A heated exchange has unfolded between Kelly Osbourne and Dee Snider, the former frontman of Twisted Sister, following Snider's assertion that legendary rock icon Ozzy Osbourne frequently relied on other individuals to compose his musical lyrics.
Earlier this week, Snider posted on the social media platform X, stating, "Ozzy always had bass players write his lyrics." He further elaborated, identifying bassist Bob Daisley and Motörhead's frontman Lemmy Kilmister as frequent contributors to Osbourne's solo work. Snider also claimed that Geezer Butler was responsible for writing "ALL of Black Sabbath lyrics."
Records from Daisley's official website indicate his claim to have authored the majority of tracks for Ozzy Osbourne's initial five solo albums. Daisley is officially credited as a songwriter on albums such as "Blizzard of Ozz" and "No Rest for the Wicked." During Osbourne's tenure with Black Sabbath, Butler was widely acknowledged as the primary lyricist for the band.
Kelly Osbourne's Forceful Rebuttal
Snider's comments quickly drew a sharp rebuke from Ozzy Osbourne's daughter, Kelly, who responded via her Instagram Stories on Friday.
Kelly Osbourne shared two text-based posts, with one directly addressing Snider's statements. "My father’s legacy as a musician, songwriter, singer and bandleader speaks for itself," Kelly wrote in her initial post. "His friends, those who worked with him, those who love 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."
In a subsequent Instagram story, Kelly characterized Snider’s criticism as "spectacularly classless." She contended that Snider lacked sufficient grounds to speak with authority about her father’s extensive career and lasting impact.
"And if Snider wants to invite comparisons between their careers, that comparison is devastating enough on its own," she wrote.
Kelly Osbourne then drew a direct comparison between the two musicians' careers. "Snider had a brief period of mainstream success more than 40 years ago," she stated. "My father's career spanned nearly six decades — from helping define heavy metal with Black Sabbath to building an extraordinary solo career. His music will continue influencing generations long after all of us are gone."
She suggested that Snider’s critique might be an attempt to regain public attention, while her father’s "name, catalogue and influence" maintain global relevance. Kelly asserted that Ozzy’s accomplishments stand independently, concluding, "My father doesn’t need Dee Snider’s approval to establish his place in music history." She emphasized that "trying to make my father smaller won’t make Dee Snider bigger," arguing that attacking Ozzy’s legacy only highlights the disparity in their respective careers and cultural influence.
Snider Clarifies His Stance
Early Friday morning, Dee Snider returned to X to clarify his position, emphasizing that he holds "nothing but love for Ozzy."
"He was always lovely to me. Black Sabbath changed my life! As a songwriter I can be a little touchy about credit and royalties," Snider wrote.
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, just weeks after performing his final concert with Black Sabbath. His death certificate subsequently listed cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes, with Parkinson’s disease noted as a contributing factor.
