Image caption, Birmingham is celebrating everything Ozzy Osbourne, in what is being affectionately called ‘Ozzy Day’
ByKevin Reide and Eleanor LawsonWest Midlands
Birmingham is marking a year since the death of Ozzy Osbourne with a day of music and celebration, affectionately called “Ozzy Day”, to commemorate the passing of one of its most beloved sons.
The city has been awash with fans cloaked in black – wearing T-shirts in tribute to Osbourne or Black Sabbath – visiting sites in the city most connected to the heavy metal icon.
Fans queued at New Street station to have their photo taken with the mechanical Ozzy the bull statue, which has been specially dressed up for Ozzy Day, receiving a free commemorative Polaroid.
Some even travelled internationally to celebrate the star in the city that made him.
Image caption, An inflatable Ozzy Osbourne was part of the celebrations
Among the crowds queuing for a photo was Julie Sawyer and her daughter Holly, who travelled from Nottingham to pay their respects.
Julie lost her husband, Holly’s father, in March 2025.
Paul Sawyer was a big fan of Osbourne and had Crazy Train played at his funeral.
Julie said it was emotional to be in the city for Ozzy Day, but they “couldn’t not be here”.
Image caption, Holly’s father and Julie’s husband, Paul Sawyer, was a massive Ozzy Osbourne fan who had Crazy Train played at his funeral
Image caption, Ozzy look-a-like Gary Fielding travelled from Hull for Ozzy Day. He is a big fan of Osbourne, but says “I don’t look like Ozzy, Ozzy looks like me!”
Among foreign visitors, one group travelled from Mexico for the special day.
Jul Aguilera, Sergio Tinajero, Marce Abarca, Leslie Jaramillo, and Yan Nuñez made the journey from Monterrey to pay tribute in Birmingham.
Image caption, These fans travelled from Mexico to pay their respects on Ozzy Day
Image caption, A canine fan of Osbourne paying his respects and joining in on the Ozzy Day fun
Having performed at his funeral procession, the five-piece Bostin Brass brand performed on the streets of Birmingham throughout the day, including a performance at the Black Sabbath bench.
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) also performed a special show dedicated to Osbourne in the Bullring.
Image caption, Bostin Brass performing for the crowds at the Black Sabbath bench
Image caption, Hundreds flocked to the Black Sabbath bench to see the performance
In an interview with the BBC, Sharon Osbourne said she wanted fans to remember her husband by playing his music “really loud”.
Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi has also paid tribute on social media, saying: “Well, it’s now a year since Ozzy’s passing and I still can’t believe that he’s not with us.
“I watch him on YouTube and it feels like he’s still here with us. We always stayed in touch, almost every week or so and we’d usually talk about our ailments and then about what we’d been doing that particular week.
“The fans have been absolutely brilliant and the love and respect that they have shown for him has just been amazing.
“I’m so glad that we were able to play one final show with the original line up of Sabbath at the Back To The Beginning show in our home town of Birmingham!
“There will never be another Ozzy. I miss you my dear friend.”
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