Report: BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST 'Snubbed' By U.K. Rock Locations Map

February 6, 2007

icBirmingham reports that BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN and JUDAS PRIEST are among the rock heavyweights with links to the Midlands — but a new rock locations map has failed to recognize their achievements in the region.

Bev Bevan, former drummer with BLACK SABBATH, today claimed national tourism agency Visit Britain had disregarded the importance of venues like Mothers, in Erdington, and The Belfry, in Sutton Coldfield.

During the '60s and 7'0s these venues hosted some of the biggest names in rock, including LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD, THE WHO and T.REX. John Peel was resident DJ at Mothers during that time. Bevan described the guide's "cursory mention" of BLACK SABBATH as an insult to the band who "invented heavy metal".

"Mothers was one of the biggest clubs in the country so it's a major omission," said Bevan, who also played with THE MOVE and ELO.

"Tony Iommi and Ozzy invented heavy metal with BLACK SABBATH, so to give them only a cursory mention, and to link it to their drinking rather than the music, is something of an insult.

"The Cedar Club, off Constitution Hill, and The Belfry were also big venues, but smaller venues like The Plaza, in Handsworth, Ritz, in Kings Heath, or the Birmingham Odeon, on New Street, were just as important.

"Alex's Pie Stand, now the Albany NCP car park behind the Alexandra Theatre, is where many bands met up and formed in the 60s over a late-night pie and chips."

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