AceShowbiz - The longstanding legal conflict concerning the early demo recordings of Black Sabbath has finally been resolved, resulting in the band members reclaiming ownership of the tracks they recorded in 1969 when they were known as Earth.

In June 2025, just weeks prior to the band’s End of the Beginning concert and the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, the original manager of the band, Jim Simpson, announced plans to release the Earth demos. These recordings were made by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward at Zella Studios in Birmingham, England, months before the group changed their name to Black Sabbath.

The release, titled The Legendary Lost 1969 Tapes, was scheduled for July 2025. However, the launch never took place as Sharon Osbourne revealed a legal battle was underway between the band and Simpson regarding the ownership rights to the recordings.

In a July statement, Sharon Osbourne expressed that the band opposed the release, emphasizing that the members had not even heard the demos despite promises from Simpson to provide copies. She warned that Black Sabbath would take legal action in both the UK and the US if the release proceeded without the band’s consent.

After months of dispute, Sharon confirmed on The Osbournes podcast that the issue has been settled. The original four members of Black Sabbath have regained control over the Earth recordings, according to reports from Blabbermouth.

This resolution allows the band to safeguard their early work and control how these historic demos are handled moving forward, closing a contentious chapter in the legacy of one of heavy metal’s most influential groups.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.