Ozzy Sued Again For ‘Crazy’ Royalties

“Crazy Train,” written by Daisley, Osbourne and late guitarist Randy Rhoads, was at the center of a 2002 case where Daisley accused Osbourne of underpayment; the case was tossed from a Los Angeles Federal Court. Daisley’s attorney told NME an audit “shows that [Osbourne] was systematically shortchanging Mr. Daisley” and is owed $2 million.

Osbourne would have none of it.

“For the past 36 years, Mr. Daisley has been receiving biannual royalty statements and checks from Blizzard Music totaling in the millions of dollars, which have been routinely cashed,” Osbourne’s reps said in a statement. “Mr. Daisley has audited Blizzard Music accounts over the years using several different auditing firms who found no discrepancies. He has previously filed lawsuits in the U.K. and the U.S. and have lost on each occasion.

“We understand that Mr. Daisley is now in retirement and that these funds are his main source of income, so it is his right to be diligent with his money, but after 36 years, this is tantamount to harassment.”

The statement goes on to say Daisley has an “unhealthy personal obsessions” toward Osbourne’s success. Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake, who with Osbourne and Rhoads comprised the band, successfully sued in 1986 for credit and royalties for their work on the seminal album Diary Of A Madman even though Daisley continued to play in the band, and write songs with Ozzy, until after the release of 1991’s No More Tears.

Later, when Daisley and Kerslake again attempted to sue for royalties, Osbourne’s management attempted to skirt the issue by having Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Faith No More’s Mike Bordin re-record bass and drums for the reissues of Blizzard  Of  Ozz (which includes “Crazy Train”) and Diary.