One time Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne is set to sue a former band mate, claiming he illegally appropriated the band’s name.
Hailing from Birmingham, Black Sabbath were unlikely revolutionaries. The group took their inspiration from grimy blues records, drugs and horror movies. With down tuned guitars and Osbourne’s wailing vocals Black Sabbath hit upon a recipe for success.
Lambasted by critics, the group became hugely popular in America. Their single ‘Paranoid’ was lifted from Black Sabbath’s classic second album, and has been cited as one of the most pivotal releases in the development of heavy metal.
Cited as an influence by more than one generation of musicians, Ozzy Osbourne remains a rock icon. Black Sabbath are set to be celebrated later this year with the release of a new ‘Best Of’, covering the year’s Osbourne sang with the band.
Black Sabbath endured a torrid time in the late 70s, with Osbourne being ejected from his own band due to uncontrollable drug and alcohol abuse. Finding solace in the arms of manager Sharon Levy, the pair have become a formidable partnership.
In a suit filed in Manhattan federal court, the singer claims that one time band member Tony Iommi illegally acquired sole ownership of the name ‘Black Sabbath’.
Iommi is being sued for 50 per cent interest in the ‘Black Sabbath’ trademark and a portion of his profits from use of the name, according to the New York Post.
The suit also claims that Osbourne’s vocal style was one of the primary reasons for Black Sabbath’s enormous success. Arguing that they became less popular once he left in 1980, the suit maintains that the singer should have an interest in any trademark activities.
Black Sabbath replaced Osbourne with one time Rainbow singer Ronnie Dio. Despite his pedigree Dio could not match the success Ozzy Osbourne enjoyed, and left the band in 1982.
After this the band used a succession of vocalist, none of whom enjoyed that success Osbourne gained. In a notorious early 80s incident, the group ordered a scale model of Stonehenge but made a mistake with the measurements.
Receiving an enormous model, Black Sabbath realised that they had ordered a structure measured in metres instead of feet. Bet you thought This Is Spinal Tap was a comedy…
Tony Iommi has yet to comment on the case.
