Heartbreaking 💔 Today, the world said goodbye to a legend. Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession took place in his hometown of Birmingham, where fans lined the streets as Iron Man echoed through the air. The Prince of Darkness was laid to rest surrounded by family, love, and music. Rest easy, Ozzy. 🕯️ #OzzyOsbourne #RIPOzzy #BlackSabbathForever

Sharon Osbourne and couple’s children join mourners as singer’s hearse is driven through birthplace of heavy metal

Thousands of fans lined the streets of Birmingham to watch Ozzy Osbourne make his final journey through his home city, with his tearful family laying tributes as crowds chanted the late singer’s name.

A hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last week aged 76, made its way through the city centre on Wednesday afternoon on the way to his private funeral.

The procession stopped on “Black Sabbath Bridg”, where his family members placed roses among the hundreds of tributes left for the heavy metal pioneer in front of a bench depicting the band.

A visibly emotional Sharon Osbourne, the singer’s wife of 43 years, was aided by her children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, as she tearfully took in the sea of tributes and signalled a peace sign to the crowd before lea

ving.

They were joined by a number of family members, including some of Osbourne’s grandchildren who waved to the crowds offering their support.

People could be seen leaning out of windows and climbing on top of walls and bus stops to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Darkness’s funeral cortege.

His coffin began its journey in Aston, in the north of the city, passing Osbourne’s childhood home on Lodge Road and the football stadium Villa Park, where he performed in a huge farewell concert with his Black Sabbath bandmates just weeks ago.

People chanted his name, held up rock hand gestures and threw roses at the hearse carrying his coffin adorned with purple flowers spelling out “Ozzy”.

A local brass band, Bostin Brass, played songs including Black Sabbath’s Iron Man ahead of the procession of vehicles.

In an interview in 2011, Osbourne said he didn’t care what music was played at his funeral as long as it was “a celebration, not a mope-fest”, and the atmosphere along Broad Street seemed to reflect his wishes.