Ozzy Osbourne’s rock howl assisted him in turning into a heavy metal icon before his family antics turned him into a huge reality star.

Now, celebs, fans, and locals are thronging the streets of his home city to pay tribute ahead of his funeral procession following the star’s death at 76.

The so-called Prince of Darkness has been memorialized in Birmingham since last Tuesday’s announcement regarding his death by the family, including his wife, Sharon.

The much-visited Black Sabbath Bridge in England’s second city has been covered in floral tributes and was seen this morning as closed off so his relatives could pay a visit. Now, barriers are being taken down shortly before 10:30 am.

A funeral parade alongside Birmingham’s Broad Street is planned for 1 pm onwards. And crowds were seen gathering from early on, well in advance, to pay their respects towards the star whose songs included the likes of Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

Thousands of people were seen pictured taking their places not only on Black Sabbath Bridge but along the city center route along which his cortege would be traveling. The hearse featuring Osbourne would make its way down the Broad Street towards the Black Sabbath bench from 1pm.