Interview with Toby Stapleton (MetClub)

Intro: Virginia Fuel has the privledge of interviewing Toby Stapleton. As most of you know, Toby works for the Metallica Club and has been with the Metallica Club since it started in late 1993/early 1994. He also works the Metallica Club booth when Metallica tours. I'm sure most of you have seen or met him at least once over the past several years. He's a very good friend of Virginia Fuel. Toby took a break from goofing off...err...I mean working at the MetClub to answer some of our questions. Enjoy!

- Chapter Head Jeff

Toby chatting with Jaymz
Picture courtesy of the MetClub (So What! 11.4)

So Toby, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I still have not grown up. I was raised in Tennessee. [Ed. Go Vols!!!]

How did you get started with the MetClub? Did you answer a job ad in the newspaper?
While living in Knoxville Tennessee, I worked at a record store on weekends doing inventory, just to get 25% off of tapes and posters. I met a lady working there after a Metallica concert named Carole. She had just started dating a guy named Tony who was the assistant tour manager for Metallica. He came in and worked several of the inventory parties and we got to know one another well. I started babysitting their daughter, helping them move, etc. As years went on, Tony and Carole got married, and they decided to settle in Knoxville.

A few years later, the club was started after the band was tired of hearing about other fan clubs ripping people off. Irony was the fact that Tony stared the Metallica Club, and the first people who worked at the MetClub stole the stereo and pawned it! So he called me after he cleaned house. I started off by working a couple days a week. Then it became everyday. Then it came to "Can you fly to so and so place." The growth back then was amazing and you had to flow with it.

What was your previous job(s) before joining the MetClub?
I was detailing cars (nice fancy phrase for washing cars) and working at a pizza place...

What were your duties when you first joined the MetClub? (getting Tony Smith's laundry? HA HA!)
You’re almost funny. Now I feel like an old man telling you “back in my day stories”. I started out mailing envelopes because nobody had e-mail! Doing mass mailings of So What! Then it became more toward the merchandise side. I have done everything here at one time or another.

Toby: MetClub employee, merchandise guy, and...bug killer!
Picture courtesy of the MetClub (So What! 3.5)

Explain how your duties at the MetClub have changed over the past 12+ years.
Jeez...where do I begin? When I first started working for Metallica, the club could not afford me fulltime. Instead of money, I would get one store item a day. Back then, we only had shirts and tour programs. Fast forward 13 years later, now I help design the shirts and Metclub items as well as contact artists like Squindo, Pushead, Pigors, etc. I show the band and make changes if need be, sign off on it, and inform management of the new item. That is so weird, I cannot put it into words. Amazing...

In So What! 10.4, you got to write your 1st article when you interviewed Pushead. How cool was that? Can you give us some details?
I have been a fan of Pushead for a while. He remains to be a great friend of mine as we have worked on several projects together for retail and for the MetClub. When I asked him to let me interview him (for So What!) he said "no" at first, but then came around later and said "why not". He is such a smart guy on many different levels and as a fan I felt it was important to have this covered in So What! and Steffan was into it as well. The poster that was included (w/ So What! 10.4) was Pushead’s idea and I loved it! I have always been such a huge fan of his since the 80’s, so to get a chance to work with him now is just awesome. We have many new products that we are in the middle of creating that will be huge.

Toby's interview with Pushead
Picture courtesy of the MetClub (So What! 10.4)

Explain what a typical day at the MetClub is for you right now.
No such thing. It changes so much. I try to start out doing e-mail and looking to see what the boards and places like blabbermouth are saying. Then I wait for FedEx...wait for FedEx some more.

Picture courtesy of the MetClub

I let Robert in the studio around 9:30 because he can never remember his key. The Band comes in at various times, I have merch stored all over the building because I am a bit of a space whore. So I do see them every day. I go to lunch and walk my dog. Return and pack orders and develop products, fetch soup for the guys when Zach is pulling his hair out, yell at merch companies over the phone. I get yelled at over the phone by the rest of the world. Blah blah blah. Damn, I still don’t see FedEx...

What do you like most about your job?
Creating things that other people enjoy. Whether it’s a shirt or a shift knob. Seeing it all the way through from idea to reality and all the steps in between. Having the band like your idea and the fans digging it, is a cool feeling because I collect the stuff as well. I have been to a lot of places that I would not have seen if it weren’t for touring and other travels. Travel can be addicting!

Picture courtesy of the MetClub

If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
Shorter hours maybe? Not much really, it’s has it’s good and bad days like any other job to be honest.

Explain what a typical day is for you when your on tour running the MetClub booth.
Now that’s a little more steady than the office. I usually wake around 10:30 AM. Before that, everyone is so cranky and stressed out loading in, it’s not worth it. I meet with a building person, find a booth spot, kinda get a lay of the land. Then I find Will Call. The people that work at Will Calls are usually a piece of work. It’s usually someone from the front office’s daughter or cousin.

I explain the meet-n-greet process and club tickets to 100 different people until someone listens. The I find a place to have a meet-n-greet. Niclas and I would usually look together, tell security and the promoters. By that time I find my MetClub worker bees and get them inside and start setting up the booth. Then I make 30-40 passes by will call again, sometimes a lost clubber can be saved who is wondering aimlessly. Then meet and greet time rolls around. I meet the clubbers, radio winners, charities, and the press at will call. Then I listen to moans and groans by people who want to take their sister or girlfriend, or should have won, “I know Tony Smith” is another good one. Then we march in, line up, and I look for the band/management to show up. Try to round them up them like cattle and get them in there. This process can take a while with the press interviews drag on and on. After the meet and greet, escort the winners outside, and off to break down the MetClub booth. Then we meet other clubbers after the show and hand out stickers, flyers, whatever it calls for.

Working the MetClub booth - Chicago 2000
(Who the hell are those 2 blokes behind Toby?)
Picture courtesy of the MetClub (So What! 7.2)

What has been your favorite city/venue to visit? Or all of them seem to be the same?
They are all different. I really enjoy going through the south as that is where I am from. Had a great time this last tour in Quebec City, Canada. That is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I would love to spend more time there. As far as venues go, I am a big fan of the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The food there is simply amazing, and when you’re traveling, that is important! The San Francisco shows are always nice. Nothing like a Tallica show in yer back yard!

Toby and Todd Whitener (Days of the New/Tantric),
or is it Todd Whitener and Toby? (Summer 1998)

How does it feel to be the only original MetClub employee (other than Metallica)? You're sort of the "senior member" of the MetClub.
Strange. So much has happened and this place has grown so much into something totally different. The Internet has changed lots of things for us. Made it better in a lot of ways, taken things to a different level. I have seen many people come and go over the years.

Besides, seniority doesn’t pay, we all look for a parking spot in the morning!!!

How did the move from Tennessee to San Fran affect you?
Lots of growing up had to be done. I lost my father to cancer in the start of the “California Club” (when the MetClub moved from Knoxville to California) so it took me a while to call it home. A big adjustment in a lot of ways, but I discovered Asian food along the way.

What is the most bizarre thing that's happened to you while working with the MetClub?
Hard to answer that one. The whole ride has been bizarre.

Metallica has a reputation of playing jokes on crew members on their birthdays (i.e., pies in the face). I recall a picture of Niclas (formerly of MetOnTour/MetClub) getting spanked by a dominatrix (on the cover of So What!) Have they ever gotten you?
Oh yeah, Winnepeg on the St. Anger Tour was my birthday. I got the standard whip cream as well as some added bonuses like coke, V8 and Gatorade. Lesson the learned here: don’t tell anyone ever about your birthday. All in good fun I am told.

What is the coolest experience that you've had working with MetClub?
There are so many. I think spending 2 days at San Quentin for the video shoot and show sticks out the most. The most thinking a man could do at one gig. Totally life altering experience. We worked closely with the inmates to make the video and gig happen. They were really touched by James’ speech on sobriety, as we all were.

Were you, the crew or the band scared something might happen (i.e., become a hostage, getting killed, etc.)? Were the inmates cool with the band & crew? Any problems from the inmates?
We didn't have any problems with the inmates. There were polite and helped us setting up and tearing down, pushing cases, that sort of thing. The inmates that worked close to us were mostly Vietnam Vets who were serving time for whatever, but were now "well behaved", as they put it. We were all faxed some rules following our backgroung checks, It's still hanging in my office at HQ. Rule #8 - the no hostage negotiation policy - is a bit freaky!

Who in Metallica would you say you have the closest relationship to?
Hard to say.. Robert I guess these days. We are all close.

What is the most ridiculous request you've had from a MetClub member? (Stuff like "Rob is my cousin and he wanted me to meet him backstage." or "I am from Romania!!! Give me backstage pass NOW!!!")
This fan sent me a cake in the mail one year. Yep, in a box, all the way from England to Knoxville. Didn’t eat it, the maggots kind of turned my off. I guess that is some sort of flattery somewhere. Maybe in Virginia?

Have you ever run into any "dangerously obsessed" fans? Any good stories along those lines?
There was this guy named Jeff Holland...[Ed. Hey, WTF!!! :)]

Smile Toby! It's Christmas!
Picture courtesy of the MetClub (So What! 6.5)

Were you a fan of Metallica's music before joining the MetClub?
Absolutely, although my brother was more so. He was the one who turned me on to them so I have to pony up and give him credit.

You know I had to ask this, but what's you favorite Metallica album(s)? song(s)? Least favorite album(s)? songs(s)?
My favorite album is Justice, least favorite St. Anger.

What other types of music do you listen to? Favorite band(s)?
Everything from Hank Williams to Slayer. I have a pretty wide spectrum of things.

Since you're a Slayer fan, are you excited (like the rest of us) to see Rick Rubin producing the new Metallica album? Are you sad to see Bob Rock go?
I look forward to hearing anything new by this band. But production wise, little hard for me as Bob has been and remains to be a good friend of mine. I admire Bob, and I do miss him keeping the sanity around here for sure. You only get a small glimpse of how great he was during St. Anger in the Some Kind of Monster DVD. I am very sad to see him go. Rick seems to be a wonderful guy, so let's give him a chance.

Picture courtesy of the MetClub

Do you got any interesting hobbies? What do you like to do for fun?
There is a wide range of outdoor activity around here. Kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, disc golf and snowboarding! Gotta love Cali! I also play several instruments.

Every Metallica fan has probably seen the deleted scene on the Some Kind of Monster DVD in which you played a voice mail from Jason regarding the Oakland Raiders gig for the guys. In Joe Berlinger's book, This Monster Lives, he mentioned that you were very nervous being on camera. Was that true? Do you still talk to Jason?

Anytime you are on camera and not knowing where it will end up, yeah I get nervous. Have you been on a DVD a gazillion people purchased lately?

There was a lot more to this story than in Joe’s book and the “outtakes” (on the DVD) that was revealed. Phil Towle had a strange way of justifying his existence around here. This was a fine example.

Picture courtesy of the "Some Kind of Monster" DVD

I have talked to Jason since then, absolutely. We were both shocked and yes it did damage our friendship. I honestly believe we were ALL different people then...band included. I have no regrets in the end. People think a lot of things from that but I can’t get caught up in that. The sad thing was I know this was one of James’ favorite gigs (the Oakland Raiders playoff game) ever. For our “therapist” to tell him about the Jason call before leaving the parking lot...real shame. People can look at it how they want, but unless you know the history between me and Jason there is really no point.

When the MetClub eventually closes it's doors (hopefully not anytime soon), what do you think you'll do next? Do you think you'll stay in San Francisco area or move elsewhere?
I have been asking myself that question for 13 years. I hope to sell shaved ice in Hawaii.

Toby in Hawaii - Summer 2041

What do you see in the future for Metallica?
I feel good about their future. And honestly, I know about as much as you do. They are in the studio writing new material, and they all seem to be really into it. That is a good thing. But I can’t sit around listening to the new stuff, I like to be surprised as well. I hear riffs here and there that sound really promising. Their energy level is good, and that is how I measure it.

Thanx for the interview, Toby!!!