A Voice of Power Meets a Spirit of Chaos
Sir Tom, dressed in a simple black suit with a small Sabbath pin on his lapel, stood beside the casket draped in black velvet, adorned with a single white lily and a cross made of iron chains — a nod to Ozzy’s heavy metal legacy.
Then, with no introduction, he began to sing a reimagined version of “Love Hurts” — the classic ballad by the Everly Brothers, which Ozzy reportedly listened to on repeat in his final weeks.
Tom’s voice — aged but still filled with undeniable force and tenderness — quivered with every note:
“Love hurts, love scars / Love wounds and marks…”
You could hear weeping from the first row, where Sharon Osbourne clutched their youngest grandchild’s hand. Even Slash, seated beside Geezer Butler, was seen with his head bowed, wiping away tears beneath his sunglasses.
Why Tom Jones? Why This Song?
Though many wouldn’t immediately associate the velvet-voiced crooner with the wild world of heavy metal, insiders say Ozzy personally requested that if he died, Tom Jones should sing at his funeral.
Jack Osbourne revealed in a statement:
“Dad always said, ‘If anyone’s going to sing me into the afterlife, it’s the man who can actually out-sing the devil.’ That was his way of describing Tom.”
The song, “Love Hurts,” held a special meaning for Ozzy and Sharon — it was, reportedly, one of the few tracks they listened to during their many reconciliations.
A Funeral Like No Other
The funeral was an intimate gathering, but the list of mourners was legendary:
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Paul McCartney,
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Brian May,
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Tony Iommi,
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Post Malone,
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Adele,
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and even Prince William, who reportedly told Sharon: “Ozzy was chaos, but he was ours. A British original.”
After Tom’s performance, the room remained silent for nearly a minute before he softly said:
“He screamed his truth. Now may he rest in silence.”
The Final Goodbye
Ozzy’s casket was lowered as a string quartet played a soft instrumental of “Changes.” As the doors to the cathedral opened for the procession, church bells rang exactly 13 times — a nod to Black Sabbath’s final album.
Outside, thousands of fans had gathered in the rain, holding candles, posters, and homemade signs reading:
“Birmingham’s Loudest Son.”
“Thank You for the Noise.”
“See You on the Crazy Train.”
Tom Jones didn’t just sing at Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral.
He sang for a generation of misfits, rebels, survivors — and for a man who turned his own madness into music.
And in that quiet cathedral in Birmingham, a soul singer honored a soul who never stopped screaming… until now.
