Marilyn Manson has led the stars arriving at Ozzy Osbourne’s private funeral this afternoon as the heavy metal icon is laid to rest.
The Black Sabbath frontman, who died aged 76 on July 22, is being buried in the grounds of his own mansion in Buckinghamshire – as he had said he desired.
Ozzy’s widow Sharon, 72, and their children were joined by heavy rock royalty at today’s event at the family’s home near Gerrards Cross, where he was being laid to rest near a lake at the heart of the sprawling 250-acre estate.
Guests also included Manson’s wife Lindsay Usich and Ozzy’s lead guitarist Zakk Wylde.
And in true Ozzy fashion, stars arrived in gothic and heavy metal attire, with Rob Zombie donning skulls on a black scarf while Manson wore a long black jacket.
A huge floral tribute in the grounds of the mansion spells out an affectionate tribute to the heavy metal legend, with the words, ‘OZZY F***ING OSBOURNE’, on the banks of the Osbourne lake.
A version of a floral ‘Ozzy’ tribute that featured at yesterday’s memorial procession was also placed atop a fountain.
Today’s events follow a funeral procession attended by thousands of fans through Birmingham city centre on Wednesday.
Marilyn Manson (left) and his wife Lindsay Usich (right) led the stars arriving at the private service today
Marilyn Manson (right) attended the private service this afternoon, alongside Rob Zombie (centre)
Manson wore an all-black outfit, as did his wife
Mourners attended the private service today at Ozzy’s Buckinghamshire mansion
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor and his wife Alicia Dove were also among those attending
Guests were seen departing a country hotel, making their way to a private memorial service
Rob Zombie (pictured) wore a black scarf with skulls on it in true Ozzy fashion
Ozzy’s lead guitarist Zakk Wylde also attended the private service holding guitars
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and his wife Alicia Dove were seen making their way to the event
Heartbroken fans lined up to pay their respects to Ozzy in a public procession yesterday, and again today at his home
Cars were seen arriving at the estate this morning, with mourners expected to attend including Metallica frontman James Hetfield, and Sir Elton John
Ozzy Osbourne’s tearful widow Sharon Osbourne is pictured yesterday giving a peace gesture to fans
The hearse carrying the singer’s coffin was adorned with purple flowers spelling out ‘Ozzy’
Two of Ozzy and Sharon’s children Jack and Kelly embraced at Black Sabbath Bridge
There are a sea of floral tributes for the heavy metal icon near his home today
Ozzy’s widow Sharon, 72, was supported by their children Jack, Kelly and Aimee who laid floral tributes and made a peace sign as they gestured their gratitude to fans – while accompanied by Ozzy’s son Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
Floral tributes to the rock star first displayed at the public memorial in Birmingham yesterday were on show for the intimate farewell.
Goodwill messages have continued to pour in for Osbourne, who died aged 76 last week – and had spoken in the past about his wishes for a lack of funeral fuss.
Speaking in 2011 about how he imagined his future send-off, the Black Sabbath legend said: ‘I honestly don’t care what they play at my funeral – they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and ‘We Are The Diddymen’ if it makes ’em happy. But I do want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest.’
The funeral cortege yesterday was led by a live brass band, Bostin’ Brass, who performed versions of Black Sabbath songs such as Iron Man, as thousands of tearful devotees lined the streets and sang along in Ozzy’s memory.
Today, marquees and a music stage had been erected next to pond where the private tributes were paid at his home.
Guests were seated under huge awnings due to the rain showers that had fallen earlier in the day – while catering facilities, with their own generators, were provided in the garden.
A huge security operation was in place from early this morning to ensure the ceremony was strictly invitation only, in accordance with widow Sharon’s wishes.
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Sharon Osbourne is seen yesterday attending her late husband Ozzy’s funeral procession
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This purple floral tribute spelling out Ozzy’s name was carried as part of the cortege in Wednesday’s procession and similar has been seen at his Buckinghamshire mansion
A team of bodyguards and private security dog handlers patrolled the perimeter of the estate and traffic marshals directed traffic through the narrow country lane leading to the Osbourne estate.
However, diehard fans did leave flowers outside the gates to their rock idol.
Ozzy had spoken in 2011 about his funeral intentions, telling the Times: ‘I want to make sure it’s a celebration, not a mope-fest.
‘I’d also like some pranks – maybe the sound of knocking inside the coffin, or a video of me asking my doctor for a second opinion on his diagnosis of ‘death’.
‘There’ll be no harping on the bad times. It’s worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives.
‘So by any measure, most of us in this country – especially rock stars like me – are very lucky. That’s why I don’t want my funeral to be sad – I want it to be a time to say, “Thanks”.’
And he wrote in his autobiography I Am Ozzy, published in 2010: ‘Eventually death will come, like it comes to everyone.
‘I’ve said to Sharon: ‘Don’t cremate me, whatever you do.’ I want to be put in the ground, in a nice garden somewhere, with a tree planted over my head.
‘A crabapple tree, preferably, so the kids can make wine out of me and get p***ed out of their heads.
‘As for what they’ll put on my headstone, I ain’t under any illusions. If I close my eyes, I can already see it. Ozzy Osbourne, born 1948. Died, whenever. He bit the head off a bat.’
