Home of Metal: Heavy Metal and Place

Der spatial turn erreicht den Metal! Auf nach Birmingham ... und dann in die Broad Street, den "Walk of Stars" suchen... dritter Stern von rechts: Ozzy. The Place of Metal.

Home of Metal is a celebration of the music that was born in the Black Country and Birmingham, a project created and produced by Capsule. Bringing people together to share their passion and exploring themes of Heavy Metal through exhibitions, film screenings, live events, a conference and family friendly activities. Four decades since Heavy Metal was unleashed onto an unsuspecting world, Home of Metal honours a truly global musical phenomenon.
For the full season and detailed event information see: www.homeofmetal.com
The Heavy Metal movement is littered with accounts of its origins, not only concerning the origins of the sound, but also the geographical and political locations from which the music evolved. As Metal has become a global phenomenon, over its 40 year history, the relationship between its sound to the various sites where those sounds, styles and fashions emerge is in constant evolution. However metal is simultaneously acutely aware of its origins In Birmingham and the Black Country.
The Home of Metal Conference on heavy metal and place aims to explore and evaluate the important role that location, heritage and place have in the origins of metal. It will serve to engage in debate concerning values, histories and myths in the foundation of this movement in Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond. It is a movement that is in continuous dialogue with its past and its origins most notably through bands such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Led Zepplin and Napalm Death to name but a few.
Metal studies, being a new movement has not yet explored this area of place. This conference will not only serve to recognise the pivotal role that Birmingham and its surroundings has played in Heavy Metal and place, but will also be the first of its kind in being able to contribute to argument and debate in Metal studies, music studies, cultural theory, media theory and journalism. In addition to this, an interesting avenue of exploration is the dual origin of Heavy metal and Cultural Studies in the same decade in Birmingham.
Dr. Niall Scott, Senior Lecturer in Ethics University of Central Lancashire