Ozzy Osbourne cortege to make closing journey by means of Birmingham

Fans can be given an opportunity to pay their respects to heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne when his cortege travels by means of his house metropolis of Birmingham.

The Black Sabbath singer’s physique can be introduced again for a procession that may journey alongside Broad Street 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 solution to the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench the place hundreds of followers have left messages and floral tributes.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham Zafar Iqbal mentioned: “We’re going to pay our last respects and homage to one of the greatest living 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 along with his band mates, in Black Sabbath’s farewell gig, Back to the Beginning. Dozens of musicians, together with members of Metallica and Aerosmith, carried out at the Villa Park concert.

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

Local 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 e book of condolence, the place he had spoken to followers, and mentioned: “The love they showed for Ozzy and his family was immense.”

The metropolis was proud to host the occasion, he mentioned, and added he was grateful the household had provided to pay to allow it to occur.

People from as distant as Mexico, the USA and Poland have since travelled to the 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 metal, you were a light in the darkness, the most beautiful, humble, glorious madman. We were all so lucky. Thank you for the music. Without it, I’m not sure who I’d be.”

Broad Street can 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, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler got the Freedom of the City in June, earlier than the farewell gig.

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

People 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 considered online.

Fans and members of the general public who want to pay their respects may go to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the place a e book of condolence is open, alongside the Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero exhibition, which was opened by Sharon Osbourne last month.

Other tributes within the metropolis embody the Black Sabbath Mural on Navigation Street; Ozzy the Bull at New Street 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 in Osbourne’s former childhood house in Lodge Road, Aston, has created a devoted e-mail deal with 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 got famous, all these fans were coming down, and they realised they’ve got a problem.”

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

Meanwhile, a petition to rename Birmingham Airport as Ozzy Osbourne International has gathered greater than 46,000 signatures.

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