Thousands lined the streets of Birmingham on Wednesday as the world bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman who passed away at the age of 76.
Fans carrying flowers and banners gathered in silence before erupting into chants of “Ozzy! Ozzy!” as the funeral cortege made its way through the city he once called home.
Sharon Osbourne walked alongside her children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and stepson Louis. Leading a bittersweet procession filled with music, tributes, and quiet moments of reflection.
As the hearse passed key landmarks, including Ozzy’s childhood home, mourners threw flowers and waved to his family. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion, yet there was a warmth that reflected the bond between the rocker and the city that shaped him.
Kelly paid her own tribute by wearing her father’s iconic purple-tinted glasses. Aimee added a bat-shaped brooch to her outfit, a subtle nod to one of Ozzy’s most infamous stage moments. Sharon, dressed in black and visibly shaken, carried a single flower wrapped in black paper.
The Osbournes paused at the Black Sabbath memorial bench, where hundreds of fans had left bouquets, notes, and candles. Sharon gently placed her flower among the tributes, her hand trembling as she lingered for a moment before stepping back.
It was then that she lifted both arms and held her hands to the sky in silence. Many quickly noticed it was not the familiar “devil horns” that have become synonymous with rock.
Instead, Sharon flashed two peace signs, mirroring the gesture that Ozzy himself had used throughout his career. A longtime fan explained online,
“Ozzy’s gesture has always been the double peace sign. It was his way of connecting with the crowd, of saying he came in peace despite the chaos around him.”
The moment struck a chord with the thousands watching. For many, it wasn’t just Sharon waving goodbye. It was her way of bringing Ozzy’s signature symbol back into the world one last time.
Sharon also wore a chain with Ozzy’s wedding ring, a piece he once used during their vow renewal, a quiet reminder of their more than four decades together. Fans saw it as a deeply personal tribute, one that needed no words.
Ozzy had spoken about his funeral years earlier, saying he wanted it to be joyful.
“I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest,”
“I don’t want my funeral to be sad, I want it to be a time to say, ‘Thanks.’”
Sharon gave the crowd exactly that. A moment to smile through the tears. Her double peace signs weren’t just a gesture. They were a farewell that felt like it came from both of them, a final thank you from the Osbournes to the fans who stood by their side until the very end.
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