Sharon Osbourne Slams Ex-Manager’s Plan to Drop Unheard Black Sabbath Tapes
Sharon Osbourne is taking a firm stand against former Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson, who has announced plans to release early recordings of the iconic band. The dispute arose following Simpson’s press release on November 14, claiming legal ownership of a collection of 1969 demos recorded before the band officially adopted the name Black Sabbath. Titled *Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes*, this project has been in limbo since it was initially slated for release in July. Simpson argues that he holds the rights to distribute these recordings, which feature the original lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward during their brief period performing as Earth. However, Sharon Osbourne has publicly challenged Simpson’s claims, asserting that the band does not approve of the release.
In a detailed Instagram post shared on November 15, Sharon provided evidence of her communication with Simpson, including a July 2 email warning him against proceeding without the band’s consent. She emphasized that the band members have not heard the tapes and expressed their desire to keep them unreleased. Sharon’s post also conveyed a strong message: if Simpson moves forward with the release against the band’s wishes, they will take legal action to protect their rights in both the UK and the US. This insistence on maintaining control over their early catalog underscores Black Sabbath’s long-standing practice of safeguarding their archival materials.
This legal battle comes at a tumultuous time for the Osbourne family, following the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the band’s legendary frontman. Earlier in the week, Sharon and her children, Kelly and Jack, also found themselves in the spotlight after publicly criticizing Roger Waters for derogatory remarks about Ozzy during an interview. Sharon’s condemnation of Waters as “one of the most twisted, sick individuals” highlights the family’s protective stance regarding Ozzy’s legacy. As the situation with Simpson remains unresolved, the future of *Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes* hangs in the balance, with Sharon Osbourne’s strong opposition indicating that any unauthorized distribution will be met with resistance from the band.
Sharon Osbourne is pushing back against an attempt to release early
Black Sabbath
recordings, publicly challenging former band manager Jim Simpson after he issued a press release claiming legal ownership of the tapes.
The dispute, which escalated over the weekend, comes months after the
death of her husband
, founding Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.
Simpson, who managed the group in their earliest days, announced on Nov. 14 that he intends to release a collection of 1969 demos recorded before the band adopted the Black Sabbath name. The material, titled
Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes
, was initially expected for release in July. The project has yet to materialize, but Simpson maintains he has the right to distribute the recordings.
Sharon publicly disputed those claims in a detailed
Instagram post
shared on Saturday (Nov. 15). Her post included screenshots of a July 2 email she says she sent to Simpson, warning him against moving 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,” she 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.”
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The demos in question feature the band’s original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward—during the brief period when they performed under the name Earth. While recordings from this era have long been of interest to collectors, the group has historically kept tight control over their early catalog and archival releases.
The dispute adds to a high-profile week for the Osbourne family. Earlier in the week, Sharon and her children Kelly and Jack Osbourne publicly criticized Roger Waters on
The Osbournes Podcast
after the Pink Floyd co-founder made disparaging comments about Ozzy in an interview with The Independent Ink. Sharon 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 stalled, but Sharon’s post signals the band’s intention to challenge any distribution that doesn’t involve Black Sabbath’s approval. With legal questions unresolved and no release date announced, the future of the recordings remains unclear.
