Australian PR Manager Chris Maric – who works with and represents some of the biggest metal and rock labels and promoters in the world and also looks after a string of local Aussie bands from King Parrot to the newly formed – will next month head to the UK to partake in a charity bicycle ride.
"It's awesome to be part of the 2016 Heavy Metal Truants team. Not only are we cycling to raise money for some great children's charities, we are also undertaking an epic road pilgrimage to Donington for the Download Festival. That's pretty metal.
"I will be joining the Metal Hammer crew and other media, music and industry partners as the Aussie contingent. I look forward to complaining about how cold it is considering it is summer, or maybe I'll enjoy the fact that it is summer and I'm not melting into the road as it won't be 45 degrees."
Chris will also head to Europe for the summer festival season, attending Hellfest in France where many of the acts he reps will be performing. "If you're able to support, in any way, please do! I'll love you for it!"
Chris is prepping for the ride by listening to riding-themed playlist. Enjoy.
Queen - Bicycle Race
Ever since I signed up to Truants, this song has not left my brain. I think the tempo changes in it might help me get up hills too haha!{youtube}2CTPLUcQAjk{/youtube}
Iron Maiden - Flight Of Icarus
Well, it will be England in peak summer but you’d hardly call it real summer huh. I won't be riding close to the sun, but it will be in the sky till 10pm every night. First birthday in the northern hemisphere: never had my birthday in shorts before.{youtube}p4w2BZXL6Ss{/youtube}
Jimmy Barnes - Driving Wheels
I have to take a piece of bogan Australia with me! My dad was a truck driver and this was an anthem for those guys when it came out. I'm 16 wheels less than a semi-trailer but it's still the rhythm of the highway as I roll on down.{youtube}-G3rpMurkX4{/youtube}
Motorhead - Killed By Death
There will be a Lemmy stage at Download in honour of the great man and Killed By Death is an awesome road-dog song with a groove that will keep me pedalling for hours on end.{youtube}gV6noHEd6XE{/youtube}
The Who - I Can See For Miles
The ride is about 265km northwards. I live in the Sydney Hills so was thinking of how challenging it would be to ride to say Newcastle or Canberra with all those huge climbs. The UK for the most part is flat and the hills on the ride are ‘undulating’, so I'm gonna have a pretty good vista in front of me a lot of the time.{youtube}Q0iqg2UanEc{/youtube}
Chris has a fundraising page setup and his target for the campaign is about $2,500AUD.
Heavy Metal Truants is the world's first Heavy Metal Charity Bicycle Ride. The brain child of Metal Hammer editor-in-chief Alexander Milas and Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood, it’s three days, 162 miles and lots of metal.
