Louis Osbourne knows The Prince of Darkness was a light to many people.
In fact, the 50-year-old—who is the oldest son of Ozzy Osbourne and ex-wife Thelma Riley—shared that seeing so many fans attend the late singer’s public funeral in July left him speechless.
“The volume of people at the Cortege,” Louis recalled in the Nov. 18 episode of his brother Jack Osbourne’s Trying Not To Die podcast. “I still live in Birmingham, so I knew the street it was going to be on. Before we turned on the street, I thought it was going to be like two or three people deep for half a kilometer before where the Black Sabbath bridge was.”
However, the turnout at the procession was bigger than he expected.
“I’m getting goosebumps thinking about it. It was f---ing insane,” he continued. “[There were] people climbing up hangposts, hanging out of windows, and standing on top of bus stops to get a look of it. It was awe-inspiring. Once we all got out of the cars to share our respects and put the flowers down, it kept on going for half a mile.”
Indeed, thousands of fans reportedly filled the streets of Birmingham for the public gathering. Then shortly after, Louis and his family members Sharon Osbourne, 73, and her kids Aimee Osbourne, 42, Kelly Osbourne, 41, and Jack, 40, held a small private service for Ozzy at their estate.
And while Louis knew that “people loved” the Ozzmosis star—who died on July 22 at the age of 76 following his battle with Parkinson’s disease—seeing that intense amount of support made him realize how much of a legend his dad was.
“It’s been quite humbling in many ways,” he explained, before detailing his personal connection to Ozzy’s music. “I’ve always known his music. Personally, I’m more of a Sabbath fan than I am of his solo work. I loved his solo work as well, but Sabbath is in my bones. I’ve come to terms with how much of a cultural impact he had.”
Louis isn’t the only Osbourne member that’s remembering Ozzy’s legacy. In fact, Sharon shared that King Charles III, 77, reached out to the family following her husband’s passing.
“He is an amazing person, not just because he wrote to us when Ozzy passed,” she detailed in the Nov. 12 episode of The Osbournes podcast, “but if he did it for us, you know he does it for many, many, many people.”
She continued, “He’s got a good heart. He didn't have to do certain things that he's done for Ozzy in the past. Ozzy’s birthday. When Ozzy was sick in hospital with the motorbike accident, he reached out. He is a good, caring man."
Keep reading to see more celebrities who have honored Ozzy…
Metallica
The heavy metal band shared a throwback photo of Ozzy Osbourne with a simple broken heart emoji as the caption.
Elton John
“He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend,” he wrote. “He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love.”
Questlove
“Love Live The Oz,” he wrote. “Rest In Melody.”
Jason Momoa
“Love you @ozzyosbourne All my aloha @sharonosbourne and ohana,” he wrote alongside a picture with Ozzy and wife Sharon Osbourne. “So grateful. RIP.”
Flavor Flav
“Man,,, real heart broken over the passing of OZZY OSBOURNE,” the rapper shared on X. “We go way back and it was a real honor to watch him get inducted into the @rockhall last year. Sending my love and prayers to Sharon and his kids and whole family. RIP.”
Bret Michaels
“One of the greatest rock legends to ever live...” the Def Leppard member wrote, noting the band would dedicate their upcoming shows to Ozzy. “And to my friend @sharonosbourne and the entire Osbourne family, sending my deepest condolences. Ozzy, may you forever rest in peace and thank you for rocking our world.”
Ice T
“RIP Ozzy,” he wrote on X. “Right after the recent huge Black Sabbath final concert. Sad.. In my opinion the Creators of Heavy Metal.”
Paul Feig
“He was such a sweet guy and so up for having fun with his image,” the director recalled. “He was a true legend and the music world wouldn’t have been the same without him. RIP Ozzy.”
Smashing Pumpkins
Alongside a video of Sharon and Billy Corgan, the band wrote, “We [heart] you too, Ozzy.”
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
Writing on behalf of the band, lead guitarist Mike McCready detailed when he first discovered Black Sabbath in high school.
“‘War Pigs’ was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time,” he wrote. “It was Ozzy’s voice that took me away to a dark universe. A great escape. Then when The ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ record came out I was instantly a fan. Thanks for the music, Ozzy it makes our journey in life better.”
Adam Sandler
Of his Little Nicky costar, the actor wrote, “Whether we were in our basements with our brothers, in the woods with our buddies, in the car, at a keg party, on a boat, at football practice, at a sleepover….Nobody was more badass to crank up on our speakers than the one and only prince of darkness - Ozzy Osborne! Loved him a lot like we all did!”
Josh Brolin
“What a talent and what an impact on me,” the Goonies star wrote, “and so many others that found it him a thriving misfit with the voice of the grimy blood in our darkest vein. He was circus and theatre and love and loyalty and the everyman's talent.”
Ronnie Wood
“I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne,” the Rolling Stones’ guitarist wrote. “What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.”