Ozzy Osbourne‘s grief stricken widow Sharon was supported by her children and thousands of fans today as she laid a single rose for her late husband during his poignant funeral procession through the streets of Birmingham.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who died last week aged 76, was commemorated in a parade through his hometown – with his family pausing at Black Sabbath Bridge to an outpouring of love from the crowd.

Sharon and Ozzy’s children Jack, Kelly and Aimee laid their own floral tributes at the site – and made a peace sign as they gestured their gratitude to fans – while accompanied by Ozzy’s son Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.

The funeral cortege was led by a live brass band, Bostin’ Brass, who performed versions of Black Sabbath songs such as Iron Man, as thousands of tearful devotees lined the streets and sang along in Ozzy’s memory.

Huge crowds gathered along the route hours in advance of the 1pm start, to pay their respects to the Prince of Darkness whose hits included Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

The hearse carrying the singer’s coffin – adorned with purple flowers spelling out ‘Ozzy’ – passed the star’s childhood home in Lodge Road, Aston, shortly after midday.

Flowers had been placed outside the terraced property, close to Villa Park while the owners of the house put up a picture of Osbourne in the front bay window.

The Jaguar hearse and six Mercedes funeral cars, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car, drove slowly along the street watched by a handful of fans and the current owner of the house.

Thousands of people were pictured taking their places not only on Black Sabbath Bridge but along the city centre route along which his cortege travelled towards the Black Sabbath Bridge bench.

Elsewhere in London, the Coldstream Guards payed tribute to the heavy metal legend at the changing of the guard by performing their own rendition of his hit-song Paranoid.

Fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes around the Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street in recent days to honour the heavy metal star who was born in the Aston area of Birmingham.

Members of the public have also signed a book of condolences, opened by Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery, which is currently holding an exhibition titled Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025): Working Class Hero.

While organising the procession, Birmingham City Council collaborated with the Osbourne family, who funded all of the associated costs.

Fans clapped and cheered chanting ‘Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy’ as the rock legend’s hearse passed through the streets of Birmingham as tearful Sharon watched on and brushed away tears.

Superfan Amy Maybury said: ‘Everyone was clapping and singing and celebrating his life, it was a beautiful atmosphere. So many people united together to pay their respects to their hero.

‘The streets were lined with rows and rows of fans standing on tiptoes trying to get a glimpse, hanging out of windows and waving their phones in the air in a desperate bid to capture the moment on video.’

Amy, 32, who has been a fan since she was a young girl, told the Mail: ‘He was my idol. I grew up listening to him from the age of eight as my family were big fans.

‘It was fitting to be here today to say goodbye. Luckily I was early and got a place at the front and saw the whole funeral procession

‘Sharon, bless her, looked very upset when she got out of the car with the kids to look at tributes. She was wiping away tears for her beloved Ozzy. It was very touching.’

DJ Amy from Wolverhampton, who has been living in Birmingham for the past seven years, said: ‘I was so shocked when Ozzy passed away, it hasn’t really hit me yet.

‘I’ve seen him live three times but sadly missed his last show. He was the epitome of heavy metal – a star right until the end. I’ll really miss him.

‘I laid some sunflowers for him last week at the bench and put up a little memorial plaque. ‘I’ll never forget him and his great music and the impact he made to my life. He inspired me to play guitar.’

Aircraft engineer Jebald Ulay, 45, a fan originally from the Philippines, said: Ozzy’s influence on heavy metal music has had ‘repercussions around the world’, dubbing him ‘the best’.

His nurse wife Jenny, 39, added: ‘We saw him back in 2018 and it is a night we’ll never forget. He was my idol and he taught us that it is OK to be different. He was an ordinary guy but became extraordinary with his huge musical talent.

‘There is a small Filipino community in Birmingham and we all love Ozzy.’

Ben Alexander, 24, drummer and manager of thrash metal band Mount Slatra, said: ‘He was a larger than life character, energetic and kind, and the pioneer of heavy metal music.

‘He inspired me and many others and we all owe a lot to him. His death was very sad and too sudden.’

One Black Sabbath fan gathering along Broad Street, giving the name of Goose, told today of discovering heavy metal as a teenager and feeling uplifted by Ozzy.

They said: ‘That’s when I found, like millions of people around the world, that there was music that was for us, something that understood us.

‘We knew that there was somebody out there that felt the way that we did and it was a constant presence.

‘Ozzy helped give that to the world. He was a family member. He felt like a family member to so many people and he touched so many people’s lives.’

Fellow fan fan Evie Mayo said the heavy metal star had inspired her and everyone in Birmingham, as she waited by the Black Sabbath Bridge for his cortege to arrive.

She said: ‘I think he was so influential, he was such an inspirational person.

‘I think he really impacted everyone here, especially in Birmingham as well.

‘Now that he’s not here any more, you can feel the impact of it. He inspired a lot of people and he was a great person.’

She added: ‘He inspired me by, I love his music, absolutely love his music. I’m learning guitar so that I can learn some of his songs.’

Birmingham-based musicians Alicia Gardener-Trejo and Aaron Diaz were also there, performing songs by Ozzy and Black Sabbath, with Alicia telling BBC News of being ‘super-excited’ to be involved amid today’s commemorations.

She said: ‘It’s a huge honour to be playing the music of Ozzy and Black Sabbath today. I’m a huge fan. I’m pretty speechless. Growing up, listening to Ozzy – it’s huge to be part of this.’

Aaron said: ‘Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s music really represents something about Birmingham – there’s grit there, there’s heaviness, but there’s also humour and there’s a sort of humility in it as well.’

Lee Clarke and his mother Tracey travelled 200 miles from Plymouth to get to Birmingham for today’s event, boarding a sleeper train overnight.

He told BBC Radio WM: ‘I decided long ago, when it happened I would go – thought we’d get more notice.

‘Its pretty hard to be a metalhead and not like Ozzy Osbourne – all the other music, the other bands, they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for him.’