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 Rick from the Italian Metallibashers – so, here he is – with more than 50 shows!!!

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

Rick: My name is Riccardo De Santis, I have no particular nickname though all my chapter members call me “Rick”. Someone, sometimes, calls me “Battery” cause thay say I am crazy following Metallica all around the world!

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

Rick: Well, we go back to 1983…. we were in a Pizzeria and one of my friend almost crashed the window with his car cause he was very excited and wanted us to hear this “new band”… he was playing “Seek And Destroy”.

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

Rick: Oh God, that’s hard. I would say “Master of Puppets” as my favorite album; as favorite song, I would say “No Remorse” cause when I hear it I just can’t avoid to bang my head and also because I really think that in life you should never have “no remorse”. life is a “war without end” somehow! Other favorites are “Four Horsemen” and “Damage Inc”.

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? What are you`re most precious items you have from a Metallica gig (picks, drumsticks, anything…)?

Rick: Well, really too many shows to mention. I have seen them live 55 times so far. First time was in Milan, Italy January 1987. Last time was in Zurich in July 2009.Ok, it’s hard to choose among 55 shows, but I would pick my first time of course, in Milan 1987. I remember I was crying while the Intro of Battery was playing and people were screaming all around… it was like a dream coming true… to see Metallica live for my very first time! And then a couple of special shows were at the Ministry of sound in London 1997 (club show) and the Bataclan in Paris 2003. This last one (bataclan) is in my heart cause I think we all thought that Metallica could split up just a few months earlier so again I had to cry when Metallica came out again and started with Four Horsemen! Actually, my goal is to reach 100 Metallica shows. I don’t know if I will ever make it, but in December I will fly (again) to the States to see four more Metallica shows (Las Vegas, Sacramento, Anaheim, San Jos) bringing my total count to 59. God only knows how many more shows I will be able to attend in the future!

I do have tons of picks, 3 wristbands from James and three sticks from Lars. All I get nowadays, I usually give it to my members.

HOS: If it was up to you what would you change in the live performance of Metallica?

Rick: Well, what I don’t like are the summer festivals. Too many people and a standard stage that actually does not drive me crazy,
So I would probably ask them to do more indoor shows (even club shows would kick ass!). As for the setlists, I would ask them not to include songs like, “Seek And Destroy”, “Nothing Else Matters” and “Sad But True” as permanent songs to be played at each show. I think they should be played from time to time but not at each and every show. Songs like “Four Horsemen”, “Damage Inc”,
“No Remorse”, “Welcome Home” (just to name a few) should indeed be played more often, on my opinion.

HOS: If I had never been at a Metallica show how would you convince me to go?

Rick: Ha ha! Funny question. You would probably think “why should I go to a Metallica show with this guy?” Ok, stop kidding.
I would probably tell you that you have no idea what a Metallica show can be. It’s pure energy, it’s a couple of hours in which your world and your problems are being left outside the building and you just feel so good as you have never felt before. So you MUST go to a Metallica show, at least once in your life….

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

Rick: In 26 years I have met fans from literaly all over the world. I would not say Germans are crazier than Italians, or Mexicans are better than Canadians and so on. I would better say that I have met a lot of cool, dedicated guys and gals everywhere. They live for Metallica, they LOVE Metallica. And they’re all great. Each and every Metallica fan is UNIQUE. I am sure you know what I mean.

HOS: Would you take the offer to work for Metallica if they ask you to?

Rick: Actually, I have been offered to work for them in 1996 but at that time I just could not accept. I thin this will remain a great regret of my “metallica life”.

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

Rick: I joined in January 1994. The idea was born cause I wanted to gather all italian collectors under one chapter, so when former
Metallica manager Tony Smith established the Metallica Club in late 1993, I had a talk with him and decided to form the Local Chapter in Italy.

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

Rick: As stated above, our main goal when the chapter was established in 1994, was to give a reference point to all italian collectors.
The website was having a huge section with a lot of rarities and infos on Metallica’s discography. As time went by, I would say that today my goal is to gather a bunch of friens, and not just members, that share together all the best moments of our “Metallica life” such as Metallica shows, celebrate Metallica releases (books, records, whatever!) and I can say that we actually have a really great chapter and I am very proud of each and every one of my members.

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

Rick: Ok, this is the best question cause that’s exactly what we’re working at for the next year.
In 2010 we will be working to improve the image of our local chapter, by updating the website with a lot of new infos since now some of the links of the website are not yet fully working. We are doing about 40 shows with our official tribute band all over the country and promoting the chapter at those evenings will be our main goal for 2010.

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

Rick: Actually, I have never been to Bulgaria so far. I would LOVE to visit Sofia, though. Really. Maybe in the next future I will be able to visit your country.
As for the members of Harvester of Sofia…. well, I would say to stay in the chapter, care about it, triyng to get their friend in the chapter and help it growing. Support Metallica and the Metclub and of course all of you Bulgarian chapter members should always keep in mind and appreciate the hard work a chapter head and his/her staff are doing every day for all of you. so … LOVE YOUR CHAPTER HEAD!

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