BirminghamOne of the most beloved sons of the “home of metal” is being honored.
As his hearse travels through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where the band was founded in 1968 and where the leader grew up, thousands of Black Sabbath fans will pay their respects on Wednesday.
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The Black Sabbath bench, which was placed on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019, will be reached by the hearse transporting Osbourne down Broad Street, the city’s main avenue.
A live brass band will accompany the cortege, which is anticipated to be watched by family members. The family is paying for the parade.
Fans have traveled to locations throughout Birmingham, which has accepted its status as the birthplace of heavy metal throughout the years, since his death was made public. Osbourne considered the godfather of metal among his contemporaries.
“Ozzy was not just a legendary figure in music; he was a native of Birmingham,” stated Zafar Iqbal, a city official. We are aware of the significance this occasion will hold for his followers.
Early on Wednesday morning, Broad Street was closed to all traffic; it won’t reopen until the burial is over. Trams and buses have been rerouted.
In honor of their contributions to Birmingham, Osbourne and his fellow Black Sabbath members Terence Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward were recently granted the Freedom of the City.
According to fan Evie Mayo, “I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well.” You can feel the effects now that he is no longer here. He was a wonderful person and an inspiration to many.
In 1968, the four founding members of Black Sabbath fled a life of factory work in Birmingham, where their narrative began. The city’s manufacturing past undoubtedly contributed to the sound and ferocity of heavy metal.
Many people agree that Black Sabbath defined and popularized the heavy metal sound. Known as the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne was the band’s leader during its heyday in the 1970s. His antics, both on and off stage, were legendary and frequently motivated by excessive drug and alcohol use.
Their 1970 self-titled debut album reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom and set the stage for a series of successful albums, such as Master of Reality in 1971 and Vol. 4 the following year. With over 75 million albums sold worldwide, they became one of the most successful and influential metal bands of all time.
On July 5, Osbourne sat on a black throne as 42,000 spectators witnessed the band’s first performance in 20 years at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa, the largest soccer team in the city. Osbourne’s health had deteriorated recently, particularly following his 2019 Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
Osbourne, who had enjoyed success in his solo career, gained a new following in the early 2000s when he appeared on a reality show with his wife Sharon and their two youngest children, Jack and Kelly.
