Firstly, a huge thanks to all who made the event go so well.
Secondly, to say, it did go well! :) About 200 people came, lots gave to the YMCA after the service, many took Biker Bibles from the Christian Bikers who came (myself included!), and all seemed to enjoy the service and came down to the front to join in, which was fab. The lights were beaming on the stage, the sound was loud from the speakers, the band played excellently, the audience joined in, and all had a good rock n roll time in the Minster church!
Here is a film which is a recording of Silent Night from the event. You will be able to hear that it's a mash up of the guitar riff from Led Zeppelin's song Rock n Roll and the Christmas carol Silent Night! I've also put photo's to this so do have a look as well as a listen.
This next film is actually just some audio with a background pic or two as I couldn't work out how to add just an audio clip to this blog! It's simply a recording from the BBC World Service radio station, as I was asked to do an interview for them, which was aired in that evenings, hour long, news around the world, show. We received their phone call requesting this interview just before the service started, and then right after the service the interview took place (over the phone), meaning I didn't have anytime to think about what I was going to actually say! They played a small clip (which we'd sent them) from the gig service, of our version of We Three Kings, with the final chorus leading into Toy Doll's song Nelly the Elephant. However, as it was just a small clip, I've added the full song onto the start of the interview.
This final film is a cut down version of Jason Lee's film of the previous year's Very Heavy Christmas. I'm blabbing away in the intro and so is Viny Withers (our music maestro!), and then there's clips from a couple of the songs, including a mellow (in metal terms anyway!) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, because after all every good metal gig needs a ballad!
Do bear in mind that no photo's or recordings (unless professional) actually bring the gig to life as it was and show how 'big' the sound sounded (excuse my poor choice of words!), how much fun those attending had, or how well it seemed to turn out. Also, importantly, turn up the speakers before putting any of these on!!! :)
Additionally, here are some reviews from this and last years event which I've only come to share now as I didn't have a blog last year!(we had slightly more media interest and coverage last year as it was billed then as the world's first heavy metal carol service!..though I do think others are doing similar as well) -
'Heavy Metal Christmas Service at Grimsby Minster' - BBC Humberside News review - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-20739354
'It Wasn't a Silent Night Here!' - Grimsby Telegraph review - http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/wasn-t-silent-night/story-14180754-detail/story.html
'They Rocked the House of God' - Grimsby, Cleethorpes & Humber Region YMCA review - http://www.gcymca.com/pages/news/heavychristmas2011.html
Finally, sorry that I don't have a recording of Simon Cross (Event Organiser) plugging the event on BBC Radio Humberside, or of me plugging the event on BBC Radio Humberside the previous year (maybe I'm not too sorry though, as the show I was on was called 'Earn Your Air Time' and I had to answer 10 Christmas related questions before talking about the event! It was a good laugh though..especially for those listening to my attempts at some of the answers hahaha).
