Thousands of fans paid their respects to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday as his hearse made its way through the home of metal in Birmingham, England. Osbourne, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer both with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist, passed away last week at the age of 76.
Other vehicles carrying the Osbourne family followed the hearse along with police motorcycles and a police car. Chants of “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi,” greeted the Osbourne family as they emerged from their vehicles to look at a variety of tributes. Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, and their children and relatives wiped away tears as they acknowledged the crowd.
During the procession, Bostin Brass, a Birmingham-based brass band, performed two of Ozzy’s biggest hits, “Iron Man” and “Crazy Train,” and as the family returned to their vehicles, the crowd again erupted in chants, this time of “Thank you, Ozzy.”
A private funeral was held after the public procession, and further tributes appeared all over social media. “Since 1981, I can’t recall the sight of Sharon without Ozzy,” wrote former Ozzy bassist Rudy Sarzo. “A sad sight beyond words. God bless you, Sharon. God bless Ozzy.”
“My life has just been unbelievable,” Osbourne previously told Rolling Stone. “You couldn’t write my story; you couldn’t invent me.”
Some images and video from the public procession can be seen below. Rest in peace, Ozzy.
