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City celebrates Ozzy Day on anniversary of death

Kevin Reideand
Eleanor Lawson,West Midlands
News imageBBC The large mechanical Ozzy the Bull statue is pictured in Birmingham New Street, wearing round pink glasses. An inflatable pair of red wings are positioned in front of him, and a group of pBBC
Birmingham is celebrating everything Ozzy Osbourne, in what is being affectionately called 'Ozzy Day'

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.

News imageAn inflatable Ozzy Osbourne outside the Birmingham Town Hall, with two workmen standing in front of him.
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".

News imageA woman with red hair stands next to an older woman with blonde hair. They both grin at the camera, wearing black Ozzy Osbourne T-shirts and round pink glasses. They stand in front of an inflatable pair of red wings.
Holly's father and Julie's husband, Paul Sawyer, was a massive Ozzy Osbourne fan who had Crazy Train played at his funeral
News imageAn Ozzy Osbourne look-a-like stands in front of the Black Sabbath bench which is beckeded with bouquets of flowers. He wears a Black Sabbath t-shirt and holds his fingers up in peace signs.
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.

News imageA group of two men and three women hold up a Mexican flag outside Birmingham Town hall and grin at the camera.
These fans travelled from Mexico to pay their respects on Ozzy Day
News imageA dog holding an orange bone in its mouth sits on a bench, wearing a pear of bat-shaped sunglasses. He also wears a black t-shirt, a US flag bandana, a black cap, and a pair of black bat wings.
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.

News imageA brass band wearing black Ozzy Osbourne t-shirts stand in front of the Black Sabbath bench in Birmingham. A purple floral arrangement reading 'Ozzy Forever' is visible behind them.
Bostin Brass performing for the crowds at the Black Sabbath bench
News imageHundreds of people crowded around the Black Sabbath bench in Birmingham. A purple floral arrangement reading 'Ozzy Forever' is visible above the bench.
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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