It is a great honor for us, the Bulgarian Metclub chapter Harvester of Sofia, to share with you the interview we made with Mark Eglinton – the author of the “James Hetfield: The Wolf At Metallica’s Door” book.

1. Mark, tell us more about yourself ‚do you have a family, what else you‚are doing except writing, where do you live and who is your favorite band?
Well. I’m Scottish, forty years old and I spend my time between Edinburgh and Seattle right now. I have two sons who are 14 and 10 and both of them dislike my taste in music, despite my best efforts to convert them. I spend most of my time working just now but when I’m not, I like to travel and do adventure sports. I have many favourite bands – both metal and non-metal – but on balance, Slayer are the band that I have liked continuously since my teenage years.

2. Do you remember you’re first Metallica show and what impression they left in you after that? Have you ever thought that after more that 30 years; Metallica will be one of the biggest bands in the music scene ever and they will go beyond every boundary of the heavy metal music?
I’ll never forget my first Metallica show. It was 1986 ; I was sixteen and Metallica came to play the Edinburgh Playhouse with Anthrax on the ‘Damage Inc.’ tour. James had his arm in a plaster bandage that night so it was kinda weird in the respect but the combination of Anthrax and Metallica that night – both arguably in their respective primes – was the best concert I had ever seen. Having said all that, Metallica were still no where near being considered a ‘mainstream’ band at that time, so to suggest they’d become the band they are now, might have sounded a little ambitious back in 1986. But they did., so what did I know!

3. Have you met the band in person? What was the conversation about, except the regular things that fans say?
By pure chance, I met James and the late Cliff Burton after that Edinburgh show and from what I can remember, I was unable to form any coherent words!

4. Do you know what does James think about the book you wrote about him?
I have no idea. I know the band are aware of the book and can only hope that they are happy with what’s on it. There’s no real reason why they wouldn’t be!

5. Are you familiar whit Joel McIver, who already gave two interviews for HOS? Share with us something wild you have experienced with him, something you’ll never tell your children?
Yes I know Joel, and he has been one of the biggest influences on my writing career. Unfortunately, due to the fact that we have mostly lived at opposite ends of the country, opportunities to get together have been few and far between. That said, when we do meet up, we always have a good time. As far as wild stories, I can’t help you there, and in reality you would all be surprised by how maturely we behave, ha ha!

6. It’s Metallica’s 30th anniversary this year, do you think that they are planning something special to celebrate it?
Personally I would be surprised. Metallica have rarely done what people expect and for that reason I would doubt that they would make a big deal of that anniversary. I could be wrong though but with the ongoing Big 4 tour and plans to get back in the studio, there won’t be much of 2011 left.

7. In the past few years a lot have been said and wrote about those turns Metallica have made during the years, reading all comments you can come to the conclusion that they are rejected from all of their fans, but when you go to Metallica concert the picture is very different ! The vibe is unique and you can feel the connection between the band and the fans. What do you think causes that?
They’ll never please all their fans and for every fan they lose with an album like ‘Load’ or ‘Re-Load’ they probably gain a few too, so there will always be a strong live following. Even throughout the years where they supposedly alienated some fans with some indifferent ( in my opinion ) studio albums, the live shows were always fantastic. Add to that the fact that Metallica are a visually great live experience.

8. Last year THE BIG 4 made their first concerts together at one stage and the show from Bulgaria was streamed live all over the world. What do you think about the show, did you like it? Do you think the commercial aspect is a strong motivator for the bands more that the fact that they play together for the first time?
I enjoyed the Big 4 show and I think all the bands – particularly Megadeth in Sofia – delievered a set worthy of such an historic event. As far as the commercial angle is concerned, I would guess that the other three bands probably needed it more than Metallica did. Personally I don’t see the fact that they played together as being that significant for anyone other than the fans.

9. This summer the BIG 4 will play at the Sonisper in Knebworth, are you exited about the show and do you expect something special?
Knebworth will be a great show as it’s a historic venue. It does not however boast the best sound compared to other venues but the fact that it is the only UK Big 4 show should make it a special day.

10. How did you felt when your very first published book was finally in your arms?
A combination of fatigue and relief! I had a very short deadline so I had to work some crazy hours to get it all finished. To get that first copy in your hands is a great feeling, but what is even better is to hear good comments and see it on the shelves in bookshops.

11. Tell us more about your future plans for new books?
I’m writing a more general Metallica book for a U.S publisher – a bit of a compilation of information- and that should be finished and out in 2012 sometime. I’m also working with a member of the most famous metal band to come out of Texas on his biography ( apologies to all the other good bands from Texas) and finally, I’m working with a member of the Slayer close family on a book project too. I might even have time to eat and sleep sometime too…

12. Bulgaria is a small country, is there a Bulgarian publishing that made connection whit you about your book?
I have heard from many fans about where and when the book will be published – Bulgaria included, but most of the genuine enquiries go through my publisher. We have already sold foreign publishing rights to other European countries and I would be delighted if Bulgaria happened too.

13. Do you know something for Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe that I haven’t been to and I would certainly like to visit one day. If my book is published there, I would be very happy to come over and meet the fan club and sign a few copies – in return for a few Bulgarian beers of course!

14. Would you say something special то the members of HOS and all the fans of Metallica in Bulgaria?
I would like to say thanks for showing an interest in the book. It’s the fans who keep this music alive after all – by buying the albums, the books and attending the shows. I have the best job in the world as far as I am concerned and it means a lot that people in other countries take an interest in what I am doing. Thanks very much and let’s hope we can get a Bulgarian version soon!

We are proud to announce that for the second year in a row we will organize a party in memory of Cliff Burton. The magnificent bass player, who gave the unique sound of Metallica, will be honored on September 26th (Sunday) from 20.00 hours at “The Black Lodge” club in Sofia, where we were last year on the same occasion. We will listen to some music and share couple of beers as well as making plans for upcoming tours and concerts next year.

Now… the party will be slightly different, it will be for charitable purposes for Elena Dimitrova. Ellie suffered severe operation and she needs a transplant abroad. However, she did not stop smiling and absolutely nothing can break her spirit.  Let all join her fight at September 26th.

It is a free entrance again but there will be a box for donations.

Joel McIver is a British author. The best-known of his 17 English-language books (20 more exist in translation[1]) is the bestselling Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica,  first published in 2004 and selling close to 40,000 copies in eight languages since then. McIver’s other works include biographies of Slayer, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Ice Cube, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens Of The Stone Age, and the Sex Pistols.

In February 2009 McIver announced the first ever biography of the late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, for which Kirk Hammett supplied a foreword. It is already available in Bulgarian, so Harvester of Sofia made contact with Joel. He gave his second interview for the Bulgarian local Metclub chapter.

- Hi, Joel, your already have three books published in Bulgaria, how do you feel when even in a small country like ours you’re becoming popular?
- It’s a great compliment when anyone is interested in my work. Thank you to all those in Bulgaria who have supported me!

- In our previous interview, we talked about a possible Big Four tour. What is your opinion about the shows now that they are a fact? Did the bands meet your expectations?
- Yes, they all played incredibly well. I was at the first show and I didn’t see any performance errors or technical problems, although I’m sure there were some behind the scenes. It was a real milestone for me to see that show, I never thought it would happen. Metallica deserve enormous respect for making it happen.

- I know you were at the Big Four show in Poland, did you like the audience and do you think the audience appreciated equally well all the bands?
- It’s difficult to say because Anthrax played quite early in the afternoon and the venue was only about 60% full, but the people who were there were all super-enthusiastic. The audience seemed like cool people – everyone knows how massive metal is in Eastern Europe ?

- The show in Sofia was more special than all others – it was directly broadcasted worldwide, it will be released on DVD, and at the end of the Metallica performance members from the other Big Four bands joint them to play together “Am I Evil?”. Did you attend this show live here in Sofia or watch it in a movie theater somewhere?
- No, I wasn’t there and I haven’t seen it apart from Am I Evil. The DVD will be amazing, but I was lucky enough to be at the Poland show which was the ultimate experience for me.

- Any idea why the band chose Sofia for this event?
- No idea, sorry.

- If you are abandoned on a deserted island and you have a discography of a single band, which one would you choose and why?
- Impossible to pick just one! It would be Metallica, Slayer, Morbid Angel, Miles Davis, Prince or Bach. That covers all the necessary emotions I think.

- You’ve shared a very interesting story in the book about Slayer …once when Tom Araya was drunk as dog, he pissed on the head of Kronos fromVenom. Do you know other fun stories with Slayer, Metallica or any other band?
- Hundreds! And most of them are in my books. Talking of fun stories, you should read Dave Mustaine’s autobiography, it’s great.

- Over the years, the Big Four have changed a lot – in the past it was all about sex, drugs and rock n roll. During Sonisphere’10 shows, Dave Ellefson mentioned that they were talking about family affairs and children. How do you think family life has affected the bands’ music, touring and performance?
- I think the major difference is that they have more urgent priorities than the music now. Family is the most important thing in life for them just as it is for everybody else, so the logistics of touring are less easily managed now. I think the bands play as well as they ever did, though.

- The Big Four grew up together with their fans – fans who were 15-20 years old back then in the 80′s when the bands were becoming legendary, now in 2010 they are 35-40 years old . What is the difference between a Metallica show in 1988 and now in 2010? What do you think is the difference in the audience, the atmosphere?
- The atmosphere is the same but the audience is demographically wider, of course. The band play more professionally and obviously have the budget for a much larger production, but I would say that the raw energy and excitement of the early shows isn’t there now. That’s not Metallica’s fault, it’s just that stadiums don’t have the same feel as small clubs. I saw them play a show for a few hundred people back in 2008 and it was incredible.

- For various reasons, Metallica don’t seem to have luck with their bass players. Do you think Rob will stick with the band until the end? Hope he’s alive and well then?
- Who knows, but it seems probable as he’s the most energetic member of the band!

- On July 24 in Bulgarian town of Kavarna was held Kaliakra Rock Fest . Three of the biggest German  thrash bands – Destruction, Sodom, Kreator played there. What of these bands is your most favorite?
- Kreator but I like the others too. I recently wrote liner notes for the deluxe version of the last Kreator album, Hordes Of Chaos. They’re the best non-American thrash metal band of all time.

- Do you think Bulgarian fans got retribution for the past years when rock/metal music was not politically tolerated and concerts could not be carried out – now only within a month we have Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, Sodom, Kreator, and Destruction? We feel kind of blessed… by The Gods of Thrash?
- I think that any repression of culture for political reasons is morally dubious, so the fact that metal is now in good shape in Bulgaria after having been suppressed for so long makes me very happy. Only fools and politicians blame anything on loud music.

- There are rumors for a special Metallica tour next year. We’ve heard that there will be shows only in 10 cities around the world. It is the 30-year anniversary of the band in 2011, do you know whether they are planning something special and will you make a hint in which cities we can expect them … we need to start saving money for tickets and hotels.
- I haven’t heard anything, sorry, but the band always have ideas up their sleeve.

- If they make a similar show in London, Paris or Berlin, would you visit all three shows? Are you willing to visit the pre-show parties, where you could meet some of the most dedicated fans of the band?
- Yes to both questions!

- In your book about Cliff you said that in his last interview he shared that Metallica intend on playing less heavy with not so complicated song structures – “… and justice for all” is not the right example, but the following albums The Black album, as well as Load and Reload are exactly such. We understand that Cliff was a big fan of the southern rock – is there a song in these three albums that has made you think – “this is what Cliff meant in his last interview”?
- Not on those albums, but I hear music by (for example) Kyuss and I wonder if Cliff might have gone in that direction. It’s a shame that we’ll never know.

- What do you expect from the next Metallica album? In our previous interview you said that you do not expect Rubin again as a producer? Which producer do you think would encourage the band to give their best? When do you expect the album to come out? Do you think that after the album release there would be an extensive tour like “Madly in Anger with the World” and “World Magnetic”?
- You really need to ask Metallica these questions ? but I can make an educated guess. I spoke to Rob in Poland and he seemed to think that Rubin is a possible choice of producer. Personally I think they should produce their own albums. I expect there will be an album and tour in another two to three years.

- I guess you know Stefan Chirazi, he promised to give us an interview! Can you suggest some interesting questions to blow his mind?
- I met Steffan for the first time in Poland, although we’ve been in contact on the internet for a long time. Ask him about editing So What and how it works – does he sit down with the band and suggest ideas for features, and so on.

- Tell us a few words about yourself and your family?
- I’m married with two kids. We live in the country near London and have a great life. I have no complaints at all ?

- Currently the voice of James is much rougher and generally the sound of Metallica is much thicker than 28-29 years before. When listening to Hit the Lights, Motorbreath, Seek on live shows, don’t you think that they should re-record Kill em All?
- No, I love that album! They should remix Justice and add bass, but otherwise the 1980s albums sound perfect as they are.

Here’s how it works: The live show will be transmitted via satellite to over 450 movie theaters in the U.S. and over 350 theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Within hours of all of us walking off the stage, depending on what time zone you live in, you’ll be able to rock out to each set in the cozy confines of your local movie theater that same night.

For us it was great pleasure to present our new flag. It is bigger, greater, heavier…  Keep your eyes open in June during the concert in Sofia because you’ll see it there at the stage…

The party started at 20:00 ‘O clock with the DVD from Nimes (Frace), followed by „Orgullo Pasion y Gloria” and other live shows of the band.
The promised lottery made lots of people happy… One left the party with magazines, other with guitar strings, third with original setlist from some Metallica shows.

Now in front of us are the most exciting months of the year… we will attend more than one Metallica concert as usual. We will be on the top of the world during the concert in Sofia at June 22nd. And you all might guess that there will be another party, probably the night before concert. We are sure that you won’t miss that one …

Keep an eye on the site during next few weeks because some members of Harvester of Sofia are on tour and they will share their stories with you all…
Till then – METAL UP YOUR ASS!!!!

Only for two years we have made great success, we have passed many kilometers following Metallica on tour, we have made a lot of friends from different countries all around the world, our flags were at the front row not once or twice and in the arms of James and Co. This is the only way to show our love and respect to Metallica!
We have another great year in front of us and our plan is to attend many Metallica concerts again. And maybe the most special show will be the third Metallica visit in Bulgaria this June.

Our traditional parties unite and brought together HOS members all across the country. And as usual we won’t miss to pay attention to this occasion. More information in next few days about where and when we will celebrate together…

The longest wait is finally over and our patience was rewarded!!!
We will have one hell of a concert – Balkan Entertainment Company officially confirmed the visit of Metallica in Bulgaria! Our favorite band will conquer “Vassil Levski” stadium at June 22th, and this will be their third show in our country.
But this time is a little bit different…. There will be real metal invasion in the center of Sofia. Sonisphere festival will pass over Bulgaria at June 22nd and 23rd 2010. Our heads will be blown away from THE BIG FOUR of trash – Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer and METALLICA!!! Of course the specialties of the first night are The Four Horsemen!!!

More information about the festival you can find here: http://bg.sonispherefestivals.com/.
Tickets go on sale at http://www.eventim.bg/

After 21 P.M. the club was already full and everyone enjoyed the party. Some of us hardly remember when it ended, but by the evidence of eyewitnesses, it was around 03A.M in the morning.

“METALLICA!”

That’s right. I was just riveted to the radio, and all I could do – I was just staring at the radio just saying, “What the fuck? Holy shit!” To Anthony I was like, “Dude! This is amazing!” I was totally floored by this music. I just didn’t know what to make of it. It had loud guitars, some hollering – it was as fast as lightning – but it wasn’t punk rock; it wasn’t heavy metal; but it was precise, and explosive, and heavy, but quick on its feet. It just totally stood by itself, and it was standing boldly. It was aggressive and intense and had this really wild and bizarre rhythm changes, but it still held together as a fucking good song. I was singing along with it by the end. It certainly wasn’t using any conventional pop song pattern that I had ever heard. I don’t know what it was – I didn’t know what it was – but the only thing I knew for sure, is that it was a mighty thing.

That song was “Fight Fire With Fire.” Yeah! And it opened up my mind to the mighty force of nature that is Metallica.

As time went by I discovered the genre of music known as speed metal, thrash metal – whatever you wanna call it – and I heard lots of other bands tapping a similar vein – but none of them come close to putting it all together like Metallica. Some might have more virtuosity, some might be crazier, and some are just really good and interesting bands, but whatever the intangible elements are that make a band the best – Metallica has them. They are for real.

You can put all the best musicians in the world together in a room, create your dream fantasy band, and it doesn’t mean that the sparks will fly when they start playing together. There are divine forces at work that make magic things happen, and in the rare instances when that magic happens in a band, it’s not something that you can add up with regular math. It’s a cosmic chemistry and it is inexplicable.

If it was merely a matter of a list of inserting ingredients to make the amazing band, then anyone could do it. But that is impossible, because it is truly a holy and magical fucking thing, and it only happens when the spiritual powers that be say so. So, if you ask “Why does it rock?” the answer to that question, to quote the great Louis Armstrong, is “If you have to ask, you will never know.”

When Metallica started in 1981, they didn’t really take your typical path to success. I don’t know if massive stardom and selling a zillion records was on their mind when they were getting the ball rolling, but if they were aiming to become one of the most successful rock bands of all time – that they have become – they sure were going about it in a cooky way.

In the world of three minute long catchy pop songs that dominated the radio, these Metallica guys were writing and playing ten minute long songs that blasted your face off. I don’t think they were sitting around wondering how they could be a bunch of fancy rock stars, I think they just wanted to do some rocking. Their motivation was, and is, pure.

The fact that they have connected with the world in the way that they have, is phenomenal. They have become a household name, with music that is anything but mainstream. This is outsider music. And for it to do what it has done, is truly mind-blowing.

One thing I know for sure is that they must be thinking they were going to break into Casey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdown on their debut record, “Kill ‘Em All” – they were really going straight for the hit single with the song “Anesthesia/Pulling Teeth” – I gotta tell you – a five minute long bass solo: it’s a ticket to commercial success. Being a bass soloist myself, that song is one of the great moments in rock history for the electric bass guitar.

Cliff Burton, was an outstanding, superb, deep, and wicked virtuoso of a bass player. In rock music, the majority of bass solos you hear are self-indulgent, overly technical, show-offy and mostly kinda boring. Every Cliff Burton bass solo I’ve ever heard is a soulful, psychadelic, headbanging expression that rocks your world, chips your brain out, and gets the house rocking: a beautiful piece of music played by an awesome rocker of a young man, a masterpiece of a human being. And when I hear him play, I hear a dude that knew his shit; a serious musician who delved into it with all the love and passion that is obvious in his playing.

The worst tragedy that could ever happen to anyone, in my opinion, is that when they die, they never sang their song that was inside of them. They never gave the gift that was inside of them. But the beautiful opposite of that, is that if you pass away, and you know that you sang your song, you gave your gift – which is what Cliff Burton did – then that is the greatest accomplishment that I could ever hope for anybody. The space that he created in the history of music will last forever; no one else can ever fill it – he was one of a kind. And I can never listen to any Metallica record without thinking of him. It is clear that the gift he gave lives on in that band’s music, be he live, or be he dead. And I say God Bless Cliff Burton – he rules.

When I hear Metallica, I get this feeling that they are doing something that they have to do. Like there is this thing in them wound up in them so tight, that they have to let it out, let that thing uncoil – it has to be released: an infinite well of sadness, a hell of a lot of pain and anger, but mostly, a lot of love for the process that they have created for releasing the stuff.

It is always really absurd to me when I hear people speak of heavy music – angry, aggressive music – as being negative, or unhealthy for children, and so on. Firstly, the playing of ferocious music is the healthiest release of anger for the performer of it. It is alchemy; it is a metamorphosis; it is turning something potentially destructive and a source of misery into something beautiful, something rocking, and something uplifting for the band and for the audience.

The tradition of pain and hurt, being a muse for great art, is one of the great rites of passage for any artist, and that which touches us most deeply. Anyone who has ever been to a Metallica show, and banged their head, and thrown up the devil horns, has been a part of something great for humanity. All those kids at a show rocking so hard to the brutal beat of Metallica have come together for those couple of hours in a way as healthy as any spiritual exercise, any group meditation, any loving anything. It is uplifting and it brings people together. I love all music. But I say that Metallica has done as much to bring people together and bring joy into their lives as any hippie, peace and love music ever has.

For the people who give it up and get rocked by Metallica, the world is a lot less of a lonely place. When a person gets rocking to their music, everything else disappears, and that person is just one with the rock. It is an inexplicable, awesome thing, and I bow down to it.

Metallica’s career is a huge, dynamic thing. They have done it all. They have worked their way up from nothing; written and rocked the jams that rocked the world – Metallica is fucking rad! The music is bitching – it is unbelievable! The thing is they continue to rock on. Whatever gets thrown at them, they persevere, and they get stronger. They are a family.

“WHAT DON’T KILL YA MAKE YA MORE STRONG!”

And it is as intense and as inventive as ever. If you’re gonna have a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and if you’re gonna be really disciplined and strict about only ever allowing bands in it, that have been true originals, and that without question, single-handedly furthered the evolution of the art form of Rock & Roll music, that push the envelope of what rock music is, and it inspired countless others, to try and follow their footsteps on the new trail they blaze, then by that strictest criteria, you got to have Metallica in it.

Metallica rules.

Metallica is heavy.

James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammet, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted, and Cliff Burton – it is my sincere honor to induct you all into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame