‘There will never be another Ozzy Osbourne’: Fans assemble for the funeral of Black Sabbath star

Fans have lined the streets of Birmingham to pay their respects to Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne during his burial.

Dave Hogan/Getty Ozzy Osbourne died July 22
Dave Hogan/Getty
Ozzy Osbourne died July 22

The Black Sabbath frontman’s hearse will go along Broad Street on Wednesday (30 July) for a private funeral attended by close family and friends, including his wife Sharon.

Karen and Steve Brookhouse, 54 and 65, travelled to Birmingham to pay their respects to the man who has been “the soundtrack of their lives” while dressed in full Black Sabbath attire.

“There will never be another Ozzy,” Karen stated. “Ozzy’s music has been there through the good times and the bad.”

Here’s how Ozzy Osbourne outlined his hopes for his funeral.

Dave Hogan/Getty Ozzy Osbourne died July 22
Dave Hogan/Getty
Ozzy Osbourne died July 22

Ozzy Osbourne wished for a life-affirming tribute.

In 2011, the Black Sabbath singer was asked in a column called Dr. Ozzy, for London’s The Times, if organising your own funeral was morbid or a gift to your loved ones, like Peter Sellers asked for a certain song to be performed for him, because it removed the pressure off of them to do so.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne pictured with their kids Kelly and Jack in 2014

“I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and ‘We Are the Diddymen’ if it makes ’em happy — but I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest,” the reality show host and heavy metal artist stated. “I would also like some pranks, such as the sound of knocking inside the coffin or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of ‘death.'” “There will be no dwelling on the bad times.”

Osbourne decided that “a bit of planning is the right thing to do for the family you leave behind.”

He remarked that he had been extremely lucky in his life thus far.

“It’s important to remember that many people see nothing but misery their entire lives.” So, by any standard, most of us in this country — particularly rock stars like me — are quite fortunate,” he remarked. “That is why I do not want to have a sad funeral. I want it to be a moment for ‘gratitude.'”

Osbourne died on July 23, three weeks after his final show. The Back to the Beginning event, hosted at England’s Villa Park, was a 10-hour tribute with a roster of music stars. The Prince of Darkness performed both solo and with his old Black Sabbath bandmates Tommy Iommi, Terrence “Geezer” Butler, and Bill Ward.

After struggling with health difficulties such as Parkinson’s disease and emphysema, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer had taken a break from performing for the majority of the decade.

Celebrities such as Jack Black, Adam Sandler, Marilyn Manson, and his former band have paid tribute to him after his passing.