BLACK SABBATH Resolves Legal Dispute Over 'Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes' Album
Sharon Osbourne, the wife and manager of the late Ozzy Osbourne, has resolved a legal dispute with Jim Simpson, the original manager of BLACK SABBATH, regarding Simpson's intention to release an album featuring pre-BLACK SABBATH tracks. The collection, titled "Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes," contains demos from 1969 when the band was known as EARTH. Sharon successfully blocked the release of the album, but the matter has now been settled, and the original members of BLACK SABBATH now own the demos.
During a podcast appearance, Sharon shared that the band now has ownership of the EARTH recordings, which offer a different, more blues-driven sound compared to BLACK SABBATH's later work. She emphasized the historical significance of the recordings and the accompanying photos from that era. Sharon expressed her satisfaction that the materials are now in the band's possession, allowing them to decide how to proceed with the content.
Sharon expressed gratitude towards Jim Simpson for reaching an agreement with BLACK SABBATH, ensuring that the recordings are rightfully owned by the band. Simpson, in his late 80s, had acquired the recordings in 1969 when the band was still EARTH. Despite offering the band an opportunity to be involved in the release process, they initially declined, leading to the legal dispute that has now been resolved.
The album "Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes" reportedly includes blues covers and original tracks from the EARTH era, showcasing the early musical talents of Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill. Simpson believes that the album is a significant piece of music history that highlights the band's early potential and sets the stage for their future success as BLACK SABBATH. If released, the album would be a valuable gift to music enthusiasts and BLACK SABBATH fans worldwide.