Thousands gathered in the streets of Ozzy Osbourne’s native Birmingham, England, early Wednesday ahead of his funeral procession led by an emotional Sharon Osbourne and their two kids, Jack and Kelly.

In Britain, mourners typically take to the streets in large numbers only for the death of queens or kings. After John Lennon died in 1980, some 20,000 fans gathered in Liverpool for a vigil, but few other artists have provoked such devotion. There was no procession for David Bowie’s death, in 2016.

Thousands gathered in Birmingham for Ozzy Osbourne's funeral procession. The Black Sabbath frontman, known as 'The Prince of Darkness', was celebrated for his influence on heavy metal music. Fans paid tribute as Osbourne's cortege passed through his home city before a private service.