“Birthplace of heavy metal” Birmingham’s The Crown secures listed status
nme.comBlack Sabbath performed their first gig has secured listed status, following fears it may be knocked down.The Crown venue, also regarded by some as the “birthplace of heavy metal” was one of the buildings at risk on Station Street.
It is based on the same street as the Electric – the UK’s oldest working cinema which was shut down last week.Now, it has been listed as Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England, helping to secure its future on the street.The iconic space has been empty for 10 years now, and initially, Birmingham Open Media had planned to buy and restore the pub.
That being said, in light of Birmingham Council’s funding crisis, the organisation lost its funding and faced competition from a developer wanting to use the site for housing.The listed status comes after more than 15,000 people signed a petition, calling for the street to be saved and regarded as “a site of civic pride, cultural value and historic asset” (via The Guardian).
The new status gives the venue more protection from re-development.The venue has been on the street since 1881 and has played host to performances by some of the biggest names in rock.
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