Thousands of grieving fans and loved ones gathered in Birmingham to bid an emotional farewell to Ozzy Osbourne, whose death at 76 led to a solemn funeral procession through the city that shaped his rise from troubled youth to legendary “Prince of Darkness.”

The streets of Birmingham fell silent today as thousands of grieving fans, friends, and family lined the pavements to say farewell to one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in rock history.

Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and beloved reality television icon, was honored with a grand funeral procession through his hometown following his death last Tuesday at the age of 76.

The city that gave birth to heavy metal stood still as the man who helped define it was carried through its heart for the final time.

Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” for his haunting vocals and onstage theatrics, Osbourne’s impact was far greater than the darkness his nickname suggests. He was a trailblazer, a survivor, a father, and, to many, a symbol of resilience and rebellion.

The funeral procession began shortly after 1pm, but mourners had been gathering for hours, some arriving as early as dawn, hoping to claim a front-row spot on Broad Street or along the now-iconic Black Sabbath Bridge.

That very bridge — renamed in honor of the band that started it all — had been transformed into a floral shrine since the moment his death was announced. Bouquets, candles, photographs, and scrawled messages from heartbroken fans covered every inch of the stone walkway.

This morning, the area was temporarily closed to the public so Osbourne’s family, including wife Sharon Osbourne, could pay their private respects.

Sharon, who stood by Ozzy through decades of fame, controversy, and health struggles, was seen wearing dark sunglasses, clutching a single red rose as she made her way through the solemn crowd.

She offered a quiet nod to the fans who had gathered nearby and whispered a few words near the bench bearing his name. “He loved this place,” she said softly. “It made him who he was.”

The original funeral route, which was planned to begin at Five Ways roundabout, was altered in the final hours.

The hearse instead began its journey from Sheepcote Street, gliding slowly down Broad Street toward the Black Sabbath Bench — a sculpture commemorating the band and their legacy in the very city they helped put on the global music map.

Crowds stood shoulder to shoulder, waving Black Sabbath flags, wearing band t-shirts, and even holding signs with lyrics from Ozzy’s most famous songs — “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Changes” among them.

Some wept openly, others simply stood in respectful silence as the procession passed.

Among those in attendance were several fellow musicians and celebrities. Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s legendary guitarist and lifelong friend of Osbourne, made a quiet appearance, reportedly walking the bridge alone early this morning before crowds arrived.

“It doesn’t feel real,” he later told one reporter. “We went through everything together — the highs, the madness, the rehab, the comebacks. Ozzy was more than a singer. He was a brother.”

Local residents, too, showed up in droves. For many in Birmingham, Osbourne was not just a rock star but a local hero — a working-class kid from Aston who never forgot his roots.

“I grew up with his music,” said Mark Bennett, 62, who traveled from Coventry with his grandson to attend the procession. “But it’s more than that. He represented something about surviving, being different, and never giving up — even when life knocks you down.”

Indeed, Osbourne’s life was a whirlwind of chaotic success and deeply personal struggle. After rising to fame with Black Sabbath in the late 1960s, his career took a dramatic turn when he was fired from the band in 1979.

But instead of fading into obscurity, Osbourne launched a solo career that arguably eclipsed his previous success.

With hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” he became a staple of metal and hard rock, while pushing boundaries with his controversial stage antics — including the infamous bat-biting incident in 1982.

But the world saw a different side of Ozzy in the early 2000s with the success of MTV’s *The Osbournes*, a reality show chronicling the chaotic but oddly endearing life of the rocker’s family.

Audiences fell in love with the unfiltered dysfunction of the Osbournes, especially Ozzy’s candid vulnerability, baffled expressions, and surprising sweetness underneath the rock-god exterior.

In recent years, Osbourne faced a series of health challenges, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis and injuries from multiple falls.

Yet through it all, he continued to record music, make public appearances, and express his undying gratitude to the fans who had supported him for over five decades.

“He didn’t want a private sendoff,” one family friend shared. “Ozzy always said, ‘If I go, I want to go out loud.’ This is exactly what he would have wanted — music, people, and Birmingham.”

While today’s procession marked the end of a towering career, it also symbolized something more: a city’s love for one of its own.

Church bells rang softly at the moment the hearse reached the bridge, and fans spontaneously broke into song — a haunting, unified chorus of “Changes” echoing through the streets.

There are already rumors of a permanent memorial being planned in Birmingham — possibly a museum or expanded tribute site near Black Sabbath Bridge — but no official announcements have been made.

For now, though, the bridge stands as a temporary monument to a man whose voice, spirit, and chaos helped define a genre and an era.

Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife Sharon, children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and a legacy that few in music will ever match.