Before his passing at age 76, Ozzy Osbourne had made his wishes for his funeral known, emphasizing one particular detail he wanted to avoid.
The iconic lead vocalist of Black Sabbath passed away last week after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.
A statement from his family announced his passing: “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.”
Ozzy is survived by his wife, Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and his children from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, Jessica and Louis, as well as his grandchildren.
Known primarily as the frontman of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne helped define the heavy metal genre during its peak in the 1970s.
His dramatic stage antics, such as biting the head off a bat, and his “Prince of Darkness” persona made him a polarizing figure in the music world.
However, his appearance in the comedic reality TV show The Osbournes endeared him to many fans as they witnessed his interactions with Sharon on screen.
In a 2011 column for The Times, Ozzy shared his vision for his funeral, hoping it would be a joyous celebration of his life rather than a sorrowful event.
“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,” he told the publication at the time.
“But I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest.”
He added: “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.”
Ozzy’s funeral is scheduled in Birmingham on Wednesday (July 30), featuring a procession along Broad Street.
The procession will pause at the Black Sabbath bench and bridge, with a live performance by musicians from Bostin’ Brass.
A livestream of the procession, beginning at 8am EST/5am PT, is available to view here.
The public event will occur before a private funeral ceremony.
Kelly Osbourne, his daughter, quoted lyrics from the Black Sabbath song ‘Changes’ to honor her father in the days following his passing.
The song, which she recorded with him in 2003, featured in a tribute she posted to her Instagram Stories.
“I feel unhappy I am so sad,” Kelly wrote. “I lost the best friend I ever had.”
The family initially announced Ozzy’s death through a statement.