Sharon Osbourne Admits Role In Iron Maiden Sabotage
Posted By Grimmy Acosta on 08.27.05
Gives a new meaning to that whole Unplugged vibe
In a statement released Thursday night, Ozzfest organizer Sharon Osbourne admitted a role in the incident that marred Iron Maiden's August 20 tour performance in Devore, Calif. -- specifically, that she cut off the band's sound on several occasions.
Iron Maiden also was pelted with eggs and debris from the front of the pavilion during its performance, which was its last on the festival's tour. Osbourne did not take responsibility for those actions.
She previously claimed that Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson repeatedly disrespected her husband Ozzy during the tour, and that other Iron Maiden members were ashamed of Dickinson's behavior.
In her new statement, which doubles as an open letter to Maiden manager Rod Smallwood, she said, "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 (Black) Sabbath),' 'We don't need a teleprompter (like Ozzy)' and 'We don't need a reality show to be legit (again, like Ozzy)."'
Sharon Osbourne explained cutting Maiden's power in part by saying, "Was Dickinson so naive to think that I was going to let him get away with talking s**t about my family night after night? I don't think he realizes who he's dealing with." She signed the letter as the "real Iron Maiden."
credit to: Reuters/Billboard
