Sharon Osbourne Statement

[New Rose]

Sharon Osbourne has issued the following "open letter" to IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood:

"Rod,

"I found your statement to be completely void of the facts that led up to Saturday's show. Your press release was written like an old-time '80s manager, trying to use every opportunity to try and sell the record and the upcoming shows instead of just dealing with the truth.

"These are the facts:

"You claim to have been in the business for 30 years and have been to hundreds of gigs, but can you tell me how many times you have heard of an opening band talking sh*t about the headliner during their set and getting away with it? Not only is Ozzy the headliner, but he is also the man who is paying your band $185,000 a night. We gave IRON MAIDEN a chance to play to the biggest audiences they have ever played to in the U.S.A. We accommodated them with their stage set and at the band's request we even scoured the audience for people wearing IRON MAIDEN t-shirts and brought them down front during their set to make them feel more comfortable. Tell me, what other headliner would do that? Unfortunately those gestures were completely lost on Bruce Dickinson who for over 20 shows continually berated Ozzy and Ozzfest during his set.

"Over the last 10 years of Ozzfest, we have worked with over 200 bands. None of them were ever disrespectful to Ozzy or any of the other bands on the tour. But for 20 shows we were forced to hear Dickinson's nightly outbursts from the stage: 'When we come back to America, we'll be back with a proper sound system,' or "We won't be playing the same old songs every night (like SABBATH),' 'We don't need a teleprompter (like Ozzy)' and 'We don't need a reality show to be legit (again, like Ozzy).' Night after night we heard his complaints from the stage about how 'corporate' the venues were and how 'outrageous' the ticket prices were. Strangely enough, if you want to get a general admission ticket to stand in a field to see IRON MAIDEN at Reading this weekend it's going to cost you over $120. I would say that's very pricey, wouldn't you?

"When an artist comes on stage and says he's not playing the 55 minutes that he was allotted and that he is going to play for as long as he wants (cutting into SABBATH's set), I'm not going to let that happen. Dickinson was under the delusion that the 46,000 people in San Bernardino had come only to see IRON MAIDEN. He even proclaimed 'This is not the Ozzfest, This is Maidenfest.' I guess no one told him that we have an audience of 45,000 to 53,000 people every year in San Bernardino.

"Here's another fact for you. Bruce Dickinson's own band was embarrassed by him. IRON MAIDEN leader, Steve Harris, even came to Ozzy's dressing room to apologize to Ozzy for Bruce's behavior before MAIDEN took the stage in San Bernardino.

"It's shameful that Dickinson felt he had the right to air his issues publicly onstage every night as a way to boost his own ego. Dickinson never once came up to Ozzy and me to voice any concerns. He certainly had the opportunity to do so every night. If he wasn't able to show us that courtesy then why should I give him the respect to air my grievances with him in private? Ozzy's only interaction with Dickinson was on the first night of the tour. Ozzy, being the true gentleman that he is, passed Bruce in the hall and said 'Good luck and have a great show.' Unfortunately Dickinson felt the need to turn his back to Ozzy and walked away. Frankly, Dickinson got what he deserved. We had to listen to his bullsh*t for five straight weeks. He only had to suffer a couple of eggs on the head.

"On closing, yes, I did cut IRON MAIDEN's sound. This is the way I look at it: Ozzfest is our tour. We built it into something that's lasted 10 years now. We've been responsible for breaking many new bands and resurrecting the careers of former superstars. Part of our success stems from the fact that when a band is on Ozzfest we treat them with nothing but kindness and respect just as if we had invited them into our home. You can ask all of the bands who have been on the tour. They all describe it as the 'ultimate summer camp.' It's like one big family. Unfortunately Dickinson doesn't have the manners to realize that when you are invited into someone's home, are seated at their dinner table, are eating their food and drinking their wine, you shouldn't talk disrespectfully about them (Ozzy, BLACK SABBATH and Ozzfest), otherwise you just might get your ass handed to you. Every action has a reaction. Was Dickinson so naïve to think that I was going to let him get away with talking sh*t about my family night after night? I don't think he realizes who he's dealing with. I will not endure behavior like this from anyone.

"I know you would love to keep talking about this because this is the most press that IRON MAIDEN has had in the U.S. in twenty years, but let's move on, shall we?

"Sincerely,

"The 'Real' Iron Maiden

"Sharon Osbourne"

Source: BLABBERMOUTH.NET

---------

I think it's a load of bull, Sharon is just trying to turn the people against Maiden with that anti-Ozzy/USA shit. Yes, maybe he did that but it still doesnt justify what Sharon did. Sharon's gonna pay for this shit and the bitch knows it!

Discuss.

[JDRM]

go sharon go sharon go sharon go sharon go sharon go sharongo sharon go sharon

[RobbieGlenn]

go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon go away sharon

[Gcam]

Sharon was quite fucking right

dickinson has had an over inflated ego for 20 fucking years and someones finally told him to shut the fuck up with his constant bullshit.

as for the first poster, you seem to have your iron maiden tinted glasses on. can't you see when the guys being a complete wank?

[RobbieGlenn]

If I was in Maiden id have an inflated ego, remember, its not arrogance, its telling the truth.....

[Rock N' Roll Junkie]

I myself went to see Iron Maiden about a year ago (or 2) and Bruce Dickonson lost it for a moment aswell. Maybe he isn't as sweet and nice as he seems. Steve Harris actually came to Bruce and talked to him.

[New Rose]

as for the first poster, you seem to have your iron maiden tinted glasses on. can't you see when the guys being a complete wank?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I said that yes, Bruce may have done that but it doesnt give the right for Sharon to act that way. If Sharon had been professional she would have let Maiden play their set through, then personally deal with the problems. How childish and immature is to "recruit forces" against Maiden backstage, then throw eggs at them?

[Gcam]

and how childish and immature is it for dickinson to go onstage with the intention of fucking up the set list of the other bands, which he stated early on that he wasn't going to stick to the times. He was just being an attention whore as usual, he feels he has to create controversy because Iron Maiden have done nothing of note in the last 15 fucking years

[appetite for illusions]

as for the first poster, you seem to have your iron maiden tinted glasses on. can't you see when the guys being a complete wank?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I said that yes, Bruce may have done that but it doesnt give the right for Sharon to act that way. If Sharon had been professional she would have let Maiden play their set through, then personally deal with the problems. How childish and immature is to "recruit forces" against Maiden backstage, then throw eggs at them?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly. People DID go to see Maiden and were treated disrespectfully, as the band they were going to see, had there PA cut several times etc.

[Big Boy Sixxx]

well we can compare when ozzy plays to 320,000 people in rio. i find it hugely hypocritical and more to the point just proves that sharon needs to piss people off to get noticed since the end of the ozbournes. she has become a parody of herself. maiden rule ozzys ass and i mean come on bruce is the lead singer in one of the greatest metal bands ever, olympic standard fencer, novelist, airline pilot, DJ...................

[New Rose]

and how childish and immature is it for dickinson to go onstage with the intention of fucking up the set list of the other bands, which he stated early on that he wasn't going to stick to the times. He was just being an attention whore as usual, he feels he has to create controversy because Iron Maiden have done nothing of note in the last 15 fucking years

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fucking up the set of other bands? Maiden were co-headlining! At the point where people start throwing shit at them I can see why they got more angry and did things their way, including playing longer.

In the last 15 years Maiden have released albums and toured hella lot. Thats fucking much more than Sabbath.

[Gcam]

did i mention sabbath?

[mr-fukaji]

because Iron Maiden have done nothing of note in the last 15 fucking years

apart from release about 3 or 4 albums (could be wrong) and played countless shows, and had 2 top ten singles.

sabbath have just dragged their legacy through the shit, given the choice of seeing either band these days id go for maiden because they still pack a punch.

[Gcam]

i'm not trying to say sabbath have done anything, didn't mention them. i'm just pointing out that everything maiden have released in the last 15 years has been shite...

and dickinsons lasting ego seems a little misplaced.

[mr-fukaji]

fair enough, she's still a cunt though, hope she enjoys her husband playing to a load of steak heads until he's dead.

[New Rose]

i'm not trying to say sabbath have done anything, didn't mention them. i'm just pointing out that everything maiden have released in the last 15 years has been shite...

and dickinsons lasting ego seems a little misplaced.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Atleast they did something man..

But in the end, you gotta say that both Dickinson and Sharon both have humongous egos. Sharon is so proud of her work with Ozzfest and so proud of her husband, house and all that shite I seriously can stand Bruce's ego when comparing it to Sharons.

Maiden never sold out, well if they did, they certainly didnt outsell the Osbournes.

[Fizz]

We all know Bruce was acting like a tool aswell, but the way she fucked up the set is just bullshit. She should have just waited until Maiden finished their set and walked off before starting all that shit instead of wasting the time and money of hundreds of fans who showed up to see Maiden play.

It's just shitty it had to go out like that. I still like Ozzy as a musician, but he's finished now and should give it up.

[matt_barker]

b i t c h

[moreblack]

i'm just pointing out that everything maiden have released in the last 15 years has been shite...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah except influence tons of bands, keep releasing albums, stay creative, sell out stadiums around the world on tour, outshine any and every metal band live ever, especially a limping dinosaur like Sabbath. Seriously, they've been on fire since Dickinson came back.

If Sharon had a problem with Dickinson's statements, then she should've targeted Bruce himself, but she chose to screw with the whole band, poor Steve Harris and the other guys, y'know the ones she called "gentlemen" and all the other shit, got egged on as well, they also got spat on, and they got generally disrespected despite the fact that THEY didn't do anything.

BITCH.

Edited August 26, 2005 by moreblack

[slashrocks]

i'm just pointing out that everything maiden have released in the last 15 years has been shite...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah except influence tons of bands, keep releasing albums, stay creative, sell out stadiums around the world on tour, outshine any and every metal band live ever, especially a limping dinosaur like Sabbath. Seriously, they've been on fire since Dickinson came back.

If Sharon had a problem with Dickinson's statements, then she should've targeted Bruce himself, but she chose to screw with the whole band, poor Steve Harris and the other guys, y'know the ones she called "gentlemen" and all the other shit, got egged on as well, they also got spat on, and they got generally disrespected despite the fact that THEY didn't do anything.

BITCH.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

GREATEST PICTURE EVER!

edit:can someone resize that to 600x800 or whatever it is for a background

edit :nevermind

and i dont think either party is in the right here, dickinson shouldve kept his mouth shut onstage and sharon shouldve dealt with it in a more personal matter

Edited August 26, 2005 by slashrocks

[lovingnr]

and i dont think either party is in the right here, dickinson shouldve kept his mouth shut onstage and sharon shouldve dealt with it in a more personal matter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too right!

[Maddergascar]

I'm sorry, but i really don't believe this crap from Sharon. Bruce is IMHO one of the most down to earth frontmen in rock, hugely talented; he is the most important member of Maiden. He has every reason to be arrogant; without him, maiden would have never made any alterations to their style. it was proved, with Blayze Bailey, that the band flopped without him.

I can't believe sharon is taking "this isn't ozzfest, this is maidenfest" as some kind of personal attack.

And in any case, een if Bruce had been doing these things, cutting maiden's PA would just be coming down to their level. It wasn't big, it wasn't clever, it just ruined the show for the fans and made Sharon look like even more of a badguy.

[Rick]

Strangely enough, if you want to get a general admission ticket to stand in a field to see IRON MAIDEN at Reading this weekend it's going to cost you over $120. I would say that's very pricey, wouldn't you?

It's a festival for God's sake! They're not cheap! And I think she'll find you'll see more than Iron Maiden for that much.

R.

[Wild_Child]

If Bruce did say that stuff, why the hell did they pelt them with eggs? Really rockstars should do something way cooler than egging somebody onstage. That's just pathetic.

[Izzy's Girl]

Woosh! Well I never saw that side to it! tut tut to Brucey! But I like Maiden more than Sabbath so I still think she's a bitch