Various Artists (Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Metallica) – The Birth of Heavy Music: History of Heavy Metal

At long last, Black Sabbath’s *Dumfries 1969*—capturing the very moment heavy music was born—is being released. I highly recommend the masterpiece program *Heavy Metal: From Black Sabbath to Metallica*, which offers a vivid sense of the history of heavy metal that followed. Produced by the BBC and broadcast in the Netherlands in 2008, this historical special is—as the title suggests—a documentary covering the “History of Heavy Metal,” tracing the journey from the birth of Black Sabbath to Metallica’s *Black Album* in about an hour. The program follows a standard format, interweaving performance footage—such as live shows, music videos, and BBC appearances—with interviews featuring the key players and illustrative visuals. Admittedly, since the commentary is in English and the subtitles are in Dutch, it is difficult to catch every word; yet, strangely enough, the content is understandable even if your English isn’t strong. This is because the commentary covers fundamental anecdotes—such as “I cut off my finger while working in a factory” or “We wanted to make music that would scare the audience”—that have been recounted countless times in magazines and history videos. Does that make it uninteresting? Far from it. While the performance footage—including rare clips—is excellent, the illustrative visuals are truly outstanding. For instance, during a scene where someone recounts, “I met the guy after seeing a recruitment poster for ‘Ozzy Zigg,'” the actual streets of Birmingham are shown alongside a recreation of the “Ozzy Zigg” poster plastered on a street corner. Furthermore, the segment depicting Ozzy’s despondency after being fired from Black Sabbath shows a room littered with liquor bottles and a barefoot big toe lying amidst white powder; stories we have heard so many times before are vividly “visualized” right before our eyes. And it doesn’t stop with Black Sabbath; other bands appear as well. Tracing the timeline, the featured bands are Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, and Metallica—a lineup that hits all the right notes for Japanese fans. The segment on Judas Priest is particularly outstanding. When recounting how Rob Halford “invented” the leather-and-studs look, the film shows the interior of a London adult shop, intercutting shots of whips and leather gear with footage of Rob on stage. Even more shocking is the coverage of the trial involving a boy who allegedly committed suicide because of the song “Better By You, Better Than Me.” While the band’s own history video briefly flashes actual courtroom footage, this documentary presents it at far greater length. We see Rob’s look of utter disbelief in the courtroom as a witness testifies that the song sounds like it says “Do it!” when played backward. It even includes scenes of the prosecution grilling the band while holding the actual gun used in the incident, utilizing authentic audio recordings from the proceedings. This trial is a notorious chapter in metal history, yet seeing it depicted with such raw, real-life footage is astounding. It is exactly what you would expect from the BBC, a broadcaster that has walked hand-in-hand with the history of rock music. There is also a shot of Glenn Tipton signing autographs for fans after winning the case; the complex expression on his face—a mix of relief and an inability to feel unadulterated joy—clearly reflects the anger and sorrow that would later be unleashed on the masterpiece *Painkiller* (yes, that album was about more than just aggression!). In this way, the film visualizes the subtle emotional nuances hidden within the classic albums we have long loved. It also explores other fascinating contrasts, such as the “monster” aesthetic introduced by Iron Maiden, and how that concept transformed when it crossed the Atlantic to Mötley Crüe—shifting into a strange blend of medieval imagery and glamorous women that highlights the differences between British and American sensibilities. This film brings to life the culture that heavy metal has cultivated over the years. Yes, while we have always loved heavy metal as music, there was undeniably a “culture” surrounding it—a culture manifested at times in T-shirts, headbanging, or even the girls who were part of the scene. Transcending mere songs, melodies, or beats, we have lived and breathed within this “metal culture.” This film allows you to witness that world firsthand and experience it with a tangible sense of reality. This week, we unveil the story of where it all began: Black Sabbath’s “Dumfries 1969.” The weight of this moment could only be described by the phrase “historical significance.” Yet, we want you to feel the true depth and meaning—etched into our very lives—that those dry, clinical words fail to fully convey. Documentary about the History of Heavy Metal 1. Opening 2. Introduction 3. Black Sabbath 1 4. Deep Purple 5. Black Sabbath 2 6. Judas Priest 7. Black Sabbath 3 8. Iron Maiden 9. Mötley Crüe 10. Ozzy Osbourne 11. PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) 12. Subliminal Message Trial (Judas Priest) 13. Metallica PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx. 50 min.