Fans of the late Ozzy Osbourne from around the world will be able to join the city of Birmingham in a final, public farewell via a global livestream of his funeral procession on Wednesday, July 30. The event will unite a global community of mourners, allowing them to participate in a collective and historic goodbye to the “Prince of Darkness” as he makes his final journey through the streets that shaped him.
The procession is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM BST (8:00 AM ET / 5:00 AM PT). For those unable to be in Birmingham, a dedicated livestream will be hosted on the official Black Sabbath Bench website, capturing the cortege as it reaches the famous landmark on Broad Street, which has become a massive shrine since Osbourne‘s passing.
The public procession, which will take place before a private family funeral, will see Osbourne‘s hearse travel through the city center, accompanied by the sounds of local group Bostin’ Brass. The route is designed to pass the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench, allowing the Osbourne family a chance to witness the sea of flowers and tributes left by thousands of devoted fans. Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal stated that it was “important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute,” and it has been reported that surviving members of Black Sabbath are “thought to be taking roles” in the event, according to The Guardian.
This final journey is a poignant bookend to a remarkable final chapter in Osbourne‘s life. The rock icon passed away on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76, just 17 days after delivering a triumphant farewell performance to a sold-out stadium in his hometown.
The “Back To The Beginning” concert on July 5 at Villa Park was a historic moment, marking 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. Despite his long battle with Parkinson’s disease, a visibly moved Osbourne performed from a custom-made black throne, leading his bandmates through a four-song set of their most iconic hits: “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.”
The public procession, made accessible to a global audience, serves as the final public act in this period of farewell. Following his recent Freedom of the City award and the emotionally charged final concert, the event allows the world to join his hometown in celebrating the life and legacy of an irreplaceable music icon.
