We launched our new HOME OF METAL website just recently and already have had some amazing contributions to the archive. We’ve been asking people to add their Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Judas Priest, Napalm Death & Godflesh related memorabilia to the archive to help to inform our exhibition in 2011 at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Even if you don’t have memorabilia you can help us by rating your favourite artefacts.

Currently the top three are:

In first place is this fantastic cartoon book of Sabbath uploaded by Doug Roemer from Arlington in the US.

In second place we have an awesome Tony Iommi incorporating the Sunn 0))) logo tattoo uploaded by Stephen O’Malley belonging to his friend from Finland

and in third place we have a great piece of history – a Black Sabbath at the Mayfair in the Bullring Birmingham poster from 1970 declaring that there was ‘ No Restrictions on Dress or Hair whatsoever’ uploaded by Neil Perry of West Brom

We’ve also had some great Godflesh related flyers, posters and live photos uploaded. Feel free to help us spread the word and dig out your related memorabilia – gig tickets, photos, posters, t’s, set lists, badges  and your memories or just rate the items you like best. Have a look at HOMEOFMETAL.COM

Our Home Of Metal project was featured in +1 magazine after editor David Hopkins came up for our last open day at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery…some amusing thoughts of possible future souvenirs and branding Birmingham and the Black Country as the birth place of Metal

“Though the The Home Of Metal is a tailor made vehicle for fanboys’ adoration for all things Page, Plant, Butler, Broadrick and Halford the project ultimately aims to repackage Birmingham in musical, tourist-friendly wrapping paper. Just like  Manchester and Liverpool have so successfully done with Madchester/The Smiths and The Beatles respectively. But the Black Country’s considerable musical pedigree is arguably going to be harder to sell to their local authority as a potential money spinner. As even with the best will in the world Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Napalm Death and Godflesh aren’t quite as brochure friendly as the fab four. ‘Nazi Punks Fuck Off’ souvenir pencil case anyone?”
By David Hopkins

The legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, whom we had the honor of meeting and interviewing at the end of last year when he was given a walk of stars, has kindly agreed to loan us one of his custom guitars for our next Home Of Metal event and also has given us his full support for the project.

“I’m really proud to be a Brummie and to call Birmingham my home, that’s why I’m supporting the Home of Metal events and message.  Your surroundings and experiences influence your music so it’s important for people to know where that music came from!“

The next Home of Metal Open day takes place on Saturday 7th of Feb at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in Waterhall, 11am – 4pm.
Fans are encouraged to bring along related memorabilia, photos and stories to be recorded and digitised to add to the archive. Its a free event all are welcome.

Above photo of Tony Iommi taken by Steve Gerrard, whose photos of Metal fans will also be on display on the 7th of Feb.

Our friend Juan Rae came up with the idea of Tape Club, whereby every couple of months we get together at a mates house and produce a tape to swap, we all chip in with lots of booze and snacks and over the course of the evening listen to one side of everyones tapes chosen at random out of a bag.

Its a great idea, mainly because it makes you listen to loads of records you’ve not heard for a while and get excited about your record collection all over again! In a Fluxus stylee we all set ourselves challenges for the theme of the tape – this time I’ve gone for (surprise! surprise!) an animal related theme.

Courtesy of Popcards.fr

Side A
Pontiak – White Mice
High Places – Canary
Arbouretum – Buffalo Ballet

Pram – Monkey Puzzle
Mouse On Mars – Catching Butterflies With Hands
Black Dice – Seabird
Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit
Devendra Banhart – Dogs They Make Up The Dark
PW Long – Eagleeye
Alabama Thunder Pussy – Mosquito
Fannypack – Bunnies
King Kong – White Horse
Oxes – Boss Kitty

Courtesy of Popcards.fr

Side B
Blevin Blectum – Real Live Escargot
Coil – Blue Rats
Techno Animal – Piranha
Neurosis – United Sheep
Electric Wizard – Black Butterfly
Black Sabbath – War Pigs
John Renbourn – Goat Island
Captain Beefheart – China Pig
Songs:Ohio – Tigress
Palace – Come A Little Dog
Polar Bear – Tay

Photo from http://www.guitarmasterclass.net

The Broad Street Business Improvement District is delighted to announce that Heaven and Hell guitarist, founding member of Black Sabbath, Grammy Award winner and king of heavy metal Tony Iommi will be honoured on the Broad Street Walk of Star’s on Sunday 23rd November 2008.

Following an afternoon of live music from local bands on the stage in Centenary Square ‘Kerrang Radio’ presenter Johnny Doom will host the evening, with the presentation of the star taking place at 6.30pm.

Home of Metal encourages fans of  Black Sabbath  to be photographed wearing their prized band t-shirts.
Images will be taken by the Birmingham photographer Steve Gerrard, who has been capturing bands in action for over 20 years, and has photographed some of the biggest names and artists. The photographs will then go on display on the Home Of Metal website and in future exhibitions.

Followed by our last Capsule gig of the year at the Hare & Hounds with Racebannon + Trencher + Dream Dreams The Dreamer – doors at 8pm

On Saturday 25th of October at our Open day at Wolverhampton Art Gallery we have some special guests in conversation with Kerrang! Radio DJ – the legendary Johnny Doom, a stalwart of the Midlands Metal scene.

Jim Simpson 12am – 1pm in conversation with Johnny Doom

Jim Simpson
Birmingham-based Big Bear, so called after the nickname given to Simpson by legendary DJ, John Peel, runs one of the oldest independent labels in the UK, specialising in jazz, blues and swing artists, although it has also been successful in other music genres.
Jim is the unsung hero of Heavy Metal, he ran the progressive club, Henry’s Blueshouse where he inspired Robert Plant, Jon Bonham, Judas Priest and a plethora of others all of whom came see the legendary American Blues artists Simpson programmed back in the day.
He managed Sabbath for their first three albums, which included the seminal ‘Black Sabbath’ album, then Paranoid and Master of Reality.

Digby Pearson, Earache Records founder 2pm – 3pm in conversation with Johnny Doom

The label has made its name releasing some of the most brutal albums of the past two decades. Earache has been home to such outfits as the legendary Napalm Death and Godflesh as well as a host of other extreme bands. Earache’s artists have set the standard for cutting-edge, uncompromising music.
But just as inspiring is the story of how it came to be. Nowadays, internet wizardry or a truckload of cash can be a band’s best friend, but in the early days, Earache had neither. All it had was one man; founder, patriarch and self-confessed obsessive, Digby ‘Dig’ Pearson.

Dig built Earache the old-fashioned way – through word-of-mouth, determination and an unswerving belief in his bands, though his outlook on the last two decades is a tad modest under the circumstances.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery – Open Day Saturday 25th October 10am – 4.30pm
Free Event – refreshments provided – all welcome

So what does Black Sabbath, Jasper Carrott and the Capsule Grannies all have in common?
Well we’ve been given a mention under the Custard Factory heading no.37 in the Birmingham Mail’ s 100 Great Things About The West Midlands.
“The campus also contains a first-class music venue, bar and theatre, all of which are fully used by leftfield promoters for nights of alternative mayhem.
Most established of these is Capsule, two switched on women, who constantly host nights of the world’s most cutting edge music and provide a platform for local bands.
Capsule’s Supersonic Festival, held every July at the Custard Factory is a world-class event and perfectly sums up the whole Custard Factory Vibe.”

For too long Birmingham and the West Midlands have failed to celebrate what is rightfully theirs, to claim the city and the region as home of “heavy metal”.

Throughout late 2008 Capsule will be building a digital archive and carrying out a series of open days starting on the 25th October at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of “Helllo Digital” We want you to help us create a ‘people’s archive’ of memories, images and pictures to tell the story of this unique moment of Midlands’ musical heritage. This project is being delivered in partnership with, Black Country Arts Partnerships, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, New Art Gallery Walsall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Capsule are looking for a small team of dedicated volunteers, with a passionate interest in either local history, music (specific or otherwise) or a desire to be part of a ground breaking project, which aims to bring a sense of civic pride to the region celebrating Birmingham and the Black Country as HOME OF METAL.

In return for your time commitment you will receive the following:
Training in recording oral histories / archiving digital data – including photography
Being part of a team delivering a unique project.
Travel cost will be covered.

For further info + to down load an application form:
https://www.capsule.org.uk/event/home-of-metal

Deadline for applicants: Friday 12th September

This project is led by Capsule in partnership with BCAP, WMAG, NAGW, BMAG as part of Hello Digital