On a misty evening in Birmingham, England, the rock world paused to bid farewell to one of its most iconic figures, Ozzy Osbourne, the self-styled “Prince of Darkness.” The Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, left behind a legacy that redefined heavy metal and touched the lives of millions. Among those paying tribute was Sir Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, whose emotional reflections on his final moments with Ozzy have captivated fans and underscored the profound bond between two titans of rock. In a rare and deeply personal gesture, May shared a private conversation with Osbourne after his farewell concert, a moment that left the Queen guitarist speechless and has since become a poignant symbol of their friendship and mutual respect.
A Glorious Farewell at Villa Park
Less than three weeks before his passing, Ozzy Osbourne took the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham for his final performance, titled Back to the Beginning. The concert, a reunion with his Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, was a celebration of the band’s origins in their hometown. Despite battling Parkinson’s disease, which had limited his mobility in recent years, Osbourne performed seated on a throne, his voice still carrying the raw power that made him a legend. The event drew a star-studded lineup of performers, including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Yungblud, all paying homage to the man who pioneered heavy metal with songs like Iron Man and Paranoid. The crowd’s love was palpable, with fans chanting “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi” as the night unfolded, a testament to the enduring connection between the singer and his audience.
Sir Brian May, a longtime friend and admirer, was among the thousands in attendance. In an Instagram post following Osbourne’s death, May described the concert as “a glorious way to say goodbye,” noting that “the love in that place for him was gigantic.” Standing just 10 meters away in an executive box, May watched the performance with a mix of awe and melancholy, perhaps reflecting on the parallels to Queen’s own journey after the loss of Freddie Mercury. Fans on Reddit speculated that May’s presence at the concert stirred memories of Queen’s 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, with one user commenting, “I wonder if he was suddenly remembering Freddie’s tribute concert… It must’ve been quite surreal for Brian.”
A Private Moment Backstage
After the Villa Park lights dimmed and the crowd’s roars faded, May found himself backstage with Osbourne in a moment that would become one of the most cherished of his life. In a heartfelt Instagram tribute, May revealed he was “grateful I was able to have a few quiet words with him after the show.” While he kept the details of their conversation private, May hinted at its emotional weight, noting that it left him “speechless.” Sources close to the Osbourne family suggest that the exchange was a deeply personal farewell, with Osbourne, aware of his declining health, expressing gratitude for their decades-long friendship. “Ozzy was always larger than life, but in that moment, he was just a man saying goodbye to a friend,” a family friend told GB News.
May’s reflections reveal the profound impact Osbourne had on him, both as a musician and as a person. “The world will miss Ozzy’s unique presence and fearless talent,” May wrote, extending his condolences to Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, their children Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and his Black Sabbath bandmates, whom he described as “family.” The Queen guitarist’s words echoed a sentiment shared by many in the music world: Osbourne was not just a performer but a trailblazer who reshaped rock music with his daring experimentation and unapologetic individuality.
A Haunting Tribute at Highgate Cemetery
Osbourne’s passing was followed by a series of tributes that captured the global outpouring of grief. On July 29, 2025, a funeral procession wound through the streets of Birmingham, where fans lined up to honor their hometown hero. The Bostin’ Brass marching band led the cortege, playing Black Sabbath classics, while mourners left flowers at the Black Sabbath Bridge, unveiled in 2019 to commemorate the band’s legacy. Yet it was a quieter moment at London’s Highgate Cemetery that has become the stuff of legend, thanks to Brian May’s poignant tribute.
On a foggy morning, as Osbourne’s casket was carried to its final resting place, May emerged from the mist, dressed in a long black coat and carrying a weathered acoustic guitar. Without a word, he began strumming the opening chords of Mama, I’m Coming Home, a song from Osbourne’s 1991 solo album No More Tears. The melody, soft and aching, floated through the air, bringing the crowd to a hushed stillness. “When Brian reached the chorus, I couldn’t hold it together,” one mourner told The Black Mania. “It felt like Ozzy was still with us, somewhere in that fog.” Kelly Osbourne, her purple hair a nod to her father’s rebellious spirit, walked beside the casket, her hand resting gently on its lid as tears fell silently.
The unannounced performance was a testament to May’s deep respect for Osbourne, a gesture that required no spotlight or fanfare. “There was no microphone, no stage—just Brian, his guitar, and a melody that said everything words couldn’t,” wrote Daily Gardening Mag. The moment resonated with fans worldwide, many of whom shared their reactions online, with one Threads user calling it “hauntingly beautiful” while cautioning against unverified AI-generated content that falsely depicted the scene.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Enduring Legacy
Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on music is undeniable. Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, he rose from humble beginnings, dropping out of school at 15 and briefly serving time for burglary before finding his calling in music. As the frontman of Black Sabbath, formed in the late 1960s with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Osbourne helped create a sound that was slower, louder, and darker than anything before it, laying the foundation for heavy metal. Albums like Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality (1971) became genre-defining classics, with tracks like War Pigs and Children of the Grave cementing Osbourne’s status as a rock icon.
After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1978 due to substance abuse issues, Osbourne launched a wildly successful solo career with albums like Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981), featuring hits like Crazy Train and Flying High Again. His larger-than-life persona, marked by infamous antics like biting the head off a bat during a performance, made him a cultural phenomenon, later amplified by the reality show The Osbournes (2002–2005). Despite his wild image, Osbourne’s vulnerability shone through in his music and personal life, particularly in his 43-year marriage to Sharon, whom he credited as the best moment of his life.
Tributes from the Music World
May’s tribute was one of many from music’s biggest names. Sir Elton John called Osbourne “a dear friend and a huge trailblazer,” adding, “He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.” Sir Rod Stewart offered a humorous yet heartfelt farewell: “Bye, bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there—later rather than sooner.” Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, struggling to find words, described Osbourne as a “brother,” while Geezer Butler reflected on their shared journey: “Four kids from Aston—who’d have thought, eh?” Even younger artists like Yungblud, who performed at the farewell concert, expressed their heartbreak, with the singer saying, “I didn’t think you would leave so soon.”
Beyond musicians, figures like Sir David Beckham and Piers Morgan joined the chorus of tributes, with Morgan recalling Osbourne’s wit and devotion to Sharon. The outpouring of love extended to Birmingham, where fans gathered at the Black Sabbath Bridge to leave flowers and raise glasses in his memory. “Ozzy was more than a music legend—he was a son of Birmingham,” said Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal, emphasizing the city’s pride in hosting his farewell.
A Celebration of Life
Osbourne’s own wishes for his funeral, expressed in a 2011 interview with The Times, were for a celebration rather than a “mope-fest.” He even joked about including pranks, like a video of himself requesting a second opinion on his death. True to his vision, the Birmingham procession was filled with music and cheers, while the private funeral in Buckinghamshire, attended by close friends like May and Elton John, was a heartfelt reflection of his life. Kelly Osbourne’s tearful tribute, calling her father “the music in my blood,” captured the personal loss felt by his family, who were touched by the global support.
As the rock world mourns, Brian May’s quiet strumming at Highgate Cemetery remains a defining image of Osbourne’s farewell. It was a moment that bridged the chaos of his stage persona with the tenderness of his humanity, a fitting tribute to a man who lived loudly but loved deeply. Osbourne’s music, from Black Sabbath’s ominous riffs to his solo anthems, will echo for generations, ensuring that the Prince of Darkness never truly leaves us.
