What do Abba, David Bowie, John Peel, Lemmy and The Grimethorpe Colliery Band have in common?
They have all been chosen to receive a blue plaque to mark their musical achievements as part of BBC Music Day.
A public vote saw Grimethorpe nominated for the award, one of 47 commemorating people or places that have influenced musical culture. BBC Music Day is a UK-wide annual celebration of music to unite communities and generations through their love of music. All 40 BBC Local Radio stations and Asian Network in England teamed up with The British Plaque Trust to unveil the historic Blue Plaques around the country. Singers, musicians, song-writers and producers are amongst those to be honoured, as well as significant locations which play a major role in our musical heritage.
Our plaque was awarded by BBC Radio Sheffield with the unveiling marked by a broadcast from the event where an ensemble from the band played the march ‘Cross of Honour’ and ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’.
Woohoo, another brass band honoured! 🙂 #BBCMusicDay 'Brassed Off's Grimethorpe Colliery Band honoured' https://t.co/0agepYTM5A
— Alex Humphreys (@allyhumphreys) June 15, 2017
Blue Plaques are a tradition that dates back 150 years, but there weren't many for music. All that changed on BBC Music Day, thanks to BBC local radio listeners.
Grimethorpe Colliery Band celebrates its 100th anniversary this year! @BBCSheffield awards the success with a #BBCMusicDay Blue Plaque. pic.twitter.com/eymilhgSyJ
— Rob Rose (@RobRoseTweets) June 15, 2017
Those honoured with a Blue Plaque alongside the band include David Bowie (with not one but two plaques), his backing band The Spiders from Mars, broadcaster John Peel, Sir Neville Marriner, Nick Drake and renowned electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire who composed the Doctor Who theme tune.
A blue plaque will be unveiled today at the rehearsal rooms of Grimethorpe Colliery Band, as part of #BBCMusicDay celebrations. pic.twitter.com/MppCTIfwND
— BBC Look North (Yks) (@BBCLookNorth) June 15, 2017
We are in Grimethorpe for BBC Music Day in honour of a legendary band #bbcmusicday @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/ZfZo3XFsQR
— Andy Kershaw (@andyksheffield) June 15, 2017
"Blue Plaques are footprints of our history, commemorating those who excelled in their particular field"
Mike Read, Trustee of the British Plaque Trust
Actor Stephen Tompkinson who appeared in the film 'Brassed Off!' has said "When it would have been far easier to just pack up and stop entirely, this band kept playing on, and they are still playing loud and proud today. Being associated with them makes me feel incredibly proud."
Band Trustee Peter Haigh commented: "We are an ambassador for this area, for Barnsley South Yorkshire and England when we go away on overseas tours, so I think it merits what we've been offered and we're delighted and honoured to have been given this award."