Sharon Osbourne Calls Out Former Black Sabbath Manager Over Plans to Release Early Demos Without Band’s Involvement

During a recent episode of ‘The Osbournes Podcast’, Sharon Osbourne addressed what she describes as “vulturistic behavior” following the passing of Ozzy Osbourne — specifically calling out Jim Simpson, the band’s onetime manager, for allegedly planning to release Black Sabbath’s early demos without the group or the Osbourne family’s consent.

According to Sharon, Simpson claims to have recordings from the band’s early years under his management, reportedly from when they were still known as Earth. She says he believes he owns the tapes because he paid the studio bill — roughly £500 at the time — and has kept them hidden for over 50 years, waiting for the copyright to expire. Sharon explained:

“Now, 56 years later, he has tapes, he claims, of Sabbath when they went into demo and get a record deal. They are the Earth demos he claims. He claims ownership because he says he paid the bill for the studio which he says was 500 pounds. Now if 30,000 pounds today is worth five or six thousand, what’s 500 pounds? He would have never had that money to pay for a studio in those days. Anyway, he claims that he paid so therefore he owns them. And he’s kept it quiet for all these years because they’re now out of copyright, which is 50 years. So he’s been holding, holding and holding.”

Sharon revealed that her family has been in contact with Simpson for the past 18 months, warning him of potential legal action if he attempts to distribute the demos. She said:

“He’s never said you’ll get a royalty, not one penny. He thinks he’s going to put out these tapes and he’s going to get 100 percent of everything for himself. He could have come to us with the tapes and he would have made a lot of money and Sabbath would have done well. But you cannot take this work and do this to Sabbath again. The second time it would have happened to them.”

In closing, Sharon issued a direct message to Black Sabbath fans:

“I’m putting it out there to every Sabbath fan. If these tapes come out, please don’t buy them. Don’t support him because he’s taking 100 percent. He’s lying and saying he’ll give money to charity. He’s never said what charity or how much money. What I want to say to him is let it go to a proper record company and be properly distributed, properly produced. You will get money. Don’t do this.”

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