new Lee interview with Bravewords.com

[electricmombie]

Thanks for putting up that Lee Kerslake interview. It's an insightful, great read.

He is right about one thing: the manager works for the artist: not the other way around.

All of the ongoing drama between Sharon and Ozzy and Bob and Lee is beyond sad still.

[shred1]

I think to really understand what it's like to have someone else claim credit for your work and then to not even pay you properly, you have to have had it happen to you.
Why am I so passionate about Bob's (and to a lesser degree) Lee's situation? Because I've been ripped off too.

No your opinion is not skewed due to personal experience at all

[hansolo]

Lee and Bob were screwed. They played on these classic albums and today aren't still rectified. There is no argument on how bad they were screwed. It's bad. Just look at "Thirty years after the Blizzard." Any mention of Lee or Bob? Diary?

[hansolo]

What say you haters? Lee and Bob deserved it? F"U

[shred1]

What say you haters? Lee and Bob deserved it? F"U

Nice. That post is 100% venom, 0% actual content. Sounds like you just wanna argue, but are hard pressed to offer any real insights, at all. Just emotion, or anger.

You know, I posted some info that offers some insight on what MIGHT have happened in terms of the contracts (or lack of) in this thread, and I get Fuck You? I put some THOUGHT into it.

You are in denial.

Here is another cold hard fact, just for you Hans....

Ozzy 'likes' on Facebook: 5,159,854
Bob 'likes' on Facebook: 2,750

Not my opinion, just facts. The general public has spoken. Does that mean there are 5 million Bob haters? No.
But I am confident you will spin it that way.

Something like 25 have signed up on a petition to get Lee and Bob their gold discs. Have you signed up?

You should get on it.

cheers

[halo8th]

What say you haters? Lee and Bob deserved it? F"U

Nice. That post is 100% venom, 0% actual content. Sounds like you just wanna argue, but are hard pressed to offer any real insights, at all. Just emotion, or anger.

You know, I posted some info that offers some insight on what MIGHT have happened in terms of the contracts (or lack of) in this thread, and I get Fuck You? I put some THOUGHT into it.

You are in denial.

Here is another cold hard fact, just for you Hans....

Ozzy 'likes' on Facebook: 5,159,854
Bob 'likes' on Facebook: 2,750

Not my opinion, just facts. The general public has spoken. Does that mean there are 5 million Bob haters? No.
But I am confident you will spin it that way.

Something like 25 have signed up on a petition to get Lee and Bob their gold discs. Have you signed up?

You should get on it.

cheers

who gives a damn how many "likes" someone has on f-ing facebook? And you're right....the general public has spoken...loud and clear. They spoke very loudly about those b-shit "reissues" with the drums and bass parts replaced. Those weren't just "band forum" junkies. It was everywhere. They were pissed and it opened alot of eyes about the unethical ways of one Sharon Osbourne and the horrendous, garbage of a human being she is. And even though they PLAYED on the f-ing Diary album, she HAD to put Rudy and Tommy's picture in the album jacket? Seriously?
Like last week. Those Osbournes just HAD to spend $10,000 on a new puppy. Seriously? They can't pay deserved royalties, but can buy a ten thousand dollar goddamn dog? And why would she say "over my dead body" when just asked to pay the royalties as they should? Thats the kind of human being you're dealing with.
I agree with Lee in this. She worked for the band at the time...not the other way around. That was the 1st sign of things to come and many, many people to get screwed along the way. THAT is a fact.

[shred1]

Halo, did you read the story I posted about Don Arden?

[shred1]

Who cares about Facebook numbers? Well, they are an unbiased measurement of ones popularity, at the very least. Agreed? If every 'like' was a dollar, would that illustrate the point better?

The text I provided in this thread SUGGESTS that Bob and Lee didn't have signed contracts, even after Diary was completed. The text is from Bob's site and Bob personally endorses the source.

I mentioned Ozzy and Sharon brought Bob back for two reasons, his creative input, and to stall his legal proceedings. That story rings true, as one of the reasons Bob and Lee lost there case is they RAN OUT OF TIME. Their statute of limitations expired.

If so, it is/was the biggest mistake of his career. Lee's biggest mistake was challenging Sharon Osbourne. He admits it. The response of 'over my dead body' surprises me..... NOT!

Read the Don Arden article. Please.

[electricmombie]

Something about all of this hit me last night as I was walking about somewhere:

Even If Sharon and Ozzy were to mend fences with Bob and Lee, it would most likely start a precedent where others who have worked for the Osbournes would likewise begin coming out of the woodwork to get their fair share back.

It's not as if Sharon hasn't operated like this before (and not to put it all on Sharon. Ozzy is her husband. He's in on it all too, to an extent). I think it's equal parts pride, ego, fear of having to face all of the other times business corrupted someone's better judgement over how they've treated people who have worked for them.. It's a Lot to live down, and to face.

I get it that Sharon grew up with a pitbull of a father, so she was bound to have that rub off on her as a managerial style: especially so being a woman in the game thirty years ago.

If she were to resolve stuff with Lee and Bob, it would probably then leave it open (maybe) for Phil Soussan, maybe Jake E. Lee, or anyone who may have worked for Ozzy and Sharon and got somehow gypped out of royalties...

Too much past history to face there, I think. I don't know how anyone can live with the more human angle of gypping someone, but what do I know? I like Sharon and Ozzy aside from this aspect of them.

Anyway, yeah: if they were to settle and find an amicable middle ground with Bob and Lee, it would leave them open to having to deal with anyone else they may have mistreated in a similar manner.

[whoopiecat]

Some good points about what a neutral party like Machat had to say concerning that situation. It's obvious that they were selling the group based on Ozzy's name, which was a smart thing to do, given his image from the past decade in Sabbath.
I actually attempted to contact him thru FB last year, as he made a claim in his book that Don had filmed concerts of his various acts he was looking to sell, one of course being the BOO Band, which Steve recognized as the jewel of the lot, as it was from the Rhoads era...sadly, he never bothered to reply. I wonder if this was the alleged film someone attempted to steal from Don's home a while back.
It would have been interesting had Don stood by Bob and Lee. Unfortunate that he went to the grave not realizing that his daughter only made up with him to keep from losing all of that revenue. Maybe he did and expected it, as he taught her everything she knows.
I guess the important thing to him at that point was finally being able to meet his grandchildren before his mind and health slipped away completely.
Someday, I'd like to hear from David Arden. I'd bet he'd have some interesting things to say, given he was there from the band's beginning, and at least up until Bernie's time with the group.
As far as the FB popularity contest, how many of those folks "like" Ozzy's page just because a friend suggests it, or because Ozzy is a household name, or watch his wife on television?
How many are actual fans that would own an album such as Ultimate Sin or Ozzmosis as opposed to just his greatest hits?
I'd think it safe to say only a small percentage could tell you who Bernie Torme or Joe Holmes are.
But, I see what you're saying. Ozzy is more popular, and Bob's numbers pale in comparison, but I would think all of those folks could paint a fairly accurate picture of Bob's discography.
I think anyone hired to play in the group after the Mach I lineup would have a really tough time building any sort of case, as they weren't hired as writing partners like Rhoads/Daisley/Kerslake were.
Phil would probably be the only one with a case. I'm sure it was spelled out pretty plain from the get go how the pie gets divided in the Ozzy camp...take it or leave it.
As a funny aside, my mother-in-law watches that foolish chatterbox show "The View" that Sharon is a part of, and I guess a couple of weeks ago, she told the rest of the ladies that she and Ozzy were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. Odd considering that particular milestone is a year away.
I guess it's her business if she wants to re-write her own history.

~T.

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Tom some very valid points mentioned in that post. Ozzy will always have the upper hand as being more of a known celebrity then a musician. the amount of fans he won over during his 3-4 series of the Osbournes was enough for him to be recognised without any new fans hearing a note of his music. How many bass players/writers get serious recognition ? unless your a writer and composer like Paul McCartney, Glenn Hughes or Phil Lynott. They are important in any band but the main man will always rule the stage.

[stealaway]

Very, very good interview!!!

[Silver Rhoads]

Everytime I think about seeing Tommy and Rudy in the Diary photos, it still perplexes me and shocks me. Then I think about it more and I realize Sharon wasn't the only one to deceive the public that way. Paul and Gene of KISS have many times told the world that Peter and Ace played on something when they did not. They did it many times ... even if they didn't remove their tracks completely. I don't care if Bob and Lee had poor judgement or not. Even to this day to have their photos removed for the boxed set. It's just a horrible mess.

[electricmombie]

I still pisses me off some that the 'Diary' reissue still hasn't been given proper justice as far as performance credits on the studio album. It's just f***ing classless and wrong on just about every general level going. It's petty, a useless exercise to flaunt clout (Sharon) and an excuse for Ozzy to say he didn't know, or whatever he could say or mumble about any of it. Obviously, Sharon is a bit crazy to an extent. You'd have to be if you can somehow coexist within yourself being crooked and greedy like that. If she had to spend 20 years being estranged from her late father, then why not work on not emulating his not-so-admirable (but sadly, somehow still effective) managerial and personality style? It's almost too late in the game for Sharon to do an about face and suddenly begin to do right and just to former personnel..

It annoys me that I have to compromise my former, longstanding good impression of Sharon being a good manager for Ozzy when she sticks it to people who are very much responsible for her husband's and her own success: the material on the first two solo albums.

Sure, I don't mind hearing "Bark At The Moon", "Killer Of Giants", "No More Tears" and/or "I Don't Want To Change The World" live, but, let's be real here: Ozzy's bread and butter will Always Be these first two albums. Usually 4 or 5 'Blizzard' songs still played live, a pair here and there from 'Diary'.. Essentially, have his usual 13-15 song live set.

I get it that Sharon would probably not give That Much of a s***, as she basically came into the picture right between the recording of 'Blizzard' and 'Diary'.. Ozzy was there for all of it, and still the bad business practices and lack of working gratitude to who helped Ozzy become the name that he is remain trodden upon. It's f***ing bulls**t, really. Shame on anyone for being ignorant because they can. But, that and this have all been said and most likely said better by many others before and after me.

I feel sorry for them, actually; The Osbournes. They don't seem to have any idea how much better they could be handling everything if they just began from the inside-out as human beings and recognized what is: without those songs written and recorded with Ozzy, Bob, Randy and Lee, there'd be no foundation for an Ozzy solo period. The best material of his solo career remains these two records. Getting caught up in the spoils of being the chief name and draw still doesn't satisfy the real issue, which is being unethical, ungrateful and abusing your power because you can.

Especially now at this point: Ozzy and Sharon are omnipresent celebrity figures. There's nothing left for either of them to prove about their clout and celebrity, so wouldn't it make the most sense to swing back inward a bit and make a bit of right happen? They Had To restore 'Blizzard' and 'Diary'. No one wants those s***ty re-recordings! 'Diary' in particular is sloppier performance-wise. I don't even blame Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin for it: re-recording to basically a lead vocal and guitars as a rhythm section on a much-loved, pre-existing album: it's not easy.

Ahh, I've written a lot lol. Moral or sermon?

I wish Sharon and Ozzy would realize once and for all that many of these people they continue to gypp are indeed largely responsible for their ongoing successes today.

But, that's not reality the way they know it, or in any way anyone else involved (former personnel and fans) will be getting anytime soon.

It's never too late to make right on something, if you're actually sincere and determined enough.

Sharon? Nevermind the $10,000 puppy. Sent that puppy of a payment payable to Robert Daisley and Lee Kerslake, as well as the estate of Randy Rhoads.

Cheers/Thanks for your time everyone.

[shred1]

Just stumbled upon this is an excerpt from a December 2009 interview with Lee Kerslake by Ville Krannila & Kimmo Tattari on KK Downing's Steel Mill site.
If this is old news to some, I apologize in advance. It is new to me. I believe if one reads between the lines here, glimpses of Lee's gregarious personality can be identified. In my OPINION, this may be considered as a small piece of evidence as to why Lee 'rubbed Sharon' the wrong way. While Bob seems rather unassuming in his interviews, Lee sounds like he might have a bit of an ego going on. I read it as such, anyway. Obviously, you may not see it the same way. Note too, he identifies Mr. Arden as a crook, before he signed with him...

After you left Heep, they recorded one album in 1980 without you..
Yeah they did “Conquest” and I was doing my own solo album. Then I got a phone call from an agent for Black Sabbath in Germany. He said: “I’ve got a friend of yours, Ozzy Osbourne, who wants you to join his band.” I thought about it for a while and then asked “Well, who’s their manager?” And I found out it was Don Arden and thought: “Oh my God, the crook, the villain!” (laughs)
But I told them I would audition for them and they would audition for me and we’d see how we get on. I had never heard Randy (Rhoads) at that point. So we set up studios for rehearsal and as I didn’t know any of the songs I was given “Crazy Train” to learn before. And Randy started playing the riff and I went: “Whoaah! Yeah!!” (laughs). I thought to myself what a guitarist! It was mind boggling. Within two weeks we were in studio recording the first album. They had already written most of it but I put in a lot of arrangements, a lot of ideas, riffs and parts. 

With Ozzy Osbourne, you recorded two of his most classic solo albums: “Blizzard Of Ozz” and “Diary Of A Madman”.. 
Yes and I wrote the songs on “Diary Of A Madman” with Randy and Bob (Daisley). Then my mother fell seriously ill so I had to leave and take care of her. But that was a great time and those were great records. “Flyin’ High Again” was one of my ideas, “Over The Mountain” was another. The basic tracks were just Bob’s words, my vocals – though some of the words I wrote – and Randy’s playing. It was unreal. And then we got Don Airey to come in and do the keyboards. Soon after I was back out on the road with Uriah Heep in America. And suddenly the album was number 10 on the charts! We’d done it again!

Being on the road with Ozzy must have been an experience since he was a quite wild man? 
Yes he was wild guy, but I was only with him on the English tour. I didn’t go to America because before that we had a big fight with his wife Sharon and she got rid of me and Bob. It was really unfair but there you go, and that was that. And I’m really glad in one way because I probably would have been on that plane with Randy. I used to love flying, so I could have been killed. I wish Randy had never been on that plane either, I wish he never would have stayed with Ozzy. Because he was going to leave Ozzy, he was going to study classical music and would have wanted to work with me and Bob. And that would have been brilliant. But I didn’t know that until later on.

Still do you have great memories about being part of those two classic albums?  
Yes, I wrote a lot of them. I remember every minute. I remember there was a huge piano in the middle of the studio, I played something with it and Randy picked it up and a song would come out of it. And other times Randy would do a solo and I’d come up with an idea for it. We all helped each other out.

You returned to Uriah Heep for 1982’s “Abominog,” which was a heavy record.. 
Yeah, that was a great album. Geffen Records wanted Uriah Heep in America and that album was ready to go, but they didn’t want Gerry Bron. And Gerry just sniffed it. The album would have gone to top-10 but the way it went, it just died. It was such a shame. That album was a return back to real heavy rock.