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Line-up announced for BBC Black Sabbath special

Shehnaz Khan
BBC News, West Midlands
Jordan Rhys A woman with red hair is pictured rocking her head back and forth. Other band holding guitars and playing drums can be seen in the background.Jordan Rhys
All-female band Cherrydead will perform as part of the celebration evening on 2 July

Three live acts dubbed "the future stars" of heavy metal are to perform in Birmingham as part of a special BBC celebration of Black Sabbath.

Cherrydead, Gans and Meatdripper, all from Birmingham, will take to the stage at the city's town hall for BBC Radio WM Celebrates Metal in the Midlands on 2 July.

The event, presented alongside B: Music and Home of Metal, will also feature a film screening and industry discussion.

It will be held in the city just days before Black Sabbath reunites for a final show at Villa Park on 5 July.

James Thompson A black and white image of a group of women standing outdoors. James Thompson
Meatdripper and two-piece band Gans will also perform on the evening

The legendary heavy metal band was formed in the Aston area in 1968 and held their first rehearsal at Newtown Community Centre.

Band Ozzy Osbourne, Terence "Geezer" Butler, Toni Iommi and Bill Ward will headline a one-day festival in July, performing alongside dozens of bands they inspired, such as Metallica, Pantera and Slayer.

Chris Pegg, editor of BBC Radio WM, described Birmingham as the "birthplace of heavy metal".

Speaking of the BBC event, he added: "To be presenting a new generation of metal acts in such an important venue for music in the region today demonstrates our commitment to ing the major music stars of tomorrow."

PA Media Four men wearing dark clothing standing in a line with their backs against an advertising board. From left to right are Black Sabbath band Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi.PA Media
Black Sabbath will play their final show at Birmingham's Villa Park in July

Chris Proctor, head of programming at B: Music, which manages the town hall, added it would be a "phenomenal night" that marked the return of four Birmingham musicians.

"We're delighted to not only be working with BBC in Birmingham and Home of Metal again but also the future stars of UK metal," he added.

Tickets for the event are on general sale now.

Cherrydead lead vocalist Emily Drummond said being asked to "be noisy" on the special occasion was "mind-blowing".

"We can't wait to bring our own flavour of heavy [metal] to the occasion," she added.

Liv, bassist and vocalist with Meatdripper, said: "When I think of [Black] Sabbath, I think of the best of Brum. I think of heavy riffs and iconic vocals.

"It makes me proud to be living in a city with such a legendary music scene."

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