Lineup Revealed for BBC’s Black Sabbath Tribute Event

Three live performances, referred to as “the future stars” of heavy metal, are set to occur in Birmingham as part of a special BBC homage to Black Sabbath.

Local bands Cherrydead, Gans, and Meatdripper will perform at the city’s town hall for the BBC Radio WM Celebrates Metal in the Midlands event on July 2.

The event, organized in collaboration with B: Music and Home of Metal, will also include a film screening and an industry panel discussion.

It will take place shortly before Black Sabbath’s final performance at Villa Park on July 5.

The iconic heavy metal group was established in Aston in 1968 and had their initial rehearsal at Newtown Community Centre.

Members Ozzy Osbourne, Terence “Geezer” Butler, Toni Iommi, and Bill Ward will headline a one-day festival in July, performing alongside numerous bands they inspired, including Metallica, Pantera, and Slayer.

Chris Pegg, the editor of BBC Radio WM, referred to Birmingham as the “birthplace of heavy metal.”

Regarding the BBC event, he stated: “Presenting a new generation of metal acts in such a significant venue for music in the area showcases our dedication to nurturing the major music talents of the future.”

Chris Proctor, the head of programming at B: Music, which oversees the town hall, expressed that the night would be “phenomenal,” marking the return of four musicians from Birmingham.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the BBC in Birmingham and Home of Metal once more, not to mention the future stars of UK metal,” he added.

Tickets for the event are currently available for purchase.

Cherrydead lead singer Emily Drummond shared that being invited to “make some noise” for this special event was “mind-blowing.”

“We can’t wait to add our unique touch to the heavy [metal] celebration,” she noted.

Liv, the bassist and vocalist for Meatdripper, expressed: “When I think of [Black] Sabbath, it embodies the essence of Brum. It’s all about heavy riffs and legendary vocals. It fills me with pride to be in a city with such an extraordinary music heritage.”