Metal Anarchy

Kelly Osbourne has blasted Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) over claims he made about her late father Ozzy Osbourne. She says “there’s something spectacularly classless” about his comments.

Snider initially had the following exchanges with fans:

Exchange #1:

Fan: “I just read Ozzy’s ‘Last Rites’ and was stunned(if true) that Lemmy made more money off the four songs he wrote for ‘No more Tears’ then from ALL his Motorhead tunes.

Reliable source of Ozzy himself. Insane, if true(Although it was a massive album).

Speaking Lemmy sounds fun”

Snider: “I know too much about the truth behind the scenes. Let’s just say that Sharon doesn’t like to share.”

Exchange #2:

Fan: “Bob Daisley says he’d written a load of lyrics, then was told they weren’t needed for NMT. Then he got sacked for the final time.”

Snider: “‘A load’? How about ALL the lyrics? Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics. @geezerbutler wrote ALL of @BlackSabbath lyrics. Daisley wrote lyrics for the first two solo albums (I’m pretty sure he was paid to write on other records but not credited) & Lemmy wrote lyrics.”

Exchange #3:

Fan: “I love the whole Black Sabbath/Ozzy production. So much respect for everyone involved. I stan a frontman that doesn’t write his songs, but has such a way to bring them to the people. What a blessing to all! Ozzy, the ancient warlock”

Snider: “Many singers don’t write their own songs but make them their own.”

This led Kelly to respond:

“My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself. His friends, those who worked with him, those who loved him and millions of fans around the world that still continue to buy his records know exactly what he meant, what he contributed and what he leaves behind. His legacy will live on eternally.”

She later added:

“@deesnider your last hit… not to age myself was the year I was born over 40 years ago. There’s something spectacularly classless about Dee Snider trying to diminish my father Ozzy Osbourne and his extraordinary abilities and achievements when he is no longer here to challenge his allegations, particularly when Snider cannot claim to know the private reality of my father’s life simply by looking in from the outside or from hearsay from a delusional man with a vendetta against my father. When to the best of my knowledge they were maybe in the same room once if even at all.

And if Snider wants to invite comparisons between their careers, that comparison is devastating enough on its own.

Snider had a brief period of mainstream success more than 40 years ago. My father’s career spanned nearly six decades — from helping define heavy metal with Black Sabbath to building an extraordinary solo career. His music will continue influencing generations long after all of us are gone.

It’s difficult not to wonder whether Snider’s attempt to belittle my father is simply a way of getting people talking about him again. Because musically, the music industry moved on from Snider’s commercial peak decades ago, while my father’s name, catalogue and influence still remains globally relevant.

My father doesn’t need Dee Snider’s approval to establish his place in music history.

And trying to make my father smaller won’t make Dee Snider bigger. It only reminds everyone of the enormous difference between their legacies and further proves just how irrelevant Snider is to the music industry and society as a whole. However I would like to thank you Dee Snider for allowing the world to see how truly desperate he really is!”

Snider then tried to smooth things over:

“To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY. He was always lovely to me. @BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties.”

However, Kelly wasn’t having it:

“A backhanded compliment dressed up as ‘nothing but love,’ followed—predictably—by another use of my father’s name to get yourself some attention. There’s something spectacularly ironic about someone complaining about credit while still borrowing his name for relevance. Apparently the association is offensive when it comes to royalties, but remarkably convenient when the spotlight starts to fade.

So, in the immortal spirit of Will Smith keep my father’s name out your fucking mouth. You are nothing but yesterday’s headline begging for tomorrow’s attention. Time to face reality, it’s over dude! you’re just bitter [a] old man. The past is over. No amount of attention seeking will make you relevant to it again…”