Birmingham's loudest rock band is go ahead with an explosive gig – after being banned by the Victoria & Albert Museum because of fears that their ear-splitting rock could smash priceless Ming vases.
Napalm Death, the self-styled grindcore metallers, who once boasted their high volume could make fans sick, have found a new venue for a performance that will, quite literally, explode out of the loudspeakers.
They will team up with artist Keith Harrison at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on November 29 for an “experimental” gig during which they will play through a specially designed PA system filled with liquid clay.
As the four-man band starts to play, the raw energy of the sound produced will reverberate inside the clay, causing it to slowly crack, disintegrate and then explode, changing the music as it does.
West Bromwich-born ceramic artist Harrison explains: “Napalm Death was my band of choice – they really understood the project.
“We needed a group with a lot of attitude to show the power of sound, and the energy that it has to destroy. It’s interesting to see how electrical power can change material, like clay. It can warm it up, break it down or completely change its state.
“One thing is for sure – the gig will be both visually and aurally entertaining.”
But plans to stage the sold-out show at London’s V&A museum, where Harrison is artist-in-residence, fell through at the last minute.
Curators feared that the band’s high decibel levels could destroy some of its most treasured artefacts, including Ming vases and priceless sculptures. They pulled the plug on the show.
“It is with regret that we have taken the decision to cancel the one-off Napalm Death performance,” ran an official V&A statement.
“This was due to take place in the Europe Galleries which are currently being refurbished and a further safety inspection has revealed concerns that the high level of decibels generated by the concert would damage the historic fabric of the building.”
Napalm Death frontman Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway admitted that the decision to cancel the gig was not a surprise, due to the band’s “cripplingly loud” sound:
He said: “They started asking the sound guy fairly nervously ‘What will the volume be like?’
“He was like ‘What can I tell you? They make a lot of noise...”
Greenway added that the museum was particularly worried that a hanging china sculpture could come crashing down.
“Apparently there was some suspended china thing around the stage,” he added.
“Obviously if we cranked the music out and it detached from the ceiling, that would have been embarrassing.”
There are no such fears about the Bexhill venue, where the band will appear on November 29.
It is a concrete and steel seafront arts centre dating back to 1935, and does not house a permanent collection.
It is, however, Grade I listed because it was the first in the UK to be built in the modernist style.
Formed in Birmingham in 1981, Napalm Death are regarded as pioneers of grindcore, which belts out extremely fast tempos and growling vocals.
“Sound as a weapon – or a weapon of change – is a very interesting concept,” Greenway added.
“I think that the whole process of our sound gradually degrading clay sculptures is captivating.”
Napalm Death are also known for their political lyrics, and have previously donated proceeds from their record sales to anti-fascist organisations.
The band, which has so far released 15 albums, is currently on UK tour before heading off to France, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.
They were one fo the three main bands featured in the Home Of Metal exhibition in Birmingham two years ago, along with Judas Priest and Black Sabbath.
