Harvester of Sofia continuеs with the series of interviews with the chapterheads of different local chapters all over the world and some crazy Metallca fans.  Our next guest is Jeff Holland the Chapterhead of Virginia Fuel and has been at over 60 shows!!!

HOS: What is your name (nickname), where are you from and position it your local chapter?

Jeff Holland: My name is Jeff Holland. I’m from Virginia in the United States. I’m the Chapter Head of Virginia Fuel.

HOS: When was the first time you have heard Metallica and which song?

Jeff Holland: I first started listening to Metallica in the summer of 1988. I had a friend who was really into heavy metal music (Slayer, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Testament, etc.). He let me listen to Justice and Lightning. I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t believe how powerful Metallica’s music was (and still is). I loved the guitar riffs…I loved the drums…and especially loved the lyrics…I loved everything about Metallica! I immediately bought all of their albums (Kill, Lightning, Puppets and Justice). I just remember listening to those four albums over and over that summer.
I don’t remember which Metallica song I heard first. It was probably “One”, since that would be the only Metallica song that was on MTV or the radio in 1988.

HOS: Your favorite album or song? And explain why?

Jeff Holland: Favorite album – Master of Puppets. It’s just a perfect album – from song #1 to song #8. Every song on the album is flawless. Justice is my second favorite album.
Favorite song – It’s impossible to pick just one favorite Metallica song, but my favorite songs (in no particular order) are: Blackened, BBS, Damage, Disposable, Dyers, Fade, Fight Fire, Holier, Leper, Puppets, Motor, Orion, Remorse, That Was Just Your Life, Ktulu, Frayed Ends, Outlaw, and Shortest Straw.

HOS: When and where you have seen Metallica Live? Which one is your personal favorite? And how many concerts you want to see in the future?

Jeff Holland: I’ve been to 65 shows so far. I’m going to 4 more shows this fall. Who knows how many concerts Metallica has left in them, so I’m just going to try and go to as many as I can!

1. 11.3.92 Roanoke, VA
2. 22.3.92 Charleston, WV
3. 17.7.92 Washington, DC
4. 4.2.93 Johnson City, TN
5. 20.7.96 Rockingham, NC
6. 26.2.97 Roanoke, VA
7. 2.4.97 Hampton, VA
8. 9.4.97 Landover, MD
9. 11.4.97 Charlotte, NC
10. 12.4.97 Greensboro, NC
11. 30.6.98 Virginia Beach, VA
12. 1.7.98 Columbia, MD
13. 31.7.98 Dallas, TX
14. 1.8.98 San Antonio, TX
15. 2.8.98 Houston, TX
16. 11.9.98 Phoenix, AZ
17. 12.9.98 Las Vegas, NV
18. 13.9.98 San Diego, CA
19. 23.11.98 Philadelphia, PA
20. 24.11.98 New York, NY
21. 21.4.99 San Francisco, CA
22. 22.4.99 San Francisco, CA
23. 31.12.99 Detroit, MI
24. 1.7.00 Rockingham, NC
25. 4.7.00 Baltimore, MD
26. 20.7.00 East Rutherford, NJ
27. 22.7.00 Chicago, IL
28. 5.8.00 Atlanta, GA
29. 6.8.00 Atlanta, GA
30. 18.5.03 San Francisco, CA
31. 19.5.03 San Francisco, CA
32. 6.6.03 Nurnberg, GER
33. 7.6.03 Berlin, GER
34. 8.6.03 Nurburgring, GER
35. 11.6.03 Paris, FRA
36. 11.6.03 Paris, FRA
37. 11.6.03 Paris, FRA
38. 12.7.03 Philadelphia, PA
39. 18.7.03 Landover, MD
40. 2.8.03 Houston, TX
41. 3.8.03 Dallas, TX
42. 23.4.04 Charlotte, NC
43. 24.4.04 Roanoke, VA
44. 26.4.04 Norfolk, VA
45. 17.10.04 Washington, DC
46. 19.10.04 Philadelphia, PA
47. 20.10.04 Philadelphia, PA
48. 13.11.04 Duluth, GA
49. 25.1.06 Park City, UT
50. 16.5.08 Tucson, AZ
51. 12.6.08 Nashville, TN
52. 13.6.08 Manchester, TN
53. 9.11.08 Columbus, OH
54. 15.1.09 Washington, DC
55. 17.1.09 Philadelphia, PA
56. 31.1.09 Newark, NJ
57. 1.2.09 Newark, NJ
58. 20.3.09 Austin, TX
59. 14.9.09 Nashville, TN
60. 15.9.09 Cincinnati, OH
61. 17.9.09 Indianapolis, IN
62. 3.10.09 Tampa, FL
63. 4.10.09 Atlanta, GA
64. 17.10.09 Charlottesville, VA
65. 18.10.09 Charlotte, NC

It’s difficult to pick out my favorite Metallica show. The S&M shows (April ’99) in San Francisco were very cool; the M2K show (Dec. ’99) in Detroit was a lot of fun; the 1st show of the Gun’s-n-Roses tour (July ’92) was fucking incredible! But my favorite Metallica shows are the smaller, more intimate club shows – like the 3 shows in Paris (June 2003) or the Fillmore shows (May 2003). But, I would have to say my absolute favorite Metallica show of all time was on June 12, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee at the “Basement”. The “Basement” is a very small club. There were only about a 100-150 people at the show. To be that close to Jaymz, Larz, Rob and Kirk and to experience Metallica playing in such a small place was so fucking cool! I wish Metallica would play more club shows.

HOS: Where are the craziest Metallica fans you’ve ever met?

Jeff Holland: All Metallica fans are crazy!!! Repeat: All Metallica fans are crazy!!!

HOS: Have you ever met some of the guys in person and what was the first thing in you mind when you saw them?

Jeff Holland: Yes, I’ve met Jaymz, Lars, Kirk, Rob and Jason several times. The first time I met any of them was at the pre-show in Roanoke, VA on February 26, 1997. I met only Kirk and Jason at this pre-show. I don’t think I said much, because I was very, very, very nervous. But once I started to meet them more and more, and the more I talked with them, I realized they’re just normal guys who happen to be in the greatest heavy metal band of all-time. They’re really cool down-to-earth guys once you get over the fact that they’re famous.

HOS: What is Metallica personally for you? Did Metallica change your life in some way?

Jeff Holland: Metallica definitely changed my life. That summer of 1988, when I first started listening to Metallica, was a pivotal time in my life. I was 15, and it’s safe to say, at that time, I wasn’t very popular in school. Plus, being 15 and trying to fit in/find yourself is a difficult time for any kid.

Metallica definitely helped me through that summer…and they still help me to this day. Their music sometimes pumps up my adrenaline and makes me want to break stuff, and sometimes it comforts me in times of sorrow. Sure, I like other bands and other types of music. But when it comes down to it, Metallica will ALWAYS be my favorite. Metallica has been a best friend to me ever since that pivotal summer of 1988, and continues to be a best friend to this day. When I get to be 60 or 70, I’m STILL going to be listening to Metallica!

HOS: You must explain what is Metallica to your 5 year old kid, how will you do that?

Jeff Holland: I wouldn’t say anything to the 5 year old kid. I would just play one of Metallica’s songs REALLY LOUD, throw up my devil horns, and start banging my head really fast. That’s all the kid would need to know.

HOS: When did you join the MetClub and when was born the idea for the local chapter?

Jeff Holland: I joined the MetClub in late 1993/early 1994 when it first started. I think I first saw something about the MetClub in the book that came with the “Live Shit: Binge and Purge” boxset.

I was in the local chapter, Chapter of the Mad, from 1996-1999. I didn’t join Virginia Fuel until 2000, after Chapter of the Mad shut down. However, Virginia Fuel was established in March 1998. I didn’t become chapter head of Virginia Fuel until 2005.

HOS: What is the main purpose of your local chapter?

Jeff Holland: The main purpose of our chapter is to bring Metallica fans who live in Virginia closer together, and to share our passion for Metallica. Right now, we have over 100 members, and we’re still going strong!

HOS: What attendances do you give for the local chapter for its development and popularization and for all members of your local chapter?

Jeff Holland: The person who started Virginia Fuel and all of the Chapter Heads before me have been very dedicated in making Virginia Fuel a great local chapter. So, we’ve been lucky to have so many great people running the chapter for the past 11+ years. To read more about the history of Virginia Fuel, you can click here: http://www.virginiafuel.com/history.html
We have several events a year ranging from jam sessions (in which some of our members play and sing Metallica songs – http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI8.1/vfff_recap.html), Guitar Hero Tournaments (http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI9.1/guitarhero_1.html), and listening parties (http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI9.1/dm_listeningparty_recap.html).
We even have our own Metallica cover band – “Damage, Intoxicated”. (http://www.myspace.com/damageintoxicated)
We also publish an online newsletter, “Electronic Fuel Injection” (EFI), about 1-3 times a year. Here’s our last several issues.
http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI8.1/main.html
http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI8.2/main.html
http://www.virginiafuel.com/EFI9.1/main.html
We also have a website (http://www.virginiafuel.com), and we’re on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/vafuel).

HOS: Do you know something for Bulgaria? Would you say something special to the members of HOS?

Jeff Holland: To all of the members of Harvester of Sofia – “What don’t kill ya, make ya more strong!!!”
Thanx for the interview & see hope to see you at a Metallica show!

More interviews with fans and all kind of metal heads related to Metallica you can read in our new section Fan interviews …