Kelly Osbourne has hit back at Dee Snider after the Twisted Sister frontman questioned aspects of Ozzy Osbourne’s songwriting legacy, accusing him of attempting to diminish her late father’s achievements.
The dispute began on social media after Snider discussed the songwriting credits attached to Ozzy’s solo career and Black Sabbath material, particularly the contributions of musicians including bassist Bob Daisley and Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister.
Responding to a discussion about Daisley’s contribution to Ozzy’s early solo records, Snider wrote (per NME):
“A load? How about ALL the lyrics? Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics. [Black Sabbath bassist] @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.”
Kelly fights back
Kelly subsequently responded in a series of social media posts, initially defending her father without naming Snider.
“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 directly addressed Snider, taking aim at his own career while accusing him of trying to diminish Ozzy when he was no longer able to respond himself.
“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’s no longer here to challenge his allegations,” she wrote.
Kelly also questioned whether Snider had any meaningful knowledge of Ozzy’s private life or creative process.
“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.”
She then delivered the most pointed line of the exchange.
“And if Snider wants to invite comparisons between their careers, that comparison is devastating enough on its own.”
Snider subsequently attempted to clarify his position, insisting that his comments were not intended as an attack on Ozzy himself.
“And again. 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.”
The following day, Snider doubled down on his distinction between Ozzy’s legacy and the songwriting credits, describing the late singer as a “metal god, icon, legend, game changer” while maintaining his position about who wrote the lyrics.
The argument comes more than a year after Ozzy’s death and as the debate surrounding his enormous musical legacy continues.
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