The streets of Birmingham are expceted to be jam packed as thousands of fans pay tribute to the Black Sabbath heavy metal icon who died last week at the age of 76
Birmingham locals will line the streets as they say a final goodbye to one of the city’s heroes.
Ozzy Osbourne’s body will make its final trip through his hometown on Wednesday (July 30) as the Black Sabbath star is laid to rest.
Hundreds are expected to line the streets as the hearsehttps://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/ozzy-osbournes-family-devastated-sick-35634530
for his funeral, which will be followed on by a car filled with his heartbroken family including Sharon and children including Kelly, Jack, Aimee and Louis.
The procession will make its way through central Birmingham, travelling to Broad Street from 1pm, the city council has announced.
The cortege, accompanied by musicians Bostin Brass, will stop at the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have been gathering since the heavy metal icon died last week aged 76 to leave flowers and tributes.
From there the group will go on to the service to bid their final goodbyes to their family frontman, who has been dubbed “a son of Birmingham”.
Brummy Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal said the city where Osbourne grew up will make sure they give him the “farewell he deserves”.
He said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham.
“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.
“We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.
“We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”
The city council said it had worked “at pace” to co-ordinate a respectful and safe public event in co-ordination with the Osbourne family ahead of a private funeral.
Broad Street will be closed to traffic from 7am and buses and trams will be diverted.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Airport could become Ozzy Osbourne International after nearly 50,000 fans backed the name switch.
A petition to re-name the airport after Ozzy, launched by podcast producer and fan Dan Hudson, has attracted 47,580 signatures – 10,000 in the past 24 hours.
It said: “Ozzy Osbourne was the most important musician ever to hail from Birmingham.
“He rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the pioneering rock band Black Sabbath who invented the genre of heavy metal.
“Ozzy’s influence on music and culture is undeniable. Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career and contributions to the arts.
“Other airports in the UK are named after their famous children (George Best International Airport in Belfast, John Lennon Airport in Liverpool) so it is only right that we do this here in Birmingham in honour of Ozzy.
“Together we can celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and the incredible influence our city has had on the world stage, thanks to him.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
