Sharon Osbourne Challenges Former Black Sabbath Manager Over Unreleased Tapes

In a high-profile dispute, Sharon Osbourne, the widow of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, is challenging former band manager Jim Simpson's attempt to release early Black Sabbath recordings. According to the article, Simpson announced on November 14, 2025 that he intends to release a collection of 1969 demos recorded before the band adopted the Black Sabbath name.

However, Osbourne has publicly disputed these claims, stating in a detailed Instagram post on November 15, 2025 that the band does not want these tapes released. She says she warned Simpson in a July 2, 2025 email that the band would take legal action if he proceeded without their approval. The demos in question feature the original Black Sabbath lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.

The dispute adds to a tumultuous week for the Osbourne family, as Sharon and her children also publicly criticized Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters for making disparaging comments about Ozzy. For now, Simpson's proposed release of the "Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes" appears stalled, but Osbourne has made it clear the band intends to challenge any distribution that doesn't involve their approval.