What Happened at Ozzy Osbourne’s Funeral Will Break Every Rock Fan’s Heart

Mourners gathered at Ozzy Osbourne’s private funeral in Buckinghamshire, England, were greeted by a cheeky and unmistakably Ozzy tribute—an eye-catching floral display beside the lake on his 250-acre estate that read simply: “OZZY F—ING OSBOURNE.”

The intimate ceremony took place just days after the iconic Black Sabbath frontman’s death on July 22 at the age of 76, following a long period of declining health.

A Rock Family’s Final Goodbye

Those closest to Osbourne, including wife Sharon and their children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee, as well as Ozzy’s son Louis from a previous marriage, came together to honor the life of the heavy metal pioneer. A lineup of friends and collaborators—like Zakk Wylde, Rob Zombie, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, and Marilyn Manson—joined the family to say farewell.

Also expected were longtime Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, as well as music legends Elton John and Metallica members James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo.

A Journey That Ended at Home

The ceremony came one day after a massive public procession in Ozzy’s birthplace of Birmingham, where thousands gathered to pay respects as his hearse moved through the city. Outside his Buckinghamshire estate, fans and friends continued to leave flowers and tributes ahead of the private burial.

A Celebration, Not a “Mope-Fest”

In keeping with Ozzy’s irreverent spirit, the event was anything but somber. A stage was set up near the lake, and Zakk Wylde arrived with guitar in hand, hinting at a musical tribute to come. Yungblud, a newer friend of Osbourne’s, was asked to give a reading.

Ozzy’s own thoughts on his funeral had long been clear—and characteristically humorous. In a 2011 interview with The Times of London, he remarked:

“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. But I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest.”

And true to his word, it was. Ozzy Osbourne, the man who turned metal into myth, was sent off with music, memories, and just the right amount of mischief.