Birmingham, United Kingdom (AFP)-Fans gathered in Ozzy Osbourne’s home city Wednesday to pay homage to the heavy metal music icon.

Floral tributes piled up for the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, just over two weeks after he and his fellow band mates filled a stadium in the central English city for a memorable reunion concert.

Some fans told AFP they were still in shock and felt emotional at news of the 76-year-old’s death on Tuesday after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Today is, I think, one of the darkest days in heavy metal history because the godfather of heavy metal just passed away,” said Burjor Anklesaria, a 32-year-old doctor from London.

Nigel O’Connell, 63, brought his grandson with him to view a mural honouring the group in the city centre.

He said he was saddened by the news but not surprised “because he lived his life in rock and roll”.

“Ozzy was just a bit of an icon of the city — he was a bit of a fool, but everybody loved him!” he said, adding Osbourne had “done the city proud.”

Elsewhere in the city centre, posters of the singer sprang up on walls while flowers also appeared at the Black Sabbath canal bridge.

Fans left lit candles, flowers, soft toys and even cans of beer at a bench on the bridge adorned with drawings of the faces of the four band members.

Fresh in everyone’s mind is the July 5 concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park football stadium in front of tens of thousands of adoring heavy metal fans from around the world.

Weak from Parkinson’s disease, the ailing singer had to stay seated throughout the sell-out gig, the first they had performed in 20 years.

His performance moved many in the crowd to tears.