Cleveland Metal Bands Unite For Holiday Food Drive

WJCU 88.7 FM and Auburn Records will host the third annual Iron Ingo Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive, a benefit concert for the Cleveland Foodbank and Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel, on Friday, December 23 at The Saw Concert Club (5324 State Rd.) in Parma, Ohio. Bands performing include ETERNAL LEGACY, SOULLESS, SHOK PARIS, CRYPTKICKER, GROUND ZERO, BORROWED TIME (from Detroit) and ALTERNATE REALITY. The event will be hosted by Dave Overkill (DESTRUCTOR) and Aurora Sans (RED HOT HEATHENS). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Fans attending the benefit are encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable foods to help those in need this holiday season. A donation will be made from the Cleveland metal community to the Cleveland Foodbank and Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel (dogs and cats).

The Saw Concert Club, a popular Cleveland-area music venue formerly known as the Jigsaw, had been on hiatus in booking original heavy metal bands since 2009 but recently reopened its doors on December 3 with a new name and a return to a heavy metal format.

"I am absolutely thrilled to play at the old Jigsaw again", says ETERNAL LEGACY guitarist Shaun Vanek. "This club had become our home in previous years and we were all very saddened when it closed. We always packed this house full with pure diehard metal heads and I just want to say welcome back to the party. Expect one hell of a return. This show is going to be off the hook."

"We are delighted to once again be doing a show in our defacto hometown of Parma, Ohio", adds SOULLESS frontman Jim Lippucci. "It's been several years since we've been able to thrash in Parma and we are confident that any DNA evidence has long since deteriorated, and that any outstanding warrants are long expired. The fact that the gig is a benefit for not one, but two great causes makes it even sweeter and has nothing to do with confidential settlements or court ordered community service. We encourage, no, we command all ye faithful Cleveland area metalheads to come forth with your canned goods and cash donations! Help a family down on their luck, or even a hungry pup or feline. Support the Cleveland Foodbank and Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel by crushing skulls...with kindness!"

The food drive is named in honor of Germany's Iron Ingo Sthrenberg. Ingo, a writer for the popular German underground heavy metal webzine Metal Rules, has adopted Cleveland as his second home. He has traveled to Cleveland from his home in Wiesmoor, Germany, at his own expense, to host two previous successful food drive events. He will be unable to make the trip this year but will be with his Ohio friends and fans in spirit.

"This year will be the third time Bill Peters is presenting a free admission concert for the fans and again asking for food donations for the Cleveland Foodbank and also this time the Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel for dogs and cats, which is really a very good idea," says Ingo.

"There are a lot of people who are in a bad situation of not having a home, a bed to sleep, nor food to eat and it's a problem of our society everywhere in the world. Look around in cities everywhere and you will witness homeless and poor people struggling to survive. To help those people and animals is necessary and it's so easy to just give a little bit to help a lot."

The Cleveland Foodbank supplies a majority of the food used in local hot meal sites, shelters, and food pantries. In addition, they provide food to child care centers, group homes, and programs for the elderly.

The Foodbank works closely with other Northeast Ohio hunger relief organizations, providing food and nonfood products to hunger centers administered by the Hunger Network Of Greater Cleveland, the Catholic Hunger And Shelter Network, and the Salvation Army, among others.

"Food is the most basic of needs", says Anne Goodman, Foodbank president and CEO. "With one in four of our children living on the brink of hunger we need to do everything we can to make sure they get the nutritious food they need to function. This event will help bring further awareness to the issue and this donation will help feed many hungry families as the need for food continues to rise. On behalf of all the hungry people in our area, thank you!"

The Friends Of The City Of Cleveland Kennel is a group of volunteers dedicated to providing the necessary medical and general care for the animals at the Cleveland Kennel in the hopes of giving them a second chance at a good life.

Becca Britton, director of the Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel, comments: "The Cleveland Kennel can have up to 150 animals at any given time. The animals that come into the kennel are all very special, but they have not been the given the life that they deserve. Many supplies are not provided by the city of Cleveland, which is why we rely on individual donations to provide the animals the care they deserve. Thank you for your generosity to help Cleveland's homeless animals!"

"Heavy metal fans are the most generous when it comes to supporting good causes," says food drive organizer Bill Peters. "Our 2010 donations tripled 2009! The goal this year is to surpass 2010s total. By getting involved and working together, we are trying to make a positive difference in our community."

Flyer design by Claudia von Bihl