LONDON (AP) — Sharon Osbourne is contesting an attempt to release early Black Sabbath recordings, publicly disputing former band manager Jim Simpson’s claim of legal ownership of the tapes.
The dispute intensified over the weekend, several months after the death of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne, the founding frontman of Black Sabbath.
Simpson, who managed the band in its earliest days, announced Nov. 14 that he intends to release a set of 1969 demos recorded before the group adopted the Black Sabbath name. The material, titled “Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes,” was initially targeted for release in July. The project has not yet been released, but Simpson asserts he has the right to distribute the recordings.
Sharon Osbourne publicly challenged Simpson’s claims in a detailed Instagram post shared Saturday, Nov. 15. Her post included screenshots of a July 2 email she said she sent to Simpson, warning him not to move forward without the band’s approval.
“As you know, the band do not want these tapes released, not least as they haven’t heard them despite you saying you would provide copies long ago,” Osbourne wrote. “You know that, as a band, Black Sabbath don’t take things lying down and you can be assured that if you go ahead with this against the band’s wishes, we will take any action where their rights are infringed, both here and in America.”
The disputed demos were recorded by the group’s original lineup — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward — during a brief period when they performed as Earth. While recordings from this era have long interested collectors, the band has historically maintained tight control over its early catalogue and archival releases.
The dispute comes during a high-profile week for the Osbourne family. Earlier, Sharon and her children, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, criticized Roger Waters on “The Osbournes Podcast” after the Pink Floyd co-founder made disparaging comments about Ozzy Osbourne in an interview with The Independent Ink. Sharon Osbourne responded by calling Waters “one of the most twisted, sick individuals I’ve come across in years.”
For now, Simpson’s proposed release of “Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes” appears to be on hold. Sharon Osbourne’s statement signals the band’s intention to challenge any distribution that does not include Black Sabbath’s approval. With legal questions unresolved and no release date announced, the future of the recordings remains unclear.