quinta-feira, 25 de agosto de 2011

Birmingham: Home of Metal

Text by: Simone Ribeiro (@moluska)
Images by: Simone Ribeiro and Rob Dann


What bands such as Black Sabbath, Napalm Death and Judas Priest have in common? Besides being big names of heavy metal, of course, they also share the same birthplace, Birmingham.  In fact, you've already read a bit about the history of the Midlands music scene here on Mídiativa. Remember?


To illustrate and celebrate this historical fact, the Museum and Art Gallery Birmingham receives the exhibition Home of Metal since August. An event that celebrates not only the bands that put the Black Country on the music scene, but also show us the history of the phenomenon called Heavy Metal, which conquered generations in the early 80's.


As known as Birthplace of the industrial revolution as well, Birmingham has always had a close relationship with the "metal". In this case, the metal industry, with the several coals mines that spread in the city in the 19th century, where most of the English working class from that part of England used to work to.


At that time, the music scene was also begun to take the streets of so-called Black Country spreadin their music in several underground venues that appeared on the site. All kinds of music, artists and bands have passed through these places and one of these bands, Black Sabbath, would leave the district of Aston to literally change the world of music.


In 1970, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward had more in common than the simple wish of making a band. All of them grew up in the middle of metal and smoke that drove the English industrial revolution. Tony Iommi has actually woked in some of those factories. Once the song Paranoid was launched, it was not necessary to further explain what Black Sabbath has started to represent to the music.


At the same Brummie scenario would appear another important band to the Metal history, Judas Priest. Dressed in leather and studs, it was the first sign that from now to go, heavy metal started to have a uniform. And at the end of the 70 The new wave of British Metal took over the world, in the middle of the 80 other strands of metal also would be shown.


The grindcore of Napalm Death's Scum album was “sponsored” by the legendary DJ John Peel. It was the turn of quite raw sound, with lyrics of protest, guttural vocals and deafening noise. So another symbol of Birmingham loudly music has just born!In addition to the bands honored, the exhibition also opens its space for the headbangers, after all, without them there would be the Home of Metal. 

Photos of fans of the genre with their invaluable belongings such as an autographed album, a ticket for an important gig and special leather jackets are also displayed at Home of Metal.As well as a replica of the Ozzy Osborne “home”, where you can sit in a comfortable sofa watch the rocker interviews, and even the famous Harley Davidson belonged to Rob Halford, lead singer of Judas Priest, can be seen there.

Home of Metal exhibition also travels to other parts of the region such as the New Art Gallery Walsall, which receives the expo To Be True Be Oblivion, by Mark Titchner. The artist combines new technology and music; a good combination since Mark is an expert collector of vinyl records and he said it has inspired his work.


You can check out other events in the Home of Metal at the Woverhampton Art Gallery, or in other towns such as Dudley, at the Museum and Art Gallery Dudley.  Visit the Home of Metal website to know more about the exhibition.


More photos from Home of Metal: 














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