Gary Shafer is a co-owner of a great label called Heaven and Hell Records and if you are into metal you should check out the label he also gets in tons, and tons of imports and you can read all about that in the interview
Where were you born and where did you grow up? What sort of kid were you growing up?
GS: Born in Fulton County Pennsylvania, grew up there too. Nerd and outcast.
At what point did you start to discover music whether it was top 40, rock, or even metal?
GS: My parents listened to country so that was mostly what I heard when I was young. Some of my first musical memories are of dragging my parent’s oldies records out of the attic and playing them on a kid’s record player. My brother and I each had our stack of 45s that we liked from our parent’s records. My favorite was The Troggs Wild Thing. Then Mom let us join Columbia House and I ordered a bunch of country. I remember hearing my first rock song on the school bus. It was Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me.” (remember the song well-chris). I borrowed the record and played the hell out of it. My first exposure to metal was hearing Back On Black by AC/DC at the swimming hole. Once I heard that I never went back.
Now, at what age did you start to discover metal music? Was it on the radio, MTV (ha ha), or in magazines? What were the first bands you heard, and are you still a fan of any of them?
GS: I discovered metal around age 11 when I first heard AC/DC’s Back in Black, then MTV and metal magazines got me hooked
Now how about the more underground side of things, the heavier stuff, whether it be power metal or even thrash?
GS: I started buying this type of stuff from reading the metal mags and when I could drive myself to record stores, I bought a lot based on the cover art.
Did you go to many shows back in the day? What were some memorable shows you saw back in the day? Who would you say were the best band you saw live?
GS: I barely went to shows. I lived in the sticks and we never heard about the shows except those at the Shiley Acres venue.
So did you do any tape trading back in the day, if you did or you weren’t around in the tapes of tape trading?
GS: Never got into tape trading.
So have you ever done any writing for any print zines, or written any blogs for websites over the years? Have you ever wanted to, but didn’t? Do you think if you did, you would be a decent writer?
GS: No I never did any writing or had any desire to.
Did you ever work at any record labels over the years?
GS: I am a partner at Heaven and Hell Records currently. We did up obscure bands from the late 70’s through the 90s for CD reissues. Often it’s bands so obscure there is no mention of them online when we start the project.
I released one record on my label “Heavy Metal Museum Records “ back in 2011 which was Funny Money Back Again on vinyl.
Is it hard to find bands to release their stuff on Heaven and Hell Records?
GS: It is getting harder since virtually every band has been approached by now. I would guess maybe 30% of the releases we try to do end up happening.
What have been some of the biggest sellers and how many people work there?
GS: Some of the best sellers Excaliber/Warriors of the Night, Cerebus/Too Late To Pray, Redd Barron/The Barrons Here To Rock, Havoc/Back For The Kill.
Just me and Jeremy Golden at Heaven and Hell. but Kurt, who works for my distro packs most of the orders.
We use other professionals for sound, design, and artwork.
I have seen some of the stuff you get in to sell, which is a lot of great imports (CD or vinyl) at great prices. What does UPS or the postal service think about all this mail you get in?
GS: I think it benefits my local mailman who is a rural delivery subcontractor. The UPS and Fedex guys don’t say much they just do their jobs.
How much stuff are you mailing in a given week?
GS: About 700-1000 items a week.
I see you are on the hunt for all kinds of AC/DC stuff. How many things do you have from them and what is the rarest thing you have from them and the most expensive you paid?
GS: I guess I have about 100 items now, which is a drop in the bucket for AC/DC. I am only collecting Bon Era to narrow it down a bit. I paid about $1500 each for their first single and a couple of A-label promos.
Sending stuff overseas must be insane with these postage prices. Am I right?
GS: Yes, I stopped sending overseas unless it’s Heaven and Hell Records business.
We try to direct our international customers to sites in their country to keep Heaven and Hell international shipping at a minimum
The prices went way up and the customs forms got more involved.
Now take me through what a typical day is like for you. Do you take many days off? How many hours do you work in a given week?
GS: I typically work 12 hours a day 7 days a week. It’s hard to keep it all going if I don’t. I rarely take a day off. (wow-chris).
What are some of the rarest items you own?
GS: The feather used to sign Manowar’s Megaforce contract in blood.
Savatage-“Sirens” original cover art painting.
Mercyful Fate-“Melissa” Megaforce graphics mechanicals and test press.
Avatar-yellow vinyl, test press, black vinyl, and demos tapes.
Dio, the custom shirt he wore on the Holy Diver tour.
I see on Facebook you’re always posting new stuff that you get in stock and at a great price as well. If you want you can give your Facebook link out for people to purchase stuff from you and any other links for the label, etc.
GS: I have been directing new customers to my Ebay and Discogs stores because I can’t handle more volume on Facebook. I don’t even accept new friend requests anymore. Wish I could figure out a way to manage more volume on there.
Here are the links:
https://www.discogs.com/seller/heavymetalmuseum/profile?sort=artist%2Casc
https://www.ebay.com/str/heavymetalmuseum
Gary, mega thanks for doing this interview. Continued success with the label going forward and any last words the floor is yours.
GS: Big thanks to everyone who supports Heavy Metal Museum and Heaven and Hell Records so I can do what I love for a living.
