Community News

There's just days to go until the Edgbaston Foundation hosts its biggest Community Fun Day ever on Saturday 4 May.

The 2019 Community Fun Day combines Warwickshire's Royal London One-Day Cup game, at Edgbaston Stadium, with a bumper package of off-field activities and initiatives that support an active, healthy lifestyle.

Hover Archery, Cricket Strike and Laser Tag are just a few of the free activities that children can get involved in on Community Fun Day which, in honour of the iconic Star Wars May 4 day, has a Super Heroes theme with fans being encouraged to dress up as their favourite character.

Returning for 2019, health awareness charity Boundaries for Life will be providing free health checks conducted by health professionals to supporters in the Exhibition Hall with a focus on determining a 'healthy heart' age. The NSPCC will also be holding workshops for parents on children staying safe online.

Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: "Community Fun Day is about opening the gates at Edgbaston to bring in new people including those who don't watch cricket regularly, so they can experience everything that we have to offer on and off the field.

"This will be the first time that we have been able to combine our extensive programme of Fun Day activities with a Royal London One-Day Cup match and, with the game falling on the Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend, we're looking forward to welcoming a good crowd."

A number of local West Midlands musical performers gave up their time to help support Parkinson’s UK host a Champagne Afternoon Tea to raise vital money for the charity.

The Afternoon Tea took place on Sunday at the Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham, in their Sky Loft with amazing 360-degree views of the city.

Tribute band Elton Fantastic and singer songwriter Mat Partridge, both from the Black Country, took part in the 2018 ‘Buskin for Parkinson’s’ events, organised by Black Country Radio presenter Billy Spakemon, raising over £6,000 for the charity and jumped at the chance to help out again when asked by Regional Fundraiser Gayle Kelly.

Joining them were modern community choir Sing! Bentley Heath, from Dorridge, who have chosen Parkinson’s UK as one of their charities for the year and local Birmingham singer Claudia Whittle.

Both have connections to the charity and looked forward to contributing their hearts and voices to the event.

Gayle Kelly, Regional Fundraiser for Birmingham and the Black Country at Parkinson’s UK, said: “The afternoon was absolutely wonderful, with so much for guests to enjoy, as well as a tasty Afternoon Tea of course!  The bands all give their time and energy for free which was fantastic, to raise lots of money for the charity.”

Parkinson's UK is the leading charity driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition. The money raised will support it in its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure and it affects 145,000 people in the UK, including more than 12,300 people in the West Midlands.

A GP surgery has been chosen to appear on Channel 5’s new series of GPs: Behind Closed Doors – the first time a West Midlands practice has been featured.

Patients of Hall Green Health, which is based on the Stratford Road in the Hall Green area of South Birmingham, will be given the opportunity to consent to appear on the TV show as they visit the practice for appointments over the next nine months.

Cameras will allow a fascinating insight into this busy practice as this popular fly-on-the-wall documentary series takes viewers into the private world of a local GP surgery to find out what happens during appointments.

John Hood, Practice Manager at Hall Green Health, said: “The whole practice is really excited about being a part of GPs: Behind Closed Doors. Like most practices, we work under pressured circumstances but, at Hall Green Health, we have really taken the opportunity to review our situation and endeavoured to innovate; to create new ways of working that have enabled us to improve the service to our patients. This will be a great opportunity to showcase and share some of the things that have really worked for us.”

He added: “There are cameras in six consultation rooms; a minor operations room; treatment room; as well as an area of the waiting room; the reception desk and records desk – in fact there are 44 cameras in total, with four filming at any one time.

“We would like to reassure those visiting Hall Green Health that only patients and staff who give their consent will be captured on camera, however, so far just setting up the cameras has created quite a buzz of excitement.”

Filming is due to start five-days-a-week from Monday 29 April 2019, with the expected air date of the new series around July or August.

The Vaisakhi open air celebrations is a not-for-profit community event, celebrated in Birmingham: the most cosmopolitan and vibrant city in Europe. A cornerstone of Birmingham success has been that of its citizens celebrating their heritage together.

The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham organises a Nagar Kirtan (holy street procession) and a communitiy celebration in Handsworth Park, Birmingham to celebrate Vaisakhi. This year the open air celebrations will take place on Sunday 29 April 2018.

Feel free to join the processions as per the timings on the image, or alternatively, join the processions at Handsworth Park to celebrate there!

Kurumba Maldives was the country's first private island resort and, having pioneered tourism to the islands for 47 years, it has remained one of the finest. Kurumba takes its name from the Maldivian word for 'coconut', which grows in abundance across this tropical haven, and the 5 star resort's peerless blend of luxury and tranquillity tempts many a visitor to return to its sandy shores time and time again.

This year, on the 22nd April, Kurumba's team and guests were invited to participate in activities across the island to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and to protect endangered species. “When we come together, the impact can be monumental”- a call to action from Earth Day Network bringing together people across the world to fight the plastic tide.

Earth Day at Kurumba Maldives began with a clean-up activity in the beach and lagoon areas from very early morning, followed by a trip to clean up trash in a remote sandbank nearby. Later in the evening, a reef clean-up activity was also organised by Kurumba's dive team, Euro Divers, for certified divers to participate in. A huge amount of trash - mainly plastics - were collected during these activities alerting everyone about the major environmental issue which we are facing: plastic pollution in the ocean.

While across the globe, people are looking for ways to give back to the environment, at Kurumba organised a celebration for the responsibility of green living. Tree planting was held across the island with the participation from guests of all ages, the activity was particular popular for children in the Majaa Kids Club. A special 'Mystery of Kurumba' tour was conducted, educating guests in the effective recycling process at the back of house.

The highlight of Earth Day this year at Kurumba was the launch of the "Fish-Bins". In the shape of fishes, these four wire art sculptures were individually hand crafted with an aim to use art as a call to action. Each of these fish sculptures has its own name and story and was filled with plastic bottles to symbolise the threats of plastics to the ocean and its marine life.

The event ended with an urge to everyone who cares about the future of our planet to adopt new behaviours and habits that benefit our planet, and to ensure that those actions become part of our daily routine.

The Muslim Council of Britain has urged for more Muslim women in leadership roles in Muslim-led organisations across the UK at its inaugural Women’s Conference in London under the theme #BalanceForBetter.

Keynote speaker, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Sudanese-Australian writer and broadcaster, said: “Our identity as Muslim women has been politicised but it is a religious identity first and foremostly.”

Community Engagement Manager, Samayya Afzal, added: “Muslim women have long been talked about, and talked over. This event was an opportunity to hear from a diversity of women from different backgrounds, to empower the voices of women in our communities and organisations, and allow a platform for Muslim women to be unapologetically themselves.”

The conference also saw the launch of the 2019 Women in Mosques Development Programme – a scheme designed to accelerate the development of talented upcoming female leaders to be the mosque trustees, committee members and centre manager of the future – and expanding upon last year’s pilot programme.

The conference, supported by Muslim Aid and the UCL Women’s Network, also featured workshops and sessions from over 20 talented Muslim female leaders in their fields, covering Muslim women and higher education, sports, mental health, Islamophobia, politics & public life, international gender justice and more.

Government plans to restructure fees for probate applications have led to delays for families looking to settle their loved ones’ affairs as people rush to beat the intended deadline.

National law firm Clarke Willmott LLP says a Government proposal to increase the fixed fee of £155 (for solicitor applications) to a fee dependent on the value of the estate - which could amount to £6,000 - had backfired.

The new fees were due to come in to effect on April 1, but the relevant legislation was hit by opposition - and lack of Parliamentary time.

Carol Cummins, a consultant in the private capital team at Clarke Willmott, said: “The last-minute influx of applications from people keen to beat the deadline means that instead of waiting two to three weeks for their application to be granted people will be putting up with delays of between three to four months.

“This delay could cause significant problems in the administration of an estate. For instance, Personal Representatives (PRs) have no access to the assets in the estate until the grant is issued.

“This means, for example, that if a sale of the deceased’s property has been negotiated, exchange of contracts on that sale can’t take place until the grant is issued.

“Similarly, shares held in the deceased person’s name cannot be sold which could have serious financial implications in the event of a substantial market downturn.

“Moreover, if the PRs had to apply for a loan to pay the inheritance tax due on application for the grant, this delay will substantially lengthen the time that the loan is outstanding and the interest payable on it will be greater.”

Carol Cummins said the effect of making the increase dependent on the date of the application rather than the date of death was bound to lead to problems processing grant applications.

“Bereavement is a very stressful event and this delay in issuing the grant can only add to the distress of the deceased person’s family,” she said.

Clarke Willmott LLP is a national law firm with seven offices across the country.

The number of new homes built last year in the West Midlands has bucked the national trend to show strong growth.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 10,640 new homes were started in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area last year – a seven per cent increase on 2017. Across England, the average increase was zero.

Within the West Midlands, the number of homes started last year went up the most – by 18 per cent – in the Black Country.

Housing completions in the West Midlands increased by 13 per cent to 10,960, compared to the average increase of one per cent in England.

The highest rise in housing completions was in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area, where 40 per cent more new homes were finished than in 2017.

The WMCA has committed to delivering 215,000 new homes across the region by 2031.

Gareth Bradford, director of housing and regeneration at the WMCA, said: “Our economic success and new job creation are driving the demand for new housing across the West Midlands.

“These latest statistics show that we and our partners are making good progress. However, this is only the start and there is still much to do.

“We are working with the local authorities in our area to unlock land and accelerate the delivery of new homes and jobs.

“For example, we are introducing a single framework to distribute £610m of funding quickly and efficiently, helping to speed up developments and, ultimately, the regeneration and growth of our cities and towns.”

The housing figures relate to the WMCA’s three LEPs: Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton), Coventry and Warwickshire, and Greater Birmingham and Solihull.

This August, Birmingham Hippodrome will present its first home-grown youth production as a fresh new production of West Side Story comes to the main stage this August.

After   extensive   rounds   of   auditions   and   over   one   thousand   applicants,   forty   local   young performers have been announced who will bring the legendary musical to life in an exciting first of its kind production marking the theatre’s 120th birthday.

Leading   the   cast   as   the   star-crossed   lovers, Tony   and   Maria, are Alex Cooke (15) from Kingswinford and Kamilla Fernandes (18) from Coventry. They are joined by Ruby Hewitt (19) from Harborne as Anita, Gibsa Bah (18) from Great Barr as Barnardo, Matthew Pandya (18) from Coventry as Riff, Olivia Allen (21)   from   Harborne   as   Anybodys and Carter Smith (16) from Yardley as Chino.

The full company is comprised of Luke Rossiter (14), Harvey Zafino (16), Brook Jenkins (14), Diarmuid Gaffrey (17), Hugo Montgomery (19), Kane Taylor (17), Alan Lewis (21) and Harry Chamberlain (16), Maisie Lodge (16), Ella   Kenrick   (24),   Olivia   Caddick (14),   Ebony Roy-Palmer (17), Tumba Katanda (18), Bethan   Day   (21),   Rhiannon   Lee Street   (18), Evie-May Harding (17) and Nancy Ling (22) who make up the ‘Jets’.

The ‘Sharks’ gang features Jaye Fordham (20), Demi Walton (16), Jasmine Bromfield (17), Justine Matthews (22), Isabella Polidori (16), Ashley Savage (17), Alexandra Whitehead (25) and Elle Carter-Knowles (21), Oliver Cowlishaw (20), Aadil Din Mohammad (17), Harry Cooke (14), Tom   Silverton  (25),   Adam   Robinson   (17),   Adam   Newton   (17),  Alexander   Wooliscroft (25) and Kai-Daniel Augustin (17).

Joining the young company will be four Birmingham Hippodrome staff members who will take on the adult character roles; Benjamin Jones will swap Visitor Services for the role of Gladhand, Marketing   Officer   Chris   Cooper   will   play   Lieutenant   Schrank,   Visitor   Services Administrator Nicola Entwistle will be Officer Krupke and Visitor Services Assistant Sabrina Naz Nabi will play the role of Doc. The creation of West Side Story will be overseen by a professional creative team which includes Matt Hawksworth (Director & Choreographer), Paul Murphy (Conductor & Musical Director), Sarah Burrell (Assistant Musical Director), Ruth Saeger (Assistant Choreographer), Al   Parkinson   (Designer),   Philip   Gladwell   (Lighting   Designer),   Rachel   Baynton   (Costume Designer) and Olly Steel (Sound Designer).Director,  Matt Hawksworth said; “We were overwhelmed by the response when initial audition notices were posted for this very special production of West Side Story.

After seeing a thousand young people at auditions, we now finally have our exceptionally talented cast. “Rehearsals have already began and we can’t wait to celebrate Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120th birthday with this brilliant new production of a truly iconic musical.”

Fiona Allan, Birmingham Hippodrome Artistic Director and Chief Executive added; “It is fitting that we mark our 120th birthday by funding a major new production, giving back to young people in our community.

West Side Story remains just as relevant now as when it was first written, and holds many parallels we can still see in our everyday lives. Our director, Matt Hawksworth has drawn together a tremendously experienced professional creative team, who will ensure that the company experience all aspects of mounting a major musical in the large scale.

“Our birthday celebrations are headlined with the strapline Then, Now, Always-this production will encompass this message in its entirety.

Then being the staging of this classic musical, Now is bringing a new production to our main stage, and Always is the hugely talented cast of young people who are the performers and audience members of our theatre’s future.

“I can’t wait for the curtain to rise on this brilliant new adventure for our cast, creatives and Birmingham Hippodrome.”

West Side Story plays at Birmingham Hippodrome from August 29 – 31. Tickets go on sale to Birmingham Hippodrome Friends and Patron scheme members from 11am, 25 April - general on sale begins Mon 29 Apr, 11am.

As longer-term mortgages become more common, new research from Santander Mortgages reveals almost half (48 per cent) of potential home-buyers in the Midlands would consider taking out a 40-year mortgage to keep monthly repayments more affordable. Furthermore, first-time buyers who take out a 40-year mortgage could save £178,500, 77 per cent of the average UK house price, when compared to the cost of renting over the same period³.

With 66 per cent of those in the Midlands saying they see renting as just a way of lining someone else’s pockets, Santander has become the latest lender to extend its mortgage terms to up to 40 years, giving more customers a way to manage the cost of buying a home and potentially break the costly renting cycle.

The bank’s findings show that a 40-year mortgage could help 507,750 more first-time buyers get onto the property ladder in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. These are people who would otherwise not be able to afford the monthly repayments associated with a 25-year mortgage based on their salaries and living costs.

The UK average shows the cost of an average monthly repayment for a 25-year mortgage falls by £263 when spread over 40 years⁴.

However, nearly a fifth (19 per cent) of buyers in the Midlands didn’t realise that spreading a mortgage over a longer term would mean lower monthly repayments. Many people would look to reduce the term of a 40-year mortgage later down the line, a quarter (25 per cent) of buyers in the Midlands would look to reduce the term of a 40-year mortgage if their finances improved, a third (34 per cent) would pay off extra whenever they could to reduce the mortgage term and a fifth (19 per cent) would look to re-mortgage to a shorter term when they moved to a different house.

Miguel Sard, Managing Director of Mortgages at Santander UK said: “The possibility of owning a property may seem like a distant dream to some aspiring buyers, many of whom have found themselves locked in a ‘rent trap’ and unable to get onto the property ladder.

“By offering first-time buyers the option of a longer-term mortgage, our aim is to address some of the affordability restrictions they face and support hopeful home owners in getting a foot on the property ladder with more manageable monthly repayments”.

When considering budgeting for monthly mortgage repayments, almost half (47 per cent) of prospective buyers in the Midlands would still want to maintain a certain quality of life and 47 per cent must also factor in other monthly financial commitments such as their car finance. Saving for major life events is another consideration for more than a quarter (29 per cent) of potential buyers, while a third (32 per cent) need to consider saving to cover the costs of having children.

Santander’s research estimates that around 15 million people are looking to purchase a property in the next five years, with data suggesting that first-time buyers are responsible for over half of all property transactions.

Dates for the 50-piece group include their debut appearance in a cathedral, and conclude with the prestigious Festival Finale spot at Towersey Festival, one of the UK’s oldest music festivals.

Their appearance at Lichfield Cathedral - the country’s only medieval three-spired cathedral - is in aid of the magnificent venue and When You Wish Upon A Star, a leading charity which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Other tour highlights include hosting Power Folk 6, in their home city of Birmingham. A one-day mini-festival (and guaranteed sell out), this year sees the group perform alongside invited guests such as singer-songwriter Kevin Dempsey (Dando Shaft, Swarb's Lazarus, Whippersnapper), new folk/ fusion band Gathering Tides, and trio Threaded.

The jaunt kicks off with a special two-set show at their Conservatoire HQ. Due to the logistical challenges of performing with such a sizeable company, this is the first time the entire ensemble have played their complete live set on home turf in several years.

Says band leader Joe Broughton: “Every year we bring something new to the ensemble’s shows, and this year is no exception. Throughout the summer we’ll be playing plenty of the old favourites, yet with some slightly different arrangements. But we also have some amazing new tunes, which are just getting better and better every time we perform them.

"With this number of musicians on stage at any one time, things never stand still. It’s just a joyous, joyous thing!”

The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble’s energetic and powerful live sets are indeed a sight to behold, presently featuring an 18-piece horn section, five cellists, seven percussionists and five electric guitarists, plus fiddles, flutes, clarinets, euphonium, and accordions! They also all sing too.

Though rooted in traditional folk tunes, the personal influences of each member steers the set, pulling in everything from full-on rock grooves, to funk, jazz, hip-hop and reggae, to sounds from Eastern Europe and Asia. It’s a sound they’ve dubbed ‘Power Folk.’

Formed in 1997 by fiddle player, arranger, producer and tutor Joe Broughton, they’ve played dozens of major music festivals, released four lauded albums, established their own annual mini-festival, packed out the Royal Albert Hall, become an online sensation, and provided the launch pad for countless other acts.

In the last 12 months, the ensemble have unleashed the exceptionally diverse ‘Sleepy Maggie’ mini-album, recorded their first ever professional music video, and in March they brought shoppers to a standstill with a pop-up performance at the famed Bull Ring, in Birmingham - one of the country’s busiest retail centres.

Featuring dazzling work-outs with all 50-plus musicians alongside hushed solo performances, here’s a rare chance to really experience the shape-shifting collective in all their spectacular glory as they head out on tour.

Dementia UK, the only charity caring for people with dementia and their families with specialist dementia nurses, has published tips on having a happy Easter holiday.

Mutsai Hove Bird, Admiral Nurse, said: “Easter is a time for many families to come together. However it can prove challenging for families if a family member has dementia, particularly if routines change and there are lots of people around”.

Mutsai suggests:

1.   Including the person with dementia. Make the person with dementia feel included in activities and conversation. Tailor what they do to their abilities, hobbies, likes and dislikes.

2.   Enjoy Easter traditions and the memories they bring. As well as attending an Easter church service or a Seder dinner during Passover, there are many activities for the family which can also be enjoyed by the person with dementia. These can include: arts and crafts, such as painting eggs, or perhaps going for a walk to burn off those extra calories. You can also put on a favourite Easter film or piece of music enjoyed by the person with dementia.

3.   Easter eating and drinking. Inviting a family member with dementia to help out with meal preparation can be a great way to make them feel included. Making a simnel cake or eating hot cross buns together can tap into positive memories. Remember, some people with dementia can struggle with big food portions so keep it small to begin with, and then offer more if appropriate.

4.   Make time for yourself. Never be afraid to ask for help if things get a bit too much for you. Asking family and friends to look after any house duties during Easter can give you some time to recharge and relax. You could also ask if they’re willing to sit with your family member with dementia to talk to them and help them feel included. People are often happy to help, but might not think to offer themselves.

5.   Be prepared. A bit of preparation can reduce stress over Easter. Keep a list of useful telephone numbers such as out of hours medical services and the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline. If you are going away, make sure your relative has packed medication and any personal care support aids they may need.

If you have any concerns around dementia, call the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678.

The Helpline is open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 5pm on weekends. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline will be closed on Good Friday 19^th April, Easter Sunday 21^st April and Easter Monday 22^nd April.

A new study has revealed just how much the British and Irish love to complain, identifying daily struggles with traffic and the weather as top causes of complaints.

A survey of 1,000 UK and Irish adults commissioned by Emo Oil, a home heating oil supplier, has revealed that on average Brits and the Irish complain as many as 28 times every day – an average of 10,220 times over the course of a year. The number one thing Brits and the Irish love to complain about has been revealed as traffic, with 61% of people admitting to regularly moaning about jams and congestion. More than a third of those surveyed (34%) confess to whingeing about traffic as many as three times a day.

Predictably perhaps, the weather came in second, with 53% of those surveyed complaining about this. After traffic and the weather, being too hot or cold was named as the third biggest gripe (49%).

Money troubles was also cited as being one of the most complained about topics with 47% of people saying they regularly complain about not being able to afford something.

Getting ill completed the top five list, with 43% of participants naming this as a top gripe.

Mark Hackett, Project Manager at Emo Oil said: “It’s quite shocking to see how guilty we are of complaining – it really stacks up when you think about how many times we do this per day.  

“This time of year can be particularly gruelling. If the cold weather and endless stream of illnesses being passed around the office weren’t enough to put you in a bad mood, the sheer volume of traffic on the roads is certainly worthy of a whinge. There are plenty of simple ways to keep spirits high though; such as enjoying a nice warm meal with friends or cranking up the heating to keep cosy in the colder evenings.”

The UK and Ireland’s top 10 complaints:

1. Traffic – 61%
2. The weather – 53%
3. Being too hot or cold – 49%
4. Money troubles – 47%
5. Getting ill – 43%
6. Working long hours – 40%
7. Potholes – 40%
8. Annoying colleagues – 31%
9. Queueing – 23%
10. Noisy neighbours – 22%

Tickets will be on general release for this year’s blockbuster Heavy Metal exhibition, Home of Metal: Black Sabbath – 50 Years, from Thursday 18^th April. The exhibition opens to the public on 26 June through to 29 September at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

From the humble beginnings of 1960s Aston, Birmingham, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward created Black Sabbath, in turn forging a new sound, a new aesthetic, and a new musical culture – Heavy Metal. With the full support of the original founders of Black Sabbath, the exhibition will detail the history of this iconic band, and their links to Birmingham, as the early pioneers of Heavy Metal. The show will celebrate their significant contribution to British music heritage and their unique relationship to their fans.

Iconic artefacts and personal items such as photographs, fans’ gifts, stage costumes and jewellery, plus more, will be on loan from the band members themselves. In addition, demonstrating the extraordinary scale and diversity of their global fan base, the show will include Black Sabbath memorabilia stretching back to the 70s, ranging from gig tickets and mixtapes, to motorbikes and battle jackets.

The exhibition will also showcase Black Sabbath’s Birmingham roots with photographs, posters, tickets and programmes from local venues that were instrumental in the band’s early success.

Also, a collection of 3,000+ commissioned portraits of Metal fans from countries as far afield as the USA, Botswana, Eygpt, Indonesia and Japan will throw light on this huge global community, one which Spotify* recently identified as the most loyal across all music genres.

Home of Metal is conceived and produced by Capsule, under the leadership of its founder and artistic director, Lisa Meyer, and is presented in partnership with Birmingham Museums Trust.  In collaboration with Capsule, Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan, one of the UK’s most acclaimed designer duos, will design Home of Metal: Black Sabbath - 50 Years for the Gas Hall within Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the largest exhibition space in a museum or gallery outside of London.

The exhibition is at the centrepiece of six shows being staged this summer by Home of Metal, each devoted to the music that was born in and around Birmingham.  Music that turned up the volume, down-tuned the guitars, and introduced a whole new meaning to the word ‘heavy’ that has reached into all corners of culture.