Hampshire journalist joins tributes to Ozzy Osbourne who's funeral is being held today
The heavy metal star died last Tuesday at the age of 76, just weeks after playing a farewell gig
A Hampshire journalist has joined those paying tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, as his funeral procession takes place through Birmingham city centre today.
Ozzy's funeral procession is set to lead through his home city of Birmingham ahead of a private family funeral.
Nick Ruskell, a journalist for Kerrang, followed Ozzy's career, interviewing him over 10 times.
He said: "The first time I met him, I remember being really, really nervous because I was really young.
"It wasn't too long after I'd started as a staffer at Kerrang, and I remember going to a thing where we were doing a quick news story with him.
"Sharon was there as well, and I was just walking and being so nervous to meet the pair of them and they were awesome.
"Ozzy was just super friendly, really lovely and you know, exactly like you'd sort of hope he'd be."
Mr Ruskell's followed the Black Sabbath singer for years from shows to his house in LA.
As a fan himself, he told us about when Ozzy played a show for Kerrang in 2010 at the Roundhouse in London.
He said: "I remember catching up with him immediately after the show to do an interview and he was absolutely covered in sweat.
"He was dripping with just the biggest smile I've ever seen on somebody.
"He was just bouncing off absolutely everybody in the dressing room, having a whale of a time.
"That's how I like to remember him."
Mr Ruskell is not only a journalist, but is a fan of the band, Black Sabbath.
He said: "As a fan, meeting somebody like Ozzy, who is a very singular, massive, untouchable kind of deity like figure, was just beyond anything I could have imagined when I was a teenager.
"Growing up, listening to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Records and seeing him on the cover of Kerrang.
"To get to do it once and shake his hand once was more than enough, but to be in his presence so many times and to have actually have had time sat chatting to him is something I feel incredibly privileged about.
"What Ozzy's music did to me and does to me is something so profound to me personally.
"I feel magic every time I put on a Black Sabbath record and there's so much breadth to everything he did.
"To actually have quality time and have focus on your conversation is just incredible.
"I still cannot believe that I got to do it once, let alone as many times as I did."