Weekender: Black Sabbath – 50 Years exhibition opens in Birmingham

Home of Metal has opened its flagship exhibition Black Sabbath – 50 Years, which will run until 29 September at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG).

Launched this week by Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, the exhibition is the first of its kind in the UK, exploring the legacy of the band and their global fan base.

The exhibition is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the museum over the summer, which will have a huge economic impact on the city.

Last year’s blockbuster exhibition at BMAG was Dippy on Tour, which attracted a record-breaking audience at the museum for a temporary exhibition of 255,548 visitors from 26 May – 9 September 2018, who collectively spent £4.2m in Birmingham.

Black Sabbath – 50 Years brings together never-before-seen iconic artefacts and treasured personal items sourced direct from the band members. Highlights include Ozzy Osbourne’s crucifix, Tony Iommi’s home studio and outfits worn on stage at some of the band’s most infamous shows.

These are displayed alongside rare memorabilia, portraits and collections from the band’s devoted global fan base, including a recreation of super-fan Stephen Knowles’ living room, which is a homage to Black Sabbath. In addition, there is a display of over 3,000 portraits of Black Sabbath fans from across the world, showcasing the incredible breadth and diversity of the band’s loyal followers, including from Botswana, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon and Brazil.

Created by Home of Metal, a Birmingham-based exhibitions and events organisation in collaboration with the band, and designer Morag Myerscough, one of the UK’s most acclaimed designers, this huge exhibition tells the story of Black Sabbath’s unique cultural legacy as pioneers of the cultural phenomenon, Heavy Metal.

The show forms part of a season of exhibitions, which celebrate Birmingham and the Black Country as the birthplace of Heavy Metal.

Partnered with organisations in and around Birmingham, including New Art Gallery Walsall and MAC, this summer’s Home of Metal programme features exhibitions and artworks from acclaimed artists including Alan Kane (UK), Ben Venom (US), Monster Chetwynd (UK), and Przemek Branas (Poland).

 

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