Ozzy Osbourne would have turned 77 this week, and even though the Prince of Darkness is no longer here, his family made sure the day felt full of him.

In the early hours of the morning in Birmingham (Dec 3), the Black Sabbath Bridge became a shrine again. Purple flowers spelled out “Happy Birthday Ozzy” along the railing, a bright red heart sat beside the Black Sabbath Bench and a lush floral “Ozzy” lay at the front. 

Tucked within it all was a handwritten message from his kids, “We love you daddy. Love Louis, Aimee, Kelly & Jack.”

Kelly visited the display in the dark, posting photos of herself sitting at the bench, alongside a heartfelt message: “Happy birthday daddy you most certainly did not die an ordinary man! Life without you is hard but not a day goes by that I don’t dedicate my life to loving you and your legacy! I miss you more than anything in the world. I love you until eternity! What I would not give to watch you blow out just one more candle.”

Jack’s tribute came from the other side of the world, or technically from the jungle. Still competing on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, his Instagram team shared a montage set to Ozzy’s cover of “In My Life.”

Old backstage photos, selfies, quiet moments no one had seen before. The caption read, “Jack is still in the jungle, but wishing his dad a Happy Heavenly Birthday.”

Birmingham also paid its respects in a big way. The Deputy Lord Mayor and Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE met with the Osbourne family to present Ozzy’s Lord Mayor’s Award and the city’s Book of Condolences. The Lord Mayor called him “an iconic and much missed son of Birmingham, the city he loved so much,” finishing the tribute with a simple “Ozzy forever.”

And Sharon… her one hit hardest. She posted a video blending old clips of the two of them with fresh footage of the tribute on the bridge. “My darling husband, I celebrate the day you were born. I will never let go of your hand until I see you on the other side.” The final frame showed a still of their hands intertwined.

For a bloke who changed music, scared parents and made generations of metal fans feel seen, the tributes weren’t over the top. They were quiet, honest, family-first. Exactly how you honour someone you’re still trying to learn how to live without.

Happy birthday Ozzy, we love you mate.