Second Open day a huge success and the Walk of Stars Award ceremony for Tony Iommi! – seeds are shoo

Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the Open Day at the New Art Gallery Walsall on the eve of November the 6th 2008 but judging by what I’ve seen, heard and read it proved to be a well attended, fantastic event. Well done to all involved, the seeds are sprouting up all over the place.

I was honoured to be chaufeur for Lisa (Capsule) and the film crew Ella Turner, Matt Taylor and Martin Poyntz-Roberts on Sunday 23rd November 2008.

We were lucky enough to be able to go to the Crown Plaza Hotel for an interview with Tony Iommi prior to his Walk of Stars Award ceremony outside the Rep and ICC. Unfortunately I sat outside in the hotel hallway while Lisa,the film crew and Steve Gerrard photographer went into his room – boohoo – yet we were all given official passes (and I managed to make up for it later!)

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Ella,Martin,Matt and Lisa preparing for the interview and them going in to do it!!!

Following the interview we braved the rainy weather and walked over to the Kerrang! stage, very pleased to say die hard fans had also braved the elements, yet like us most of them had decided to shelter in the front of the Symphony Hall.

Jenny (Capsule) joined us and whilst we were waiting Lisa gave a squeal of delight as we spotted 2 very famous faces heading for the loos! When they reappeared Lisa gave them some well timed and appreciated advice on where to head and I got a photo of Ronnie Dio and Vinnie Appice who currently are in the band Heaven and Hell with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.

Wow!right place, right time!!

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t being kind as we joined the crowds and helped Johnny Doom to give out blow up guitars. My pass proved very useful as it meant I could go right to the front of the stage to get some photos.




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Once Tony had accepted his award he was whisked away in a nice car back to the hotel and with Johnny and his friends we all went to the Yardbird Jazz Club for a well deserved drink and warm-up. It was here that I discovered that we were going to Tony’s after award party back at the hotel!!!

Well it was very interesting with all sorts of people and sunday lunch in a mouthfull!!!!( Mini yorkshire puds with roast beef n mustard were my fave snack doing the rounds!) Being chaufeur I was on the apple juice whilst the others were sipping champagne, yet my brain was in gear and when I saw the opportunity I took it (thankyou to the lady behind the bar whos name I didn’t catch but who kindly lent me a permanent marker) I went and asked Tony Iommi to sign my pass and he was really lovely and did it!!!

Having eaten a wide range of snacks including mini cones of fish n chips! It was time to go and I really couldn’t resist – my cheek got the better of me and I grabbed Martin gave him my phone and asked Tony if I could get a picture with him before I left – Joy – he agreed, and I returned the favour and got a picture of Martin on his camera. WOW, Amazing – any one thinking of volunteering for this project should definately give it a go – who knows where and who it will enable you to meet. Meeting Tony Iommi was definately a great way to finish 2008!

And so we are now just 4 days away from the Open Day and over the last few weeks Ambassadors and the Home of Metal have been busy behind the scenes working towards this being a great event.

We had a meeting at Creative Alliance on Wed Jan 21st where we discussed plans and the website.

We met again (during the start of the snow) at the Waterhall,Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to see the space and discuss roles and jobs for the coming week. I also delivered images to Jenny which I have sourced over the last few weeks from the archives at Birmingham Central Library – old images of music venues which Chris Phipps will be discussing at the Open Day on Saturday.Some of the images I sourced went to Ben Javens last week and he has produced a wonderful leaflet to accompany Chris Phipps pilot tour.

Copyright prohibits me from uploading these images at the moment yet we’ve been given permission to exhibit them on Saturday so alongwith all the other amazing memorabillia and activities happening it is well worth making your way to the Waterhall any time between 11am and 4pm this Saturday. If you are unable to attend please,please sign up on our website and upload your own stories and images.

A big well done to Ant Ramm @Open Advantage web developer and Ian Richards@Heavy Objectsweb designer the website looks and functions brilliantly and is enabling seeds to shoot up all over the world.

HOME of METAL is well and truly planted, the roots are strong and will hopefully continue to develop into an eternally wondrous, healthy monster-sized evergreen – 2011 should prove to be a good year for this species!

!!!!4 DAYS TO GO to the HOME OF METAL OPEN DAY at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery!!!!

Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the  Open Day at the New Art Gallery Walsall on the eve of November the 6th 2008 but judging by what I’ve seen, heard and read it proved to be a well attended, fantastic event. Well done to all involved, the seeds are sprouting up all over the place.

I was honoured to be chaufeur for Lisa (Capsule) and the film crew – Ella Turner, Matt Taylor and Martin Poyntz-Roberts on Sunday 23rd November 2008.

We were lucky enough to be able to go to the Crown Plaza Hotel for an interview with Tony Iommi prior to his Walk of Stars Award ceremony outside the Rep and ICC. Unfortunately I sat outside in the hotel hallway while Lisa,the film crew and Steve Gerrard – photographer went into his room – boohoo – yet we were all given official passes (and I managed to make up for it later!)

photo0022

Ella,Martin,Matt and Lisa preparing for the interview

Following the interview we braved the rainy weather and walked over to the Kerrang!  stage, very pleased to say die hard fans had also braved the elements, yet like us most of them had decided to shelter in the front of the Symphony Hall.

photo0027

Jenny (Capsule) joined us and whilst we were waiting Lisa gave a squeal of delight as we spotted 2 very famous faces heading for the loos! When they reappeared Lisa gave them some well timed and appreciated advice on where to head and I got a photo of Ronnie Dio and Vinnie Appice who currently are in the band Heaven and Hell with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.

ronny-deo-and-vinnie-appice-b4-the-award-ceremony

Wow! – right place, right time!!

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t being kind as we joined the crowds and helped Johnny Doom to give out blow up guitars. My pass proved very useful as it meant I could go right to the front of the stage to get some photos.

photo0039

die-hard-fan-in-rain-with-rock-guitar

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Once Tony  had accepted his award he was whisked away in a nice car back to the hotel and with Johnny and his friends we all went to the Yardbird Jazz Club for a well deserved drink and warm-up. It was here that I discovered that we were going to Tony’s after award party back at the hotel!!!

bevy-b4-the-after-award-do

Well it was very interesting with all sorts of people and sunday lunch in a mouthfull!!!!( Mini yorkshire puds with roast beef n mustard were my fave snack doing the rounds!) Being chaufeur I was on the apple juice whilst the others were sipping champagne, yet my brain was in gear and when I saw the opportunity I took it (thankyou to the lady behind the bar whos name I didn’t catch but who kindly lent me a permanent marker) I went and asked Tony Iommi to sign my pass and he was really lovely and did it!!!

at-the-after-show-party

Having eaten a wide range of snacks including mini cones of fish n chips! It was time to go and I really couldn’t resist – my cheek got the better of me and I grabbed Martin gave him my phone and asked Tony  if I could get a picture with him before I left – Joy – he agreed, and I returned the favour and got a picture of Martin on his camera. WOW, Amazing – any one thinking of volunteering for this project should definately give it a go – who knows where and who it will enable you to meet. Meeting Tony Iommi was definately a great way to finish 2008!

me-and-tony-iommi

And so we are now just 4 days away from the Open Day and over the last few weeks Ambassadors and the Home of Metal have been busy behind the scenes working towards this being a great event.

We had a meeting at Creative Alliance on Wed Jan 21st where we discussed plans and the website.

We met again (during the start of the snow) at the Waterhall,Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to see the space and discuss roles and jobs for the coming week. I also delivered images to Jenny which I have sourced over the last few weeks from the archives at Birmingham Central Library – old images of music venues which Chris Phipps will be discussing at the Open Day on Saturday.Some of the images I sourced went to Ben Javens last week and he has produced a wonderful leaflet to accompany Chris Phipps pilot tour.

Copyright prohibits me from uploading these images at the moment yet we’ve been given permission to exhibit them on Saturday so alongwith all the other amazing memorabillia and activities happening it is well worth making your way to the Waterhall any time between 11am and 4pm this Saturday. If you are unable to attend please,please sign up on our website and upload your own stories and images.

A big well done to Ant Ramm @Open Advantage web developer and Ian Richards@Heavy Objectsweb designer the website looks and functions brilliantly and is enabling seeds to shoot up all over the world.

HOME of METAL is well and truly planted, the roots are strong and will hopefully continue to develop into an eternally wondrous, healthy monster-sized evergreen – 2011 should prove to be a good year for this species!

!!!!4 DAYS TO GO to the Home of Metal open day at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery!!!!