
Ozzy Osbourne’s family have accompanied the rock legend’s coffin on an emotional final journey through his home city, watched on by thousands of fans who cheered and chanted his name.A tearful Sharon Osbourne added a pink rose to dozens of tributes left by fans in Birmingham, consoled by family members including children Kelly and Jack.
The large crowd of onlookers created a highly-charged atmosphere, giving the heavy metal star a respectful but fittingly raucous send-off as they chanted: “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!”
The funeral procession was led by a brass band playing Black Sabbath songs, with Ozzy’s body transported in a hearse topped by a purple floral tribute in the shape of a cross.
The procession took place a week after Ozzy’s death at the age of 76, and less than a month after his triumphant farewell concert for 40,000 fans at Villa Park football ground.
On Wednesday, the cortege drove past the stadium and his childhood home before heading into Birmingham city centre, where fans wearing Ozzy and Sabbath T-shirts and scarves lined Broad Street. Some threw flowers, and spontaneous chants and singalongs erupted in the crowd.
The procession stopped on Black Sabbath Bridge, where a bench bearing images of the band’s members has been turned into a makeshift memorial.
Over the past week, fans have been leaving flowers, messages, empty beer bottles and even bat-shaped balloons – a reference to the infamous 1982 incident when the rock hell
raiser bit the head off a bat on stage.
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