from, oddly, the council’s new Facebook page.
It was a shocking moment when after nineteen years of living in Birmingham I realised it will never be finished. The building work will never be done, some part will always be being demolished for another part to be built fresh: no one will ever take a step back, with their hands on their hips, and turn around with a ‘TA-DAA’. The ubiquitous cranes will always be part of the skyline, they’re not visitors they’re residents. Cities are the bodies of our collective souls, and like bodies they change, regenerate, and can be easily marred. Ever see Ground Zero from up high? It looks like a fuck-awful scar across the face of pretty girl. The Queens Drive staircase is an access staircase that travels from the bottom of Station Street up to the passageway that connects the Pallasades to the Bull Ring, with an exit to New Street station halfway up. And it’s to be closed soon. This staircase is one of my favourite little short cuts from New St. You have to duck up the tramp ramp (named ages ago because of the amount of beggers that used to line it, they’ve all been moved on now but...
Should you be interested in the music known as Heavy Metal, or the history of the West Midlands, then this summer there’s an afternoon at least of your time that needs to be dedicated to the Home of Metal. Wassat? Let the blurb tell you: “Four decades since heavy metal was unleashed onto the world, Home of Metal arrives this summer, presenting a series of ambitious exhibitions and associatedevents which explore the foundations, social context and heritage of heavy metalculture, which has gone on to be a global phenomenon. .Curated by Capsule, Home of Metal is a celebration of the music that was created in the West Midlands, its legacy and influence across the world. Home of Metal focuses on the Midlands-born innovators of the genre and those thatcontinued to develop it. From Black Sabbath, unquestionably the founding fathers ofHeavy Metal, Judas Priest, defenders of the faith whose twin guitar attack paved theway for multitudes of melodic metal acts in their wake to Napalm Death, whose first two albums introduced grindcore to an unsuspecting world.” But it’s about so much more than music, behind the huge gothic drapes lurks threads of your local heritage from the immediate post-war to today’s...
An elderly WM Travel advert, with some sped up Perry Barr garage cleaning. I can still smell those yellow tartan seat coverings. Ta Pete, and found by Ian duncan.
“2010 is the 30th anniversary of UB40′s first album “Signing Off”. This documentary, hosted by Ranking Roger from “The Beat”, was produced by Birmingham City University to celebrate UB40′s landmark debut and the band’s nationwide tour to promote its re-release. It features fresh interviews with members of the band – along with Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and producer Bob Lamb – amongst others. The documentary explores life in Birmingham in the early eighties 80′s and reveals the band’s strong polictial beliefs. UB40 went on to become one of the world’s biggest reggae acts – but their debut album “Signing Off” still stands as one of their most influential releases. This 45 minute documentary pays tribute to the band while showcasing hits and remixes from the album – and detailing the story behind its recording – 30 years ago… ” Ub40: The 30th Anniversary Of “Signing Off” Documentary by Sam Coley on Mixcloud
Get the Flash Player to see this content. From MACE: “Tony Maycock interview with Mike Shanley, Birmingham garage owner, who has bought the statue of King Kong to stand it in his car sales forecourt.” a clip of ATV Today 18/09/1972 Remarkably hash tone for such a fluffy news item ‘doesn’t King Kong Kars sound a bit crap’? I’m paraphrasing. *okay it’s ATV Today, and not News At Ten. This is Trevor McDoughnut…
Lovely documentary about The Diskery — 40 years old and one of Birmingham’s best record shops. As the record stores disappear, treasure one that has lasted so long.
Churn, but good churn… An archivist at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery has uncovered these images showing the aftermath of a 1970s terrorist bomb blast. Dating from 4 January 1974, the images show Ikon’s then-director Simon Chapman clearing up shards of broken glass whilst nervously smoking a cigarette. At this time Ikon was housed in a shop unit in the West Court of the Birmingham Shopping Centre (now the Pallasades), adjacent to an army and navy recruitment office – the likely intended target for the bomb. Jane Morrow, Ikon Gallery’s Archivist, is asking the public for any memories they have of the bombing to help inform an oral history project into the period : “We’re looking for stories from the people of Birmingham who remember Ikon during the 1970s, from stand-out exhibitions to incidents such as the bombing. We have plenty of official records – what I’d love to hear now are your stories and reminiscences.” Contact Jane Morrow on 0121 248 0708 or email j.morrow@ikon-gallery.co.uk The memories will form part of an archive collection to be presented alongside Ikon’s next exhibition, This could happen to you: Ikon in the 1970s. A retrospective of the gallery’s programme from 1970-1978, it will...
