BLACK SABBATH's EARTH Demos to Be Released Under Band Ownership

Jim Simpson, the original manager of BLACK SABBATH, has confirmed that the band's early EARTH demos will be officially released under the ownership of the original members. The recordings, which date back to 1969 when the band performed under the name EARTH, were initially planned for release in July 2025 via Simpson's Birmingham blues/jazz label Big Bear Records. However, legal threats from Sharon Osbourne halted the project, prompting negotiations that concluded in April.

Simpson stated that he approached the original members of BLACK SABBATH on September 24, 2024, to include them in the release process, but received a unified response that the band did not want the material released. Despite this, Simpson has since arranged for the recordings to be transferred to the band members, with all four original members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—now owning the rights.

The album, titled "Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes," features nine tracks, including three blues covers—"Blue Suede Shoes," "Evenin," and "Wee Wee Baby"—and two versions of a track called "Song For Jim." One version features Tony Iommi on guitar, the other on flute. The material includes a rare flute performance by Iommi and additional tracks such as "Free Man," "Wicked World," and "Warning."

Sharon Osbourne confirmed on "The Osbournes" podcast that the legal dispute was settled, with the band now holding ownership of the recordings. She described the material as historically significant, noting the importance of the original photos and the band's early development in Birmingham. The full release is now expected to proceed, with the band set to determine how the recordings will be presented to the public. The project is seen as a vital historical document of BLACK SABBATH's formative years.