A year to the day after Ozzy Osbourne died, the city that made him gave over its centre to his memory.
Wednesday, July 22 marked the first “Ozzy Day” in Birmingham — a free, city-wide programme of live music, public art and tributes staged across the streets where the Black Sabbath frontman grew up. Two channels have since published video reports from the ground: “Trust In Rock“, run by former MTV “Headbangers Ball” presenter Vanessa Warwick, and “Karlmetalhead“. Both videos can be seen down below.
The day was delivered by Central BID and OPUS in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Birmingham New Street and Westside BID.
A city turned into a tribute
Rather than staging a single event, organisers scattered the day across the landmarks that shaped Osbourne‘s story. Activity ran at the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham New Street Station, Bullring, Selfridges and Martineau Place, linked by a downloadable map.
Bostin Brass, the five-piece brass band that walked with Osbourne‘s funeral cortege through the city in 2025, returned to play pop-up sets at five locations across the day, beginning at Birmingham New Street at 8:30am and finishing at Martineau Place at 3pm. In between they played outside Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, at Selfridges and at the Black Sabbath Bench on Broad Street.
Musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra gave a lunchtime performance outside Selfridges in the Bullring at 12:15pm.
At New Street, fans queued for free commemorative Polaroids alongside Ozzy the Bull, dressed for the occasion. The 10-metre mechanical sculpture was the centrepiece of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony — Osbourne himself appeared at the closing ceremony — and was renamed in his honour after a public vote in June 2023, taking around 70 percent of more than 28,000 ballots. It was installed permanently at the station the following month, with Sharon Osbourne in attendance.
The Birmingham Music Archive set up at New Street to collect fans’ stories and memories for a commemorative guestbook, while OPUS commissioned short films documenting the day.
A limited-edition shirt was produced for the occasion and sold only at Selfridges in the Bullring. The front carries an image of Osbourne from “Back To The Beginning“; the back lists all 52 shows he played in Birmingham across his career, with Black Sabbath and solo.
For those who missed it, one element remains: the “Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero” exhibition continues at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in Chamberlain Square, where his throne from the farewell concert is on display. It runs until September.
“He was proud of being a Brummie”
Sharon Osbourne told the BBC that the day could not have happened anywhere else.
“This is the home of metal,” Sharon said. “It’s Ozzy‘s home, it’s where he was born, what he loved and [‘Ozzy Day‘] wouldn’t work anywhere else. He loved this city, he loved its people. He was proud of being a Brummie and that’s it.”
Councillor Deborah Harries, cabinet member for culture at Birmingham City Council, said in a statement:
“Ozzy Osbourne is one of Birmingham’s foremost cultural figures, and we continue to honor his legacy here in the city, where his journey began. I am glad to see the city partners coming together to celebrate Ozzy‘s influence on music and his pride in his hometown.”
“Black Sabbath‘s contribution to Birmingham was recognized when they were awarded Freedom Of The City on 30 June 2025. All of these anniversary events are, an opportunity for residents and visitors to celebrate this legacy, while showcasing the creativity, culture and character that make Birmingham so special.”
How he died
Osbourne died on July 22, 2025 at the age of 76. His death certificate, filed in London, recorded a heart attack as the cause, and noted that he had been living with coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease. He had made the Parkinson’s diagnosis public in 2019.
His death came 17 days after his final performance.
The farewell, and the goodbye
On July 30, 2025, thousands lined Broad Street as his cortege moved slowly through the city toward the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where fans had left thousands of messages, flowers and balloons. The procession, arranged and funded by the family, was accompanied by Bostin Brass. Sharon walked it alongside the couple’s children Aimée, Kelly and Jack.
The private funeral followed the next day, July 31, on the 250-acre grounds of Welders House in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, the home the Osbournes bought in 1993. Ozzy was buried near the lake on the estate, at his own request. Around 110 friends and family attended, among them his Sabbath bandmates, Robert Trujillo of Metallica, Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor of Slipknot.
The last night at Villa Park
Osbourne‘s final performance came on July 5, 2025 at “Back To The Beginning“, the charity concert at Villa Park that reunited him with the original Black Sabbath lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for the first time in two decades.
He opened with a five-song solo set backed by guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos. Four came from his 1980 debut Blizzard Of Ozz — “I Don’t Know“, “Mr. Crowley“, “Suicide Solution” and “Crazy Train” — alongside “Mama, I’m Coming Home” from 1991’s No More Tears.
Iommi, Butler and Ward then joined him for four Sabbath songs: “War Pigs“, “Iron Man“, “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid“.
Unable to stand, the 76-year-old sang from a black throne, visibly overcome at points.
