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Black Sabbath Reclaims 1969 Demo Tapes, Plans Future Release

4/25/2026

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Summary

Sabbath Reclaims Tapes

Sharon Osbourne announced Sabbath regained ownership of their 1969 Earth demo recordings after settling with manager Jim Simpson.
The tapes, Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, belong to Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Sharon Osbourne warned in November 2025 that the band opposed Jim Simpson's July 2025 release and threatened legal action.
The band will decide how to use the material and release it.

Summary

Simpson Releases Demos

Jim Simpson, who is nearing 90, scheduled a July 25 2025 release of the 1969 Earth demos through Big Bear Records.
Simpson personally financed the 1969 recording sessions and later restored the tapes.
Simpson offered the band a revenue share for any release, which the band declined.
Simpson said the demos are historically important and feature a blues-oriented sound unlike Black Sabbath’s later heavy-metal style.

History

Historical Context

In 1968 the Rolling Stones signed a contract with Allen Klein’s ABKCO that gave the company a 50 % royalty share of their recordings. That agreement left the band without control of their 1960s catalog, a situation highlighted when ABKCO issued the Hot Rocks 1964–1971 compilation in December 1971. The legacy of that deal still shapes modern rights disputes.

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Sabbath Reclaims Tapes

Sharon Osbourne announced Sabbath regained ownership of their 1969 Earth demo recordings after settling with manager Jim Simpson.
The tapes, Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, belong to Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Sharon Osbourne warned in November 2025 that the band opposed Jim Simpson's July 2025 release and threatened legal action.
The band will decide how to use the material and release it.

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