Fans of Black Sabbath have been expressing their sorrow after seeing a distraught Sharon Osbourne honouring her late husband, Ozzy.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, July 30, Sharon\u2019s three children\u2014Jack, Kelly, and the seldom seen Aimee\u2014joined the thousands of fans who lined the streets of Birmingham to pay their respects.<\/p>\n
Heartbroken fans had left hundreds of bouquets at the famous Black Sabbath bench, and Sharon and her kids each placed a lilac flower wrapped in black paper on top of the wave of floral tributes.<\/p>\n
Ozzy\u2019s name was spelt out in flowers and a purple cross atop a black hearse that drove through the streets of Birmingham.<\/p>\n
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\nThe Black Sabbath leader and reality TV personality died last week at the age of 76, only weeks after taking part in the legendary final concert for Back To The Beginning.<\/p>\n
Source: Wikipedia
\nHis family released a statement at the time, saying, \u201cIt is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ezoic
\nAn extremely emotional Sharon was seen holding two peace signs in the air before sobbing, in addition to laying a floral memorial for her late husband.<\/p>\n
This has been taken by many band fans as a heartfelt homage to Ozzy, who was famous for the gesture.<\/p>\n
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\nA fan shared their reasoning on Facebook: \u201cJust 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I know that sign has become the \u2018official\u2019 sign of rock and roll, but Ozzy\u2019s gesture has always been the double peace sign.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cIt 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\u2019s all please remember just another one of the things that Ozzy brought us!\u201d<\/p>\n
After Ozzy was fired by Black Sabbath in 1979, Ronnie James Dio, who passed away in 2010, joined the band. Before briefly joining in the early 1990s, he played as the band\u2019s leader until 1982.<\/p>\n
Ezoic
\nOzzy\u2019s childhood home, a two-bedroom terrace house at 14 Lodge Road in Birmingham, was passed by the hearse during today\u2019s funeral procession.<\/p>\n
Fans gathered in front of the well-known Black Sabbath bench and along the well-publicized route, but it was not disclosed to them that the cortege would pass the place.<\/p>\n
The Bostin Brass band was playing renditions of Ozzy\u2019s songs as the hearse went past, and many admirers threw flowers across the front of the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Zafar Iqbal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, was spotted hugging Sharon while discussing the significance of Ozzy to the city\u2019s residents.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cOzzy was more than a music legend \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the past, Kelly had honoured her father by donning his recognisable round purple glasses.<\/p>\n
Ozzy previously told The Times about his opinions on his funeral: \u201cI honestly don\u2019t care what they play at my funeral \u2013 they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and \u2018We Are The Diddymen\u2019 if it makes \u2019em happy.\u201d<\/p>\n