Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath star, will be privately laid to rest in Birmingham tomorrow following his death last week. Despite paramedics’ best efforts, they were unable to revive the rock legend after two hours. The star had been battling numerous health issues prior to his death and had given his final performance at Villa Park just a few weeks earlier. Ozzy had always expressed a desire to return to the UK to spend time with his family before his demise. A procession is set to commence down Broad Street in central Birmingham tomorrow, starting around 1pm. His family will follow the cortege as it makes its way to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench.

Broad Street will be temporarily closed from 7am to accommodate the procession and will reopen shortly afterwards. Thousands of fans are anticipated to gather to pay their respects to the Black Sabbath icon. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, commented: “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,” reports The Mirror.

He added: “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.”

Those unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to view the live stream from the Black Sabbath bridge, where floral tributes have been placed for the legendary musician.

The funeral procession will also pause here for one final moment to acknowledge the tributes left by devoted fans.

The Black Sabbath bench website is planning to provide an ongoing livestream on Wednesday where you can keep up with the procession. It’s expected to begin at approximately 1PM BST. That’s 8AM ET and 5AM PT for those in the US.

Meanwhile, those wishing to honour Ozzy can visit Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to sign a book of condolence.

It is positioned next to the Ozzy Osbourne Working Class Hero exhibition, which Sharon Osbourne inaugurated last month.

There is also a Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street, Ozzy the Bull at New Street Station and The Station pub, which served as the venue where Black Sabbath first performed back in 1968.

Ozzy had expressed he was “desperate to come home” to the UK and his beloved Birmingham, though the relocation had been postponed due to his struggle with Parkinson’s and multiple operations for a spinal injury.

In May, he poignantly revealed: “It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids. I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.”