Sharon Osborne brands Ozzy Osbourne's former manager a "pig" saying "I don’t care what the f**k your name is"

A music producer who is planning to release some of Black Sabbath’s earliest music has faced serious backlash from Ozzy Osbourne’s wife Sharon. Music promoter Jim Simpson was the group’s first manager when they were still known as Earth 57 years ago.

Mr Simpson revealed in June how he was set to release an album of unheard tracks by the band. However, Sharon Osbourne has threatened to sue him after becoming embroiled in a bitter row over the long-lost recordings.

The former X Factor judge has urged fans not to buy the The Legendary Lost Tapes compilation after disputing the legal ownership of the recordings, accusing Mr Simpson of exploiting her husband's death.

In an explosive rant on The Osbournes Podcast, the 72-year-old branded him a "pig", adding: "I don’t care what the f**k your name is." In response, Mr Simpson blasted Sharon for the "inaccurate, unfair and potentially defamatory" comments she made.

Mr Simpson, now in his 80s, says he paid for the recording sessions back in 1969 when the Prince of Darkness, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward were still known as Earth. He has now restored and remastered each track but has delayed its release following Sharon’s threats to sue.

Speaking on the podcast hosted by son Jack, who has just entered the I'm A Celeb jungle, Sharon said: "He says he paid the bill for the studio, which he says was £500. He would have never had that money to pay for a studio in those days.

“He finds this little record label, which the guy who runs it has gone seven times bankrupt, which is fine. And he does a deal with this little record label to take the tapes and now distribute them.

"We found out and we have been going back and forth saying we will sue you, you cannot do this. 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 per cent of everything for himself.

“I’m sorry, I don’t care what the f**k your name is or where you come from. You are a pig, you want it all, you’re trying to get away with this. 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 do this to Sabbath again.

“I'm putting it out there to every Sabbath fan. Please don’t buy them. Don’t support him because he’s taking 100 per cent. He’s lying and saying he will give money to charity. He’s never said what charity or how much money.

"Let it go to a proper record company and be properly distributed, properly produced. You will get money. Don’t do this. How dare you."

Mr Simpson, who still runs the Big Bear Music company, replied: "It’s such a shame Sharon has decided to go all out on the attack without sitting down to talk about this. It’s also very unfair of her to make such inaccurate and potentially defamatory comments.

“At the time, Earth were just the newest of the bands I managed. During those years, I regularly recorded and paid for recording sessions with bands I managed or played in. I’d already had a hit single with Locomotive, and record deals with major labels like EMI Harvest and Parlophone.

"How can Sharon possibly know what I could afford back then? The fact is that I did pay for the Earth recordings, and they belong to me. I approached members of the band about this on September 24, 2024. The message I got back was that they didn’t want it released and wanted nothing to do with it.

"This included two very threatening emails from Sharon. But the band had every chance to be involved.”

Responding to Sharon’s claims on the podcast Mr Simpson intends to keep all profits for himself, he said: “Sharon is very mistaken. I wanted all band members to receive royalties from the album in the usual way, and I’m still more than happy for that to happen.”

He also rebuked claims he is being dishonest about donating any proceeds to charity, adding: “This is so unfair and potentially defamatory. I have correspondence with St Basils, a charity for homeless young people in Birmingham, dated 21 January 2025, which clearly states that if Black Sabbath refuse to accept royalties, then we will pay them to this charity.”

In the podcast, Sharon also belittles Mr Simpson’s role in the founding and development of Black Sabbath, and claims: “For the first 10 years of their career, they made millions and never got a penny.”

Mr Simpson said: “Under my management, we renamed Earth as Black Sabbath and they became one of the biggest names in heavy rock music, touring extensively and appearing on radio and TV. I was manager when we released their seminal debut eponymous album Black Sabbath in February 1970 and followed it up with the equally adored Paranoid in September 1970.

"Both charted worldwide and sold millions, with hit single Paranoid reaching number 4 in the charts. While under my management, which ended in September 1970, they received proper payments.”

Sharon goes on to say she has threatened to sue Mr Simpson if he goes ahead and releases the album but he still says he's willing to discuss a resolution. He said: “In my email to Sharon on July 4 2025, when she was in Birmingham, I suggested it might be fruitful for her and I to meet for coffee to discuss this issue.

"If they want to strike a deal with me to launch this album, I would therefore be delighted to discuss that with them. My reason for launching this album now is because it will become a crucial segment of music history.

"It contains recordings that clearly demonstrate what fine music Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill were producing right from the very beginning in their pre-Sabbath says. It shows how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were already remarkable musicians when they existed as Earth, and that they fully deserved all the success that was to come their way as Black Sabbath.

“If we can finally release this album, it will be a great gift to the music world and to millions of Sabbath fans.”