Osbourne lawsuit lands in Douglas

MINDEN — Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” is making a stop in Douglas County District Court in Minden after the guitarist on the album filed suit seeking more than $2 million in royalties.

Bassist Robert Daisley filed the lawsuit in Minden on Monday against Osbourne and Blizzard Music Ltd., the company in charge of distributing royalties for the hit albums “Blizzard of Ozz,” and “Diary of a Madman.”

Daisley said he’s one-third author of “Crazy Train” which hit No. 9 on the pop charts in 1980.

The song has been popular at sporting events ever since. Daisley was honored by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for having the most-played song in the United States in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Blizzard Music Ltd. is a Nevada corporation formed in 1981 and based in Stateline.

In a statement to several media outlets, Osbourne is denying the accusations in the lawsuit.

According to Daisley’s lawsuit, the company collected 15 percent of his portion of the royalties he was owed. He said he’d never agreed to that and the fees were never accounted for in his twice annual royalty statements.

In 2014 an audit conducted at Daisley’s behest revealed Blizzard was taking 15 percent before it sent on his royalty check, according to the lawsuit.

Daisley said he’s terminating the contract effective May 30, 2017.

He said he’d received royalties for both albums and their songs, but he’s never seen an accounting of how much money was collected for use of the song in other mediums.

Osbourne is president, treasurer and a director of Blizzard, both in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom.

Daisley, guitarist Randy Rhoads, and drummer Lee Kerslake joined Osbourne after he left Black Sabbath in 1979.

Daisley asserts he and Rhoads wrote most of the album, with Osborne providing vocal melodies.

Since it was released, “Blizzard of Ozz” has sold 6 million copies.

The band originally was called Blizzard of Ozz, but a management decision was made to release it under Osbourne’s name alone.

In addition to playing with Osbourne through the 1980s and 1990s, Daisley also performed with Black Sabbath and Uriah Heep.