following a near-fatal quad bike crash. He revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020 and paused touring in 2023 after spinal surgery.
The Black Sabbath bench website is planning to provide an ongoing livestream on Wednesday. It's expected to begin at approximately 1PM BST. That's 8AM ET (7AM CT) in the U.S.