Metalheads Declare Religious Status

British heavy metal fans are being urged to put their faith in their music by listing their religion as "heavy metal" in the next census. A similar campaign in the last once-a-decade census led to 390,000 people listing their faith as "Jedi"—outnumbering believers in Judaism, Sikhism, or Buddhism in Britain. Saxon frontman Biff Byford has signed up to the campaign as the movement's "world metal peace ambassador.''

"Like a lot of good ideas, this one came about in a pub. The response online has been overwhelming," the editor of music mag Metal Hammer tells the Telegraph. ''It only reinforces the belief that heavy metal remains strong in its UK birthplace and across the globe. If the Jedi can do it, then we can, too." (More Jedi stories.)