Ozzy Osbourne cortege to make last journey by means of Birmingham

Followers will probably be given an opportunity to pay their respects to heavy steel legend Ozzy Osbourne when his cortege travels by means of his dwelling metropolis of Birmingham.

The Black Sabbath singer’s physique will probably be introduced again for a procession that may journey alongside Broad Avenue within the metropolis centre from 13:00 BST on Wednesday.

The information was revealed by BBC WM presenter Ed James who mentioned a hearse will make its technique to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench the place 1000’s of followers have left messages and floral tributes.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal mentioned: “We will pay our final respects and homage to one of many biggest residing legends of Birmingham.” Osbourne died aged 76 on 22 July.

His loss of life got here lower than three weeks since he took half, alongside together with his band mates, in Black Sabbath’s farewell gig, Again to the Starting. Dozens of musicians together with members of Metallica and Aerosmith carried out on the Villa Park live performance.

The occasion, which takes place forward of a non-public funeral, will enable his household an opportunity to see the numerous recollections his loyal followers have left alongside flowers and tributes, the council mentioned.

Native musicians Bostin’ Brass will accompany the procession.

Describing him as a “son of Birmingham”, Iqbal mentioned: “He put Birmingham on the map. He put Aston on the map.”

He mentioned he had stood in a queue to signal a ebook of condolence, the place he had spoken to followers, and mentioned: “The love they confirmed for Ozzy and his household was immense.”

Town was proud to host the occasion, he mentioned, and added he was grateful the household had supplied to pay to allow it to occur.

Individuals from as distant as Mexico, the USA and Poland have since travelled to town so as to add to a sea of flowers and messages on the Black Sabbath Bridge.

One letter from Greece mentioned: “To our king of steel, you had been a light-weight within the darkness, essentially the most lovely, humble, wonderful madman. We had been all so fortunate. Thanks for the music. With out it, I am unsure who I might be.”

Broad Avenue will probably be closed to visitors from 07:00 BST on Wednesday with trams and buses diverted all through the day and can reopen as quickly as doable after the occasion, a metropolis council spokesperson mentioned.

Osbourne and his fellow Black Sabbath band members Tony Iommi, Invoice Ward and Geezer Butler got the Freedom of the Metropolis in June, earlier than the farewell gig.

Town council mentioned it had labored “at tempo” to coordinate the occasion in collaboration with the household, who had funded the entire related prices.

Individuals are inspired to show up early and the council mentioned for these not capable of make the occasion, the dwell stream of the Black Sabbath bench would proceed to function and could possibly be seen on-line.

Followers and members of the general public who want to pay their respects also can go to Birmingham Museum and Artwork Gallery, the place a ebook of condolence is open, alongside the Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero exhibition, which was opened by Sharon Osbourne final month.

Different tributes within the metropolis embrace the Black Sabbath Mural on Navigation Avenue; Ozzy the Bull at New Avenue Station, and The Crown pub – a recently-listed constructing that’s globally recognised because the birthplace of heavy steel, the place Black Sabbath first performed in 1968.

Ali Zaman, who lives Osbourne’s former childhood dwelling in Lodge Highway, Aston, has created a devoted e mail handle for followers to ship messages and mentioned he had been “inundated”.

His dad and mom purchased the property from Osbourne’s father, he mentioned, including: “As he acquired well-known, all these followers had been coming down, they usually realised they have an issue.”

Now Mr Zaman is gathering tributes to the rock icon and mentioned the images and recollections can be positioned on an internet site and free for everyone to see.

In the meantime, a petition to rename Birmingham Airport as Ozzy Osbourne Worldwide has gathered greater than 46,000 signatures.

A spokesman for the airport mentioned it could have a look at the way it might have a good time Osbourne’s heritage and contribution to the area.