UPDATED: I’M SO SICK OF WRITING ABOUT WHAT A PRICK OZZY HAS BECOME…
Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 12:40pm by Axl RosenbergUPDATE: Our friend Dan Rodriguez over at Metal Insider has a much more detailed explanation. Check it out!
…but with every move the old fucker makes, it’s as though he’s begging me to.
So.
According to local newspaper tabloid the New York Post, Ozzy is now suing Tony Iommi over the Black Sabbath band name:
The “Godfather of Heavy Metal” claims guitarist Tony Iommi illegally claimed sole ownership of the band’s name, in a filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Osbourne is suing Iommi for a 50 percent interest in the “Black Sabbath” trademark, along with a portion of Iommi’s profits from use of the name.
The Manhattan federal court suit also charges that Osbourne’s “signature lead vocals” are largely responsible for the band’s “extraordinary success,” noting that its popularity plummeted during his absence from 1980 through 1996.
Blabbermouth points out that both Iommi and Geezer Butler compare Osbourne unfavorably to his Sabbath successor, Ronnie James Dio, in a recent issue of Decibel, implying that the lawsuit may be Ozzy’s way of lashing back at his former bandmates.
Now, I don’t really have enough information about the case to speak about it intelligently. In a certain sense, Iommi was the original Axl Rose, touring for years under the Black Sabbath moniker even when he was the sole remaining original member of the band. And if Osbourne is getting fucked out profits made from his contributions to Sabbath, then even though the old fart clearly doesn’t need any more money, he is entitled to his cut.
But this does feel like sour grapes. With Heaven & Hell – really just Dio-Sabbath under a different name – currently kicking ass and taking names while Ozzy struggles just to keep Ozzfest alive or put out a record anyone actually gives two shits about, the time just isn’t incidental. So while Ozzy may (and I emphasize the word “may” – again, I’d love to know more about the specifics of the case) be in the right from a legal perspective, it’s hard to for me to think he’s in the right from a philosophical one.
-AR
It does sound like jealousy. “The Devil You Know” kicks ass while i can’t remember anything good that Ozzy’s done since “The Ultimate Sin”…and i honestly consider that album to be a sell out.
If he wanted to retain ownership, he shouldn’t have quit repeatedly. It’s just the way the law works. Maybe Sharon came up with this idea.
Exactly what I was thinking!
Oh dear… But on the brighter side, the devil you know is quite good. And Mr Zakk Wylde has been interviewed to say the new ozzy album will be pretty good. though i suppose hell say that for every album…. Come on Ozzy, stop being a jealous bastard!
And Zakk Wylde would recognize good music if it bit him in the a– exactly how?
I think what Iommi might do in this case is take a look at the way that Ozzy left the band, and try to toss onto the court why he has indeed waited untilk now to pull this out. If Ozzy was so mad, why didn’t he do anything when Heaven & Hell and The Mob Rules came out? When there was clearly much more of a threat on the manner of he becoming obsolete when regards to the band name?
It is unfortunately that while the Dio years were much more musically appealing, when non-fans think of Sabbath, they think of Ozzy. The way that people see the band isn’t part of the legal issue here, though – so Ozzy might be trying to pull the wrong strings. If he was kicked from the band by a majority vote or he left of his own accord, he’s technically entitled to nithing from 1980 to 1996.
On another note, I strongly believe that this was a major factor in why they opted to title their new release under a name that wasn’t Black Sabbath.
The sabbath self titled , paranoid, vol 4 and masters of reality are some of my favourite albums ever but Ozzy seems to be doing everything in his power to come across as a complete Cock fortress these days. He isnt going to actually gain anything noteable from this apart from a little more money to burn and making himself look like the Burnt out money/attention hore that he is. He’s even fucking advertising butter in England for fucks sake, talk about turning your legacy to shit…
Yeah but that kid in the photo caption contest bought those butter ads hook, line, and sinker
Please. Ozzy’s not coherent enough to make it through an episode of Judge Judy, much less actually take legal action against someone. There’s no way that horrible greedatrix succubus wife of his isn’t behind this.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not defending Ozzy. He lost all credibility and artistic integrity fucking 15+ years ago. But still, a lawsuit against fucking Iommi (of all people)??
Nope, I smell Sharon. And it smells bad.
Sharon Osbourne is a cunt. She’s the one behind this. She may have helped Ozzy get his shit together and prolinged his career when he otherwise would’ve completely self-destructed, but she’s also responsible for irreversably tainting the legend of one of the founders of metal.
Can’t be surprised, this IS the same witch who threw eggs at Maiden on her own fucking tour.
My question is: Why now?
Haven’t Dio, Geezer, Iommi been calling themselves Heaven and Hell for the last few years ? It seems strange that Ozzy would bring a lawsuit about using the Black Sabbath name after they have sort of changed it (probably for this exact reason).
It seems like a jealously play by Ozzy considering that Heaven and Hell’s new album kick ass and Ozzy has been putting out shit for quite ahwile now.
here’s why: http://www.metalinsider.net/legal-woes/ozzy-osbourne-files-suit-against-tony-iommi-over-black-sabbath-trademark-why-now
Nice, thanks for the update.
I’d like to see Sharon repeatedly raped by a group of angry obese well endowed deer for what she did to maiden on tour, and also for what she’s turned Ozzy into over the years.
Are you fuckin kidding me. This is about the worst thing to come along since Axl Rose. Greed is a sad thing and when Dio and the boys are out there rocking and Ozzy can’t walk its about the same as this trumped up lawsuit. Sharon Osbourne has ruined Ozzy and his legacy and this just adds to that.
So depressing….
My my Sharon’s camp aren’t taking too kindly to Heaven & Hell’s current critical success did they!
What a sad state of affairs, and it’s not like the Dio line-up even stands to lose the name because they’re not even using it. Wake up at the back Ozzy.
The title of “prick” is very suiting. Black Sabbath is an embarrassment these days when with Ozzy. Why would they want anything to do with Ozzy especially with that succubus Sharon up his ass? I’ve Seen Sabbath with Ozzy, I’ve seen Maiden headline Ozzfest because Ozzy couldn’t handle doing a show two nights in a row, and I’ve seen Ozzy preform solo. Once is enough. There is no more longevity with Ozzy. It’s over.
Well, the band’s popularity DID go down the toilet from ‘80 to ‘96, no doubt.
I’m with Ozzy.
Absolutely. The guy is getting old…OK…and is way past effectively performing on any level other than for a 30 second commercial. I’m sure we all wish that he would just bow out with grace and what dignity he has left and let us as fans remember his legacy admiringly. Instead he is going out like a greedy old asshole. SHAARRONNN!!!!!
“Ozzy Osbourne claims that the ‘Godfather of Heavy Metal’…”
/Fixed.
“The “Godfather of Heavy Metal”…”
/Fixed.
*cough*SHARON*cough*
it’s important to remember, though, that Iommi never meant to use the Black Sabbath name for any album post-Live Evil. not even Born Again (quoting Warner on the matter, “Shut up”). it was always a lot of pressure from recording companies and also the former manager, Don Arden (Sharon’s dad btw).
but why would Iommi try to claim sole ownership? today? this doesn’t look right. would he do that to Geezer, a long-time best friend? I hope Tony speaks on this matter.
i recall reading that the remaining members of sabbath were supposed to record with “the prince of darkness” for the longest time but he (meaning his wife) kept holding things up (probably due to unrealistic $$$ demands and his own diminishing singing skills). ozzy may have been the face of the band, but he owes a huge debt to iommi’s riffs, so he and his family can drop off a cliff as far as i care. their popularity may have “sunk” post ozzy, and much of the post dio material was awful, but they (iommi) trucked on and as of today have more dignity than that that clown and his bitch wife…
Youd think he would have tried to do this back in the 80s… you cant tell me the guy is all of a sudden hurting for money, I can count about 3 commercials hes been in in the past year… wow what happened to ozzy? I havent liked anything hes done since black sabbath anyway
Fuck this, fuck it hard.
Ugh, now I’m stuck with this fucking horrible Dio shit for my new Sabbath, Ozzy was a founding member of Sabbath, so barring any contractual bullshit stating he gave up his stake somehow he should be getting whatever it is.
I dunno, just pisses me off, suckass Dio effort with his preening and girly-fantasy lyrics and girl-wailing curbed to a girl-huff due to age, that’s what I’m fucking stuck with now.
I won’t even get the effort from Ozzy, just that piece of shit.
Ugh.
THERE’S my old buddy Rev with the Dio hate. I knew you wouldn’t let me down, R. :D
I’m tempted to argue with you simply on the basis of the Dio worship that 90% of metalheads lavish upon him, but to be quite honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of Dio either. I only liked the first 2 Sabbath albums, but for the music, not Ozzy. I’ve always thought the most talent lies with the musicians behind Black Sabbath, and there isn’t anyone intelligent who’d disagree with that.
Ozzy is long past making any higher-level decisions himself, so it’s fairly obvious that this is a move on his wife’s part. It would be interesting to ask Sharon herself, because I’m sure she’d say it’s simply a sound business move. I can’t imagine they would be running out of money soon, though. I’d say she’s just past feeling any shame and is greedy as fuck for more, more more.
The thing that boggles my mind is why so much worship is lavished upon him,he wasn’t a driving force of the genre, he didn’t put out a mind-blowing effort that propelled it into the stratosphere and influenced many genres to come. The man put out two(arguably three) musical efforts worth a shit, two of which were largely due to the talents of Sabbath, and faded into mediocrity to bitch and whine about how everyone sucks and he’s truly talented and ignored across the medium.
I’m fucking sick of him, I’m sick of the praise heaped upon him for doing almost nothing, and now, I’m stuck with Dio-Sabbath as the last Sabbath I’m going to get.
I’m of the “fuck the world” persuasion and grasping the fandom behind Death Metal at the moment.
I do think this is Ozzy, I think Sharon is the architect, she always is, however Ozzy likely wants to lash out at them for going on without him, he often takes things too personally, you need only look through his history of fellow band-mates to see one action that lead to a schism, and Ozzy’s subsequent overreaction.
I’m just giving you a hard time Rev. While I do like Dio’s singing, I think his lyrics are often just goofy. And I half agree with you. I love the first two Dio-Sabbath albums and two of Dio’s solo albums (the first two). But pretty much everything else is schlock.
Hey what about the three albums Dio did with Rainbow? They are fantastic!
I was replying to the other guy, I know you were just poking fun.
Rainbow? I dunno, I didn’t like their stuff, but I was mostly bawing about how he gets all the praise for just not doing that much, not which specific songs I actually like from Dio(You know the two I speak of), or efforts/albums are subjectively “good”.
Ozzy may be the most overrated frontman/vocalist in the history or rock; plus he’s a goddamnn idiot.
^^
that should read, “of rock”
so your telling me their is no chance of an ozzy fronted sabbath at ozzfest?
Ozzy hasn’t made a decent album since No rest for the Wicked.. Obviously its jealousy but there is a couple of Black Sabbath “Clunkers”.. Still why bring it up now. They call the new band “Heaven and Hell” anyway.. Reminds me of when Mccartney wanted to put his name ahead of Lennons in the Beatle songwriting credits..
Quit moaning you tards who actually gives a fuck about some old cunt and his bitch wife anyway.Sharon is so metal that she is actually considering being a judge on some ballroom dancing show in the uk,She must be running out of money.And as for dio yes short fat and sings about dragons but at least he can sing not like half these twats nowadays who can only fucking grunt into a mic.Still you twats here seem to like it Ha Ha..Cheers old boy.
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/29/ozzy-osbourne-releases-statement-on-black-sabbath-suit/
yeah it’s all Sharon. I don’t think Ozzy really gives a shit. He’s got everything he’s ever wanted already.
eh, hem…. I am going to be hated upon for this but…. I agree, I don’t want some shit-stain promotional company to own the rights to SABBATH after Tony kicks the bucket…EXAMPLE……over half of this site’s audience no doubtedly hate’s the BEATLES, yet love ifuckedaskankonce….. I digress, point being..we don’t want some shit-fuck petter ass like Micheal Jackson owning the rights to the Sabbath catalogue much like Jackson owns the Beatles…. and if you cant understand that than you don’t have much respect for how much music means to some folks…..and in fact if that is the case than you should take all of your cd’s that you “love” and shit on them you fucking hypocrite….or better yet , be ambiguous like Amsterdam and just don’t say anything
well…now that I think about it..as long as you backup your cds on the hard-drive, I could imagine it’d be fun to shit on cd’s and then frisbee them at the unsuspecting………
I’d rather see anyone than Sharon Osbourne owning the rights to Sabbath music, which is really what this is about.
….. I know what you mean… that’s why the rights would be owned by more than one interest…. via Geezer and Bill’s estate as well…..it makes sense
fuck ozzy. i almost wish he’d just die already so he’d stop makin an ass of himself.
Saw Heaven and Hell couple times…someone made a joke aboot the name change, and Geezer kinda alluded that they didn’t want to get their pants sued off by Sharon for going on the road with as Sabbath. Something they said in a recent interview musta pissed her off.
I saw Heaven & Hell and PNC Bank and Arts Center, and right after Megadeth played, Eddie Trunk came out and spoke about the Heaven & Hell album, and he said it was to date better then anything he had even heard before. Then he said, he doesnt care what this band wants to be called, or what Sharron wants them to be called, as long as Eddie Trunk is around they will always be known as BLACK SABBATH and I tell you this now, the whole arena went bat sh*t.
Actually, Ozzy Osbourne gave up his LEGAL rights to Black Sabbath in the 1980’s. Tonni Iommi owns Black Sabbath on all legal documentation. Making all of this a horrible attempt to collect money for debts Ozzy is seriously suffering from.
After doing a free Ozzfest, and a MTV show that didnt do so well, and I am not talking about The Osbournes, even though that show was so horrible his own daughter refused to be apart of it. Ozzy has no legal rights to Sabbath. On paper or anywhere else.