Pieces of Hate singer Jim Richards

Crazy for you shock-rockers pick up top prize

Young rockers from across Staffordshire battled it out in the final of this year's Staffordshire Rocks competition.

Overall winners, Pieces of Hate, are made up of pupils from Blythe Bridge High School, and were voted the best band in the electrifying final held at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre.

With an image clearly inspired by groups such as Slipknot and Marilyn Manson, Pieces of Hate blasted out a medley of three original songs, What If, Crazy For You, and One Track Mind.

And when the judging panel selected the band as their favourite of the evening's nine bands, the intensity and volume of the audience's screams almost matched that of the band's energetic performance.

Lead singer Jim Richard, 17, led the theatrics, dressed top to toe in black trousers, black waistcoat and black velvet overcoat, and wielding an illuminated microphone stand. As he swooped and whirled around the stage, he only served to highlight the rest of the group's attention to detail, in terms of both costume and sound.

Pieces of Hate's stand-out look and performance had the judges in agreement that they deserved the top prize. They win a trip to the UK Marshall headquarters in Milton Keynes where they will enjoy a tour of the guitar equipment factory and meet the chairman himself, Jim Marshall.

Second and third prize went to Without Warning and The Virtues, respectively, from Cheslyn Hay High School and Wilnecote High School in Tamworth. And in a specially created category, Undefined won a smart Marshall amplifier for use by their school, Blessed William Howard High School in Stafford.

Rugeley singer Shaun Smith, 14, winner of Staffordshire Pop Stars 2006, opened the show with a performance of the Bill Withers hit, Ain't No Sunshine. The whole event was compered by SPA's John Baugh, Curriculum Coordinator (Rock and Pop), whose effortless banter proved a massive hit with school pupils,as shown by their chanting of his name at every opportunity.

Nigel Taylor, head of Cultural Development at Staffordshire County Council, said: "The finale of Staffordshire Rocks lived up to its title. The nine bands in the final gave it their all and there was something for everyone in the performances on the night. Every band deserves credit for getting as far as they did. We must also thank Marshall, the main sponsor for the event, for providing valuable support and prizes."

County Councillor Robert Simpson, Cabinet member for Children and Lifelong Learning, said: "Pieces of Hate raised the roof at the final, and the sheer level of noise from the crowd as they were hailed the winners showed there was no doubt about the result.

"I was totally impressed by how supportive each school was of its peers. Each band gave credit to the others, which showed a real sense of community among Staffordshire school pupils. Well done to everyone for what was a fantastic evening."

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:05:23

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