Celebrating 50 years o
A new exhibition is cementing Birmingham heavy metal legends Black Sabbath’s place in the history. GRAHAM YOUNG checks it out and chats a couple of original band members
IT’S the heavy metal celebration that will truly cement Black Sabbath’s place in rock’s hall of fame. Home of Metal presents Black Sabbath 50 Years is a brilliant exhibition which fills the Gas Hall of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
As with anything to do with Ozzy Osbourne you should expect the unexpected. Like seeing the global pioneers of heavy metal as crocheted dolls!
And Dudley fan Stephen Knowles has even had his living room recreated for the exhibition, too.
The displays detail all aspects of the band’s career, from archive pictures of the streets of Aston where they grew up to the metal factories which provided employment in their youth.
From their instruments and albums along the way to the
cinema-released film of their final gig at the NEC on Saturday, February 4, 2017.
Fans attending the exhibition can read about the history of the band and see everything from their clothes and boots to their handwritten lyrics.
There are guitars to play, a customised Harley-Davidson motorcycle to adore and multiple classic images of Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums), Geezer Butler (bass) and Ozzy Osbourne – not just the wildest man in rock, but the world’s most famous Brummie, too.
Also on display is the home recording studio from Tony’s house, used to record last album 13.
And in the centre of the hall there’s a curtained off area where you can listen to some of the band’s greatest hits in quadraphonic sound.
What’s not to like if you love heavy metal?
Three thousand faces from all over the globe adorn one wall of the exhibition. Fans could spend hours just trying to find their own picture if they were photographed by Home of Metal during The End tour.
City rock fan Chris Hopkins is one of those whose personal collection has been included in the exhibition – from posters and programmes to clothes with patches on and his handwritten list of gigs.
These dates are the hooks to the where, the when and the indelible memories of a band that grabbed his soul and refused to move out.
Best gig? “NEC, 1997,” says Chris in a flash. Best song? “Killing Yourself T Bloody Sa tom of the
It’s wort lyrics inclu give you is sentiment