2 - Punks, Politics, Performance

Explicit content warning

06/08/23 • 58 min

In this episode we learn more about The Mermaid - how it was a hub for some groups - and the political background of 1980s Birmingham. The Mermaid was a hub for alternative thinking aswell as music, and is seen by many as the birthplace of grindcore. To create this podcast, we interviewed people who were part of the Mermaid scene, including Justin Broadrick (Napalm Death, Godflesh, Final), Nicholas Bullen (Napalm Death), Stig C. Miller (Amebix), Steve Charlesworth (Heresy), Steve Watson (Cerebral Fix), Mark Freeth (Ausgang) and more musicians and fans who made the Mermaid a vital place for underground music.

Music heritage is all about the stories we tell around these little scenes, shining a torch on underground histories that could otherwise be forgotten in a haze of scrumpy and mushrooms.

Created by Home of Metal, presented by Sarah Lafford, produced by Alice Rosenthal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music heritage is all about the stories we tell around these little scenes, shining a torch on underground histories that could otherwise be forgotten in a haze of scrumpy and mushrooms.

Created by Home of Metal, presented by Sarah Lafford, produced by Alice Rosenthal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

1 - Setting the Stage

In this episode we're introduced to The Mermaid, a large dilapidated pub in Sparkhill, in Birmingham. In the 1980s it was a hub for alternative music, and is seen by many as the birthplace of grindcore. To create this podcast, we interviewed people who were part of the Mermaid scene, including Justin Broadrick (Napalm Death, Godflesh, Final), Nicholas Bullen (Napalm Death), Stig C. Miller (Amebix), Steve Charlesworth (Heresy), Steve Watson (Cerebral Fix), Mark Freeth (Ausgang) and more musicians and fans who made the Mermaid a vital place for underground music.

Music heritage is all about the stories we tell around these little scenes, shining a torch on underground histories that could otherwise be forgotten in a haze of scrumpy and mushrooms.

Created by Home of Metal, presented by Sarah Lafford, produced by Alice Rosenthal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

3 - Louder, Faster, Noisier

In this episode we hear about the iconic gigs at The Mermaid - it's seen by many as the birthplace of grindcore - and there was lots of other noise being made in this pub in Sparkhill too. Napalm Death were regulars on the stage, but, it seems, they weren't responsible for the loudest gig ever to be played on that corner of the Stratford Road... To create this podcast, we interviewed people who were part of the Mermaid scene, including Justin Broadrick (Napalm Death, Godflesh, Final), Nicholas Bullen (Napalm Death), Stig C. Miller (Amebix), Steve Charlesworth (Heresy), Steve Watson (Cerebral Fix), Mark Freeth (Ausgang) and more musicians and fans who made the Mermaid a vital place for underground music.

Music heritage is all about the stories we tell around these little scenes, shining a torch on underground histories that could otherwise be forgotten in a haze of scrumpy and mushrooms.

Created by Home of Metal, presented by Sarah Lafford, produced by Alice Rosenthal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.