The city of Birmingham, alongside the Osbourne family and fans worldwide, will come together today for a final public farewell to the late Ozzy Osbourne. A funeral procession will travel through the heart of his hometown, with a globally accessible livestream allowing millions to participate in a collective, real-time tribute as the “Prince of Darkness” makes his final journey through the city that made him.
For the global community of fans and those planning to attend in person, here is a guide to today’s historic event.
The public procession is scheduled to begin today, Wednesday, July 30, at approximately 1:00 PM BST. For the worldwide audience, this corresponds to 8:00 AM ET and 5:00 AM PT. A dedicated, continuous livestream will be available on the official Black Sabbath Bench website, offering a view of the cortege as it reaches the iconic landmark. After entering your email address, you will be able to watch livestream.
Livestream in different regions of the world:
- 1:00 PM BST (Birmingham, United Kingdom)
- 2:00 PM CET (Central European Time, e.g., Paris, Berlin, Rome)
- 5:00 AM PT (Pacific Time, e.g., Los Angeles)
- 8:00 AM ET (Eastern Time, e.g., New York, Toronto)
- 5:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time, e.g., New Delhi)
- 8:00 PM CST (China Standard Time, e.g., Beijing, Shanghai)
- 9:00 PM JST (Japan Standard Time, e.g., Tokyo)
- 11:00 PM AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time, e.g., Sydney, Melbourne)
Viewers will witness a hearse carrying the rock legend making a slow, dignified journey down Birmingham’s Broad Street. The procession will pause at the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, a site that has become a massive, fan-made shrine over the past week. The cortege will be a uniquely Brummie affair, accompanied by a live performance from the local group Bostin’ Brass, and the tram named in Osbourne‘s honor in 2016 will be parked nearby in tribute.
For those planning to pay their respects in person, the Birmingham City Council has issued important logistical information. Broad Street will be closed to through traffic from 7:00 AM BST and will reopen as soon as possible after the event concludes. Consequently, public transport, including buses and trams, will be subject to diversions throughout the day. Officials urge attendees to arrive early, use public transport, and follow all safety guidance from the stewards who will be present on-site. Access for local residents and businesses will be managed where possible but cannot be guaranteed.
Today’s procession is the final public act in a month of profound farewells for the iconic singer. Osbourne passed away on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76, following a long and public battle with Parkinson’s disease. His death came just 17 days after what many now see as a perfectly orchestrated final goodbye to his fans.
The “Back To The Beginning” concert, held on July 5 at Villa Park, was a historic and emotional triumph. The event marked the first time the four original members of Black Sabbath—Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward—had performed together in nearly two decades. Frail but in high spirits, Osbourne performed from a custom black throne, his voice strong as he led his bandmates and a sold-out stadium through a set of their most revered songs.
The public procession, made accessible to a global audience, serves as the final public act in this period of farewell, allowing the world to join his hometown in celebrating the life and legacy of an irreplaceable music icon.
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