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The final totals are in for this year's Eighth Annual Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive. The event took place on December 3 at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio. Fans attending were encouraged to bring food or cash donations for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel. The free concert featured 12 original bands, burlesque performers, a Metallica tribute act, a raffle with 43 incredible prizes and a Playboy model (Daniella). Over 800 people came through the doors throughout the night, setting a new attendance record for the event.

Here are the final totals:
Food donations - 6,706 lbs.
Cash donations - $5,853


"The annual food drive was bigger than ever this year", says Beachland owner Cindy Barber. "We at the Beachland are so proud to host this and were reminded once again that heavy metal fans are the best. The lobby was a little assembly line as box after box of food and pet supplies got packed and loaded in the truck on Waterloo. Bill Peters' annual efforts shine a big spotlight on how generous the Cleveland music community always is."

"We fell short of 2015's unbelievable record breaking numbers of 8,803 lbs. and $6,001 (we had some big cash and food donations from The Exchange and Daniella Dior's friends at Hillcrest Food Services last year that helped our totals) but our event was still an incredible success", says event organizer Bill Peters (WJCU, Auburn Records).  "The turnout was our biggest ever!  Fans came early and stayed late to watch all the bands.That was really cool! We had two stages going. The bands all sounded great and the show ran on time to the minute. I was very happy with the way everything turned out. My crew did an amazing job! Our friends at the Beachland who donated their venue had their biggest bar night of the year too.  

"The food and cash donations we collected for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Friends of the Cleveland Kennel will go a long way to helping those in need this holiday season.  Heavy metal fans are the most generous when it comes to supporting good causes. This is proven time and time again with these types of events. Working together we are making our community a better place to live. It feels good to give something back. I can't thank the fans enough for their support."  
Iron Ingo Stührenberg was a writer for the German underground heavy metal webzine Metal Rules. He has traveled to Cleveland from his home in Wiesmoor, Germany, at his own expense, to host three of the previous food drive benefit concerts. His first visit to Cleveland was in 2009. Ingo returned again to host this year's event.

"I want to say THANK YOU to all people that helped, supported our eighth annual holiday food drive. Again it proved that metal fans are the most generous when it comes to help out not only people but also animals in need. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing my Cleveland friends again soon. Until we rock again!"

(Playboy model Daniella photo by John Yuhas)