Blizzard of Ozz - Controversy

Controversy

The song "Suicide Solution" has been criticised for its lyrics that were alleged to be a direct cause in the October 1984 suicide of John McCollum, a nineteen year-old fan who shot himself while listening to Osbourne's song. The boy's parents sued Osbourne and CBS Records for "encouraging self-destructive behavior" in young persons who were "especially susceptible" to dangerous influences (McCollum et al. v. CBS, Inc., et al.). In court in his defence Osbourne said when the song was being written the words "Wine is fine but whiskey's quicker..." came to him suddenly and were a reflection not on the merit of suicide but on the death of AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott who drank cheap wine and whiskey until his death from alcohol-related causes just months before Blizzard of Ozz was released. Bob Daisley, who wrote additional lyrics, said he wrote the song about Osbourne's own abuse of alcohol and drugs. The McCollums' complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the First Amendment protected Osbourne's right to free artistic expression.

In 1986, Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake sued Osbourne for unpaid royalties, eventually winning songwriting credits on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. A 2002 reissue was made of these albums replacing the original bass and drum tracks of Daisley and Kerslake with new ones by Osbourne's then-current drummer Mike Bordin and bassist Robert Trujillo. Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon, explained the re-recordings in a press conference: "Because of Daisley and Kerslake's abusive and unjust behaviour, Ozzy wanted to remove them from these recordings." Daisley and Kerslake denied the allegations and continued to battle for royalties for their work on Blizzard of Ozz. In 2003, Daisley and Kerslake's lawsuit was dismissed by the United States District Court in Los Angeles. This dismissal was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. With regard to the reissue, Ozzy stated to The Pulse of Radio, reiterating a conversation with Sharon, "You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back." The 30th Anniversary release of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman contains the original recordings, not the 2002 reissues.