Kelly Osbourne has fiercely defended her late father Ozzy Osbourne after Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider waded into a debate about how much of his music he actually wrote. The 41-year-old hit back at Snider after he claimed Ozzy relied on other musicians to write his lyrics, including during his years fronting Black Sabbath and throughout his hugely successful solo career.
Row over songwriting credits
The row began when a user on X brought up claims made by former Ozzy bassist Bob Daisley, who has previously spoken about his contributions to the Prince of Darkness's solo records. Daisley has claimed he wrote the majority of the lyrics across Ozzy's first five solo albums, and received songwriting credits alongside him on records including Blizzard of Ozz and No Rest for the Wicked.
Snider, 71, then jumped into the conversation to argue Daisley's contribution went considerably further than the original post suggested. '"A load"? How about ALL the lyrics? Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics,' he wrote. The rocker went on to point to Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, who served as the band's primary lyricist, as well as Daisley and late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, who also wrote lyrics for Ozzy.
Kelly's response
Kelly was distinctly unimpressed by Snider's contribution to the conversation. Posting a lengthy response on Instagram Stories, she argued that her father's place in music history hardly required defending. 'My father's legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself,' she began. 'His friends, those who worked with him, those who love 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.'
Kelly then turned her attention directly to Snider – and things became considerably less diplomatic. '@deesnider your last hit… not to age myself was the year I was born over 40 years ago,' she wrote. She branded it 'spectacularly classless' for Snider to make comments she felt diminished Ozzy's 'extraordinary abilities and achievements' when her father was no longer alive to respond himself.
Snider's clarification and Kelly's rebuttal
Snider subsequently attempted to clarify his remarks, insisting his comments about songwriting credits were not intended as an attack on the late rocker. 'And again. To be clear, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR OZZY,' he wrote on X. 'He was always lovely to me. @BlackSabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties.'
If Snider was hoping that would bring an end to the increasingly heated exchange, however, Kelly was not convinced. She returned to Instagram Stories to dismiss the explanation as a 'backhanded compliment' and accused him once again of invoking her father's name for publicity. 'Apparently the association is offensive when it comes to royalties, but remarkably convenient when the spotlight starts to fade,' she wrote. Then, borrowing from Will Smith's infamous outburst at the 2022 Oscars, Kelly made her feelings particularly clear. 'Keep my father's name out of your f***ing mouth,' she wrote, before branding Snider 'yesterday's headline begging for tomorrow's attention'. 'Time to face reality it's over dude! You're just bitter old man. The past is over. No amount of attention-seeking will make you relevant to it again.'
The disagreement touches on a long-established distinction between Ozzy's role in his music and the writing of its lyrics. Butler was Black Sabbath's principal lyricist during the band's classic era, while Daisley has spoken extensively about writing lyrics during Ozzy's solo career. That did not stop Ozzy becoming one of the most influential and recognisable figures in heavy metal, however, with his distinctive vocals and persona helping propel Black Sabbath to global fame before he forged an enormously successful career of his own. Ozzy died aged 76 on July 22 after suffering a heart attack at his family home near Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire.
