Capsule’s Home Of Metal project got a great mention in yesterdays FT newspaper in reference to the very exciting announcement by Black Sabbath about their reformation next year and embarking on a world tour.
Yet Brummies have rarely boasted of their music, unlike chirpy Scousers and cocky Mancunians – a result of Birmingham’s modesty as well as wariness of mainstream indifference to the subculture.
That is changing. Home of Metal, a series of exhibitions and events in the region, has been held over the past few months. An international conference on heavy metal has just taken place at the University of Wolverhampton. It discussed academic studies from the use of “grotesque realism in grindcore politics” to the role of women in “death metal”.
All this comes amid society’s yearning to return to its industrial roots in what George Osbourne calls a ‘march of the makers’. Yet manufacturing’s recovery is stalling amid turmoil in European markets. With the desired rebalancing so hard to achieve, heavy metal looks a more assured export.
We also appeared on Sky News alongside the guys from Polar Bear Records & Alex of former Brummie band Beestung Lipswho declared he was “Frankly power-chuffed” by the announcement. No doubt this statement will in itself go down in history.
Brace yourself for a juggernaut of Heavy Metal cinema, blazing a trail across the Black Country with an awesome programme of documentaries, rare archive, late-night horror and special guests. The heart of the action will be at the Light House Cinema in Wolverhampton, with a menu of movies that will take you from Midlands’ foundries to Moroccan rooftops, from spandex nonsense to raw doom.
Below are some of the highlights, but you can read the full programme at www.homeofmetal.com
The Home of Metal Roadshow – FREE
The Vintage Mobile Cinemais a beautiful 1960s cinema on wheels that has been restored and will be traveling across the Black Country for the weekend. Come onboard and watch archival and Heavy Metal related short films, exploring the industrial landscape of the region.
Thursday | 3pm – 8pm | Queen Square, Wolverhampton
Friday | 10am – 4pm | Dudley Museum & Art Gallery
Saturday | 11am – 4pm | The New Art Gallery Walsall
Sunday | 11am – 4pm | Haden Hill House
Detailed programmes for each day can be found here.
As part of a special knees up, Home of Metal is taking over the gallery with films, live music and a Silent Metal Disco. ‘Patch Jacket’ is a collection of shorts exploring the full spectrum of Heavy Metal devotion and Gentlemans Pistolswill be bringing their no frills, filthy rock n roll.
Sponsored by The Kraken Rum – cocktails will be available.
The legend goes that some blokes from a heavy blues band called Earth passed a film poster in Perry Barr, and decided to pinch its title for their new name. Expect women in peril, clunky dubbing, bags of suspense, lush, lurid colours and Boris Karloff threading it all together in style.
Sound It Out | Saturday 3 Sept | 4pm | The Public | FREE
Nottingham-based filmmaker Jeanie Finlay’s latest film sees her camera trained on the employees and punters of Sound It Out, Teesside’s last surviving independent record shop, and crafted a moving portrait of vinyl obsessions. We’re delighted that she will be present to talk about the film.
A self-portrait of Loughborough teenager, Chris Needham deals with adolescent trials including woman trouble, musical differences and an annoying little brother. Chris is still pledged to Heavy Metal, and will be here to talk about his film afterwards.
It’s 25 years since Jeff Krulik and John Heyn walked around the Capital Center’s parking lot in Maryland, interviewing boozed up rockers before a Judas Priest gig. The resulting document has become required viewing on tour buses across the globe, and now you can enjoy the clothes, the hair and the language in all their glory. Featuring live music from Stinky Wizzleteat and Selfless, DJs and food. Sponsored by The Kraken Rum – cocktails will be available.
After our Saturday night party, you can check out a late night screening of this video nasty. Napalm Death lynchpin Shane Embury has selected one of his favourite horror movies, where a hotel conceals the gateway to hell. Expect gore, mayhem and face chewing spiders.
Cathy Come Home + Q&A | Sunday 4 Sept | 3.30pm | Light House, Wolverhampton | £4.70/£4.20 concession
The gripping tale of a family turfed out of their home, Cathy Come Home is best known as a campaigning drama-documentary that helped to change housing policy. It’s also a vivid snapshot of Birmingham in the 60s, filmed on the same Aston streets where Black Sabbath played as kids. Producer (and long-suffering Villa fan) Tony Garnett will be here to talk about the film.
This is Spinal Tap | Sunday 4 Sept | 8.30pm | Light House, Wolverhampton | £4.70/£4.20 concession
What better way to round off the weekender than with the mother of all metal films? A spoof documentary (or, if you will, rockumentary) which set out to satirise the worst excesses of hair metal and pomp rock, This Is Spinal Tap ended up becoming a touchstone and perhaps even an inspiration for many of the bands it took the mickey out of.
‘Heavy Metal Parking Lot’ It’s 25 years since Jeff Krulik and John Heyn walked around the Capital Center’s parking lot in Maryland, interviewing boozed up rockers before a Judas Priest gig. The resulting document has become required viewing on tour buses across the globe, and now you can enjoy the clothes, the hair and the language in all their glory – in the Light House’s courtyard.
There will also be film shorts courtesy of Flatpack festival and DJs, plus live music from Selfless
“4 piece, insane politically/socially charged hardcore hardcore punk/crust/grind band.Lying somewhere between Black Flag/Heresy/Discharge…”
+ Stinky Wizzleteat
“Formed some time in 2008, Stinky Wizzleteat have garnered some sort of a reputation, leaving a trail of blood, sweat and broken amplifiers behind them. United by a mutual love of the Bad Brains, Wizzleteat carve out a sound informed by groove from across the musical spectrum, whilst staying fully committed to heaviness, good times and volume.”
This event is sponsored by The Kraken Rum and free rum cocktails will be available and best of all the event is FREE too from 8 – 11pm.
Metal on Film is part of Home Of Metal for the full program of screenings see HERE
and for the full Home of Metal season see HERE.
Be warned last time we showed Heavy Metal Parking at Capsule & cake way back in 2002 we had the most legendary & messy party, prepare for one mighty hangover.
BETWEEN THE HAMMER AND THE ANVIL
at THE NEW ART GALLERY WALSALL
Gallery Square, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 8LG
2ND SEPTEMBER | 6PM–9PM | FREE
This special event, part of the Home of Metal Black Country Weekender, continues our celebration of the birthplace of Heavy Metal. No frills, downright dirty, Rock & Roll will come from Gentlemans Pistols (Rise Above), an already cult UK band featuring former Napalm Death and Carcass guitarist Bill Steer.
The night will also feature a silent Metal disco and as part of this special knees-up Flatpack Festival have put together Patch Jacket, a collage of clips and short films exploring the full spectrum of metal devotion., in addition there will be tours of the ‘BE TRUE TO YOUR OBLIVION’ exhibition and a special performance by artist Mark Titchner. www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
This event has been sponsored by The Kraken rum, and refreshments will be available at the gallery
Monday 15th August is the application deadline for volunteers for our Home of Metal Black Country Weekender. Get in touch if you fancy getting involved and helping to deliver an exciting weekend of events, all in the name of Heavy Metal!
Here’s the call out:
Capsule are looking for a small team of dedicated volunteers to assist with the delivery of our Home of Metal Black Country Weekender. Bursting with events relating to Heavy Metal and its unique birthplace, there really is something for everyone.
The events will take place at various venues across the Black Country from Thursday 1st September – Sunday 4th September, comprising film screenings, panel discussions, family friendly activities and more.
Duties include meeting and greeting, distributing information, event set up/break down and acting as an advocate for Home of Metal. Some events may require some photography skills and technical experience.
To apply please, email [email protected] with ‘Home of Metal Volunteer’ as the subject title, and we will send you an application form. The deadline for completed application forms is Monday 15th August.
Some top Home of Metal clobber is available on our website now, including the essential Heavy Metal Family Tree tea towel by artist Bunny Bissoux, already selling fast! There’s also a t-shirt, tote bag, badge and many more lovely things to come. Go to the ONLINE SHOP to see more.
Two exciting discussion panels have been announced as part of the ongoing Home of Metal season of events. Both panels cost only £5 each and will take place at Lighthouse in Wolverhampton.
Budding writers will find invaluable insights into the world of music journalism. The panel will explore ways in which journalism has been informed by the ongoing evolution of Heavy Metal as well as the move from print to the use of digital media. Featuring Alex Milas (editor of Metal Hammer), Frances Morgan (Plan B, Terrorizer, New Statesman), John Doran (The Quietus) and Malcolm Dome (TotalRock).
The relationship between fans and music has been explored throughout the Home of Metal project; this panel of artists will investigate that dynamic further. Nicholas Bullen is a Birmingham based sound and visual artist, he founded the band Napalm Death, creating the Grindcore genre and taking Heavy Metal in a unique direction. This panel will invite discussion between Bullen and visual artists who draw upon the genre in their work.
Both panels are part of the Home of Metal Conference 1 – 4 September 2011
Exploring Heavy Metal; the music, its heritage and global influence www.homeofmetalconference.com
We also appeared on Sky News alongside the guys from Polar Bear Records & Alex of former Brummie band Beestung Lips who declared he was “Frankly power-chuffed” by the announcement. No doubt this statement will in itself go down in history.
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
