Home / Arts and Entertainment / Black Sabbath Demos: Legal Battle Over Early Earth Recordings Ends
Black Sabbath Demos: Legal Battle Over Early Earth Recordings Ends
24 Apr
Summary
- Black Sabbath members regain ownership of their 1969 Earth demos.
- A legal dispute over the release of early Black Sabbath recordings has concluded.
- The legendary lost 1969 tapes will not be released as initially planned.
The legal dispute concerning Black Sabbath's nascent demo recordings from 1969, made under the band name Earth, has reached a resolution. The four principal members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—have successfully reclaimed ownership of these early works.
These recordings, made at Birmingham's Zella Studios, were slated for an official release in July 2025 by their first manager, Jim Simpson. However, this plan was halted due to a legal conflict with Sharon Osbourne, who represented the band's interests.
Sharon Osbourne announced five months after the dispute became public that a settlement had been reached. She confirmed that the band now possesses full ownership of the Earth demos, stating that "all of that stuff should be theirs." While the planned release will not proceed, Sharon expressed openness to potentially releasing the demos in the future, subject to the band's collective approval, recognizing their historical importance.
