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Topics: Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, UK News, Music
Jen Thomas
Topics: Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, UK News, Music
Black Sabbath fans have been sharing their heartbreak after a devastated Sharon Osbourne was seen paying tribute to her late husband, Ozzy.
Sharon was joined by her three children, Jack, Kelly, and the rarely-seen Aimee, as the family gathered to pay their respects alongside thousands of fans who lined the streets of Birmingham on Wednesday (30 July).
A sea of floral tributes had been left at the iconic Black Sabbath bench, and Sharon and her children each left a lilac flower wrapped in black paper on top of the hundreds of bouquets left by heartbroken fans.
A black hearse travelled the streets of Birmingham, with a purple cross on top and flowers spelling out Ozzy's name.
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The frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star passed away at the age of 76 last week, just weeks after performing at the iconic Back To The Beginning farewell concert held in his honour.
His family released a statement at the time, saying: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.
"He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."
As well as laying a floral tribute for her late husband, an incredibly emotional Sharon was spotted raising two peace signs to the sky before breaking down in tears.
Many fans of the band have interpreted this as a touching tribute to Ozzy, who was known for the gesture.
A fan shared their reasoning on Facebook: "Just an observation from a guy who has been a Sabbath/Ozzy fan since the 70s. Some will say I am nit picking and not respecting how others view things. But I am seeing a lot of posts and pictures of billboards with images of the devil horns hand sign.
"Now I know that sign has become the 'official' sign of rock and roll, but Ozzy's gesture has always been the double peace sign.
"It was [Ronnie James] Dio that did the horns and made them popular with rock and roll long after Ozzy had been doing the double peace signs. Let's all please remember just another one of the things that Ozzy brought us!"
Ronnie James Dio, who died in 2010, joined Black Sabbath in 1979 after the band fired Ozzy. He performed as the band's frontman until 1982, before joining briefly in the early 1990s.
During the funeral procession today, the hearse passed by Ozzy's childhood home, a two-bedroom terrace house at 14 Lodge Road in Birmingham.
It wasn't revealed to fans that the cortege would pass the location, with many gathering opposite the famous Black Sabbath bench and lining the publicized route.
Many fans threw flowers onto the front of the hearse as it passed by, while accompanied by the sounds of the Bostin Brass band playing covers of Ozzy's songs.
Sharon was seen sharing a hug with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, who talked about what Ozzy meant to the people of the city.
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."
Kelly had previously paid tribute to her father by wearing his iconic purple round glasses.
Ozzy previously told The Times about his opinions on his funeral: "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. I'd also like some pranks: maybe 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’ll be no harping on the bad times. It's worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives.
"So by any measure, most of us in this country - especially rock stars like me - are very lucky. That's why I don't want my funeral to be sad - I want it to be a time to say, 'Thanks'."