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Gerald Rattlehead is best known for hosting Powerchord on Citr with Metal Ron from 1985. He's seen over a thousand shows and is Vancouver's biggest rock and roll fan, period. Over the years, venues have closed, scenes change, but Gerald's always been there. And he's doing it all for the love of it, which is why Vancouver's lucky to have him. |
This is the shirt for Metallica's first nation wide tour. Originally, it was a co-headlining thing, the tour dates on the back were actually reversed because by the end Metallica was headlining. I was wearing this shirt when Raven came a few months back, and I hadn’t seen them since 1985. So I waited around to meet them, and the first thing John, the lead singer, he immediately remembered me and said, ‘hey your t-shirt is in great condition’.
Did you interview them back in 85?
Yeah, I did, they were really nice back then too.
Did you interview Metallica back then too?
Yep, ’85, they were nice but yeah, back then, they were really into drinking. Not like how they are now. It’s funny because that time they were here, I interviewed them, but never really got to see the show. When I interviewed them, I asked James what he was drinking that night, and he said screwdrivers or whatever so I thought I’d bring some vodka. I ended up drinking it all a half hour before the show. So I ended up passing out in the lobby of their hotel. Joey Shithead was at that show too asking Ron, what’s wrong with your friend? I had all my buttons like I do still on my jean jacket and people were picking at them. I’d wake up ‘hey man….not the pins…’
So was that your first attempt to see Metallica?
No, I’d seen them like three times already in California.
How did you end up doing that?
Well one of our contacts was friends with Metallica. I even got to their house and listen to the first test pressing of ‘Kill ‘em All’.
How did you first hear about Metallica?
Back then there was Metal Forces magazine, which had all the underground metal bands you could think of, back then it was that and Kerrang. That’s how I got to know about all the bands. They also had a pen bangers section which helped me connect with people who liked the same bands I like, there was tape trading back then too. It was great though, because it was demo tapes, live tapes, that’s how I first got to know about Metallica. Through these magazines, I got to know people who were friends them, as well as the head of the fan club, who I met by chance in Portland.
How did that happen?
I was in Portland and I saw a few guys who had the same sort of patches and buttons as me, and back then, no one had that sort of thing and sure enough it was him. That’s how it was, if I saw anyone who had something like that, I’d definitely say something. “Hey, where did you get that?’ Now when I see kids who are wearing stuff of bands that I liked growing up I say ‘Hey! You’re just like me when I was growing up.’ Then I tell how old I am, and they tell me I’m old enough to be their dad.
