A pilgrimage of heavy metal rock bands from across the world is resulting in multiple picture posts of them posing on the Black Sabbath bench on Westside.
Vocalist and guitarist Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, from Canadian heavy metal band Anvil, was one of the latest rockers to be pictured at the canal bridge venue on Broad Street – both alone (main picture) and then with fellow band members here.
We’ve already featured Ian Scott, the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of Anthrax from New York City, who was thrilled to sit on the bench during the band’s Birmingham gig on their 40th anniversary tour of the UK last month.
And we’ve now spotted the thrash metal band’s drummer Charlie Benante, pictured here with Carla Harvey, one of the frontwomen of Butcher Babies, a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California.
But it’s not just Americans heading to the Black Sabbath Bridge. Here we’ve got guitarist Marek ‘Spider’ Pająk from Polish extreme metal band Vader proudly pictured with his arms around Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi.
And Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski, the lead guitarist and lead vocalist of Polish extreme metal band Behemoth, also hugged Ozzy on the bench when he visited Birmingham.
Meanwhile, a Facebook post of lead vocalist and lyricist King Diamond from Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate has also been snapped enjoying the sun on the bench this summer.
Many of the rockers’ visits and picture posts were first spotted by the Home of Metal Facebook page, which regularly posts on their activities.
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID and the man behind the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street, said: “We’re amazed by how many people are sitting on the bench every day, and early estimates are looking at more than one million people a year.
“But the fact that other famed rockers from Europe, America, Canada and beyond are also making a bee-line for the bench when visiting Birmingham is fantastic.
“The bench really is becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions in Birmingham – from mums and dads taking their little kiddies for a picture all the way to the famous names from heavy metal wanting to be seen in the lap of their music gods.”
● Did you know that you can take use a clever app to take your picture on the Black Sabbath bench? For more details, see the signage on the bench or visit www.blacksabbathbench.co.uk.
