Birmingham mourns Ozzy Osbourneits, metal icon, as fans and celebrities gather to honour the Prince of Darkness with heartfelt tributes in his hometown
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary vocalist, was born in Birmingham, England, where admirers gathered to leave floral tributes, as well as beer, wine, and spirits. The hip-hop artist Drake made an appearance to show his reverence.
The memorial site transformed into a tribute to Ozzy, metal’s dark sovereign and the Prince of Darkness.
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When word spread on Tuesday that Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic vocalist, music legend, and television personality, had passed away at the age of 76, devotees began congregating in his native Birmingham, England. They assembled around the Black Sabbath memorial bench, a popular monument near the Black Sabbath Bridge, two of numerous Black Sabbath landmarks dedicated to Osbourne and his fellow band members.
Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, at the I Am Ozzy book signing at Changing Hands, Tempe Arizona, Feb 20th, 2010
Photo credit: F darkbladeus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Several mourners placed floral arrangements at the bench’s foundation, creating impromptu shrines. Others brought handcrafted messages of appreciation (“Gracias Ozzy!”). Many positioned beer bottles along the pavement, a fitting salute to Osbourne, whose legendary substance consumption was well-documented.
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By 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, a diverse crowd representing Osbourne’s wide-ranging influence remained at the memorial. Present were a weeping metal enthusiast who’d grown up with his music, a visitor from Mexico who’d diverted his holiday plans and driven four hours for bench photographs, and Drake, the rap superstar, visiting Birmingham during his tour.
Drake emerged from a vehicle with tinted windows, approached the memorial bench, and poured tequila onto the ground. “I wanted to honour someone who embraced life completely,” Drake stated briefly, noting that Osbourne’s impact extended beyond his musical audience, showcasing the heavy metal icon’s cross-generational appeal.
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Few Birmingham residents are unfamiliar with the singer’s musical legacy. Osbourne, born to working-class parents here in 1948, stands among the city’s most celebrated citizens and has established Birmingham’s reputation as the epicentre of heavy metal. The Birmingham Music Archive has extensively documented Osbourne’s rise from his working-class roots to becoming a Brummie legend and global superstar.
Source:
Claire Moses and Victor Mather (July 23, 2025). Biting a Bat and 5 Other Wild Moments From Ozzy Osbourne’s Life. The New York Times.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/arts/music/ozzy-osbourne-wildest-moments.html
Header image: Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, at the I Am Ozzy book signing at Changing Hands, Tempe Arizona, Feb 20th, 2010
Photo credit: F darkbladeus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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