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On the first weekend of July last year, Britain’s flatlining economy got a boost from two unlikely sources: heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath and Britpop heroes Oasis. Who said rock ’n’ roll was dead?
Leaving aside for a moment the cultural significance of these iconic bands reuniting, there was an impact that could be measured in cold, hard economics.
Estimates suggest that Sabbath’s farewell gig in Birmingham – a city that has cut its arts budget to zero – injected £20m into the local economy. Meanwhile, the UK leg of Oasis’ tour, which kicked off in Cardiff the same weekend, provided a £1bn shot in the arm to the nation’s economy. Not bad for two bands whose members were on the dole before achieving rock star status.
