Aston Villa Football Club will pay tribute to legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne ahead of their Premier League opener against Newcastle United this Saturday, August 16, at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Osbourne, who grew up in Aston and passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, maintained a lifelong bond with the club and his hometown community. Just last month, The Prince of Darkness headlined the Back To The Beginning concert at Villa Park, performing with an all-star lineup that included his Black Sabbath bandmates.
Saturday's tribute will feature:
- A video montage on the big screens following the players' warm-up.
- Teams walking out to Ozzy's live performance of "Crazy Train" from Back To The Beginning.
- A new mural on the Holte Pub's exterior, incorporating imagery from the famous Holte End tifo displayed during last season's Champions League clash with Celtic.
- Bostin Brass, who played at Ozzy's Birmingham funeral procession, performing his and Black Sabbath's greatest hits in the Fan Zone.
- A preserved section of the Fan Zone Bar used as the backstage area for Back To The Beginning, complete with original branding and carved trees for fans to see and photograph.
- A book of condolences in the Villa Store for supporters to sign, which will be presented to Ozzy's family.
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22 from a reported heart attack. The Birmingham-born Prince of Darkness had battled Parkinson's disease in recent years, but his death still came as a shock to millions.
In the days following his passing, thousands of flowers, handwritten notes, band memorabilia, and personal mementos were left at or near the bench commemorating the formation of Black Sabbath, the band he co-founded in 1968. On July 30, during Osbourne's public funeral procession through Birmingham, his wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly stopped at the memorial to view the tributes and add their own flowers.
Birmingham City Council has since begun carefully collecting the items to preserve them for Osbourne's family. The tributes are being photographed, catalogued, and stored at a secure location before being handed over. Officials have said that some of the flowers will be mulched and scattered by his grave.
Following the public procession, Osbourne was laid to rest in a private ceremony on July 31 at his home in Buckinghamshire. The intimate service was reportedly attended by close friends and fellow rock legends, including Rob Zombie, Elton John, Yungblud, and Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.
