I’m very proud to have been asked to be the official photographer for the Home Of Metal project.
According to the website, Home Of Metal is “a celebration of the music that was created in the West Midlands, its legacy and influence across the world. Bringing people together to share their passion for the music by creating a digital archive, heritage tours, exhibitions and ultimately a permanent collection dedicated to telling the story of Metal and its unique birthplace.
The Home of Metal digital archive is an opportunity for fans from all corners of the globe to share their passion for Heavy Metal music and contribute stories and memorabilia by uploading images, sound files and film footage.”
It’s an ongoing project which is developing pace and getting recognition and support from all over the world. Five legendary bands from the West Midlands are being used to represent how this area has influenced the path of rock and metal music. “From Black Sabbath, unquestionably the founding fathers of heavy metal who introduced a sense of darkness, the supernatural, and huge, heavy riffs to an era still celebrating peace, love and flower power. Led Zeppelin , arguably one of the worlds biggest ever bands, who were one of the first to dirty up RnB and recreate it as Hard Rock. Judas Priest , defenders of the faith whose twin guitar attack paved the way for multitudes of melodic metal acts in their wake. The 80s and 90s are also represented by Napalm Death , whose first two albums introduced grindcore to an unsuspecting world, and finally Godflesh , whose brooding, desolate soundscapes pioneered industrial metal.”
As part of the project I have been photographing the fans. From teens to grandparents. All shapes & sizes. But all with a uniqueness and individual style. Some very individual!
It’s been an absolute pleasure being involved in Home Of Metal. And 2011 looks like being their biggest and best year yet….
For more info, and to find out how you could get involved, visit HomeofMetal.com
And Evelyne took a photo of me in my Godflesh shirt for the project… 
Congrats Steve, this is an awesome project and I love the pics above!!! Great work! Heinz
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by lisa meyer and Birmingham Live!, Steve Gerrard. Steve Gerrard said: RT @birminghamlive: See anyone you know? Home Of Metal portraits by @stevegerrard – http://bit.ly/g1f4Jd @supersonicfest [...]
Great work – really love it. Next time you’re in Wolvo, I’ll bring my girls up again, especially as 2 year old has her own pink Rammstein teeshirt now!
Some great stuff here Steve – have you managed to photograph anyone not wearing black yet??? Tell you, what, I’ll wear my red Dillinger Escape plan t-shirt to Band of Horses tomorrow and you add some colour to your collection! See you in the pit \m/
Great shots Steve. Something tells me that a high proportion of regulars at the House of Metal probably tend to be extroverts!
Nice photos! \m/
Can’t stand the music (apart from Led Zep of course!), love the pics. You seem to have slipped a couple of vampires in there too.
Rock on!! As a lover of Rock and Heavy Metal i am loving this, great characters in the shots, love it!!
great pics man
hope the sabs REunite
they are still nr. 1
\,,/
respect from HUNgary!
[...] exhibition includes a whole wall of my metal fan portraits. It also includes the largest print of one of my images ever! The crowd scene on the wall below was [...]