Introduce yourself with just few words
My name is Nikola Petras I am administrator of the website and I am in the fanclub since the beginning. I guess it is not necessary to say how big Maiden fan I am. I also work as a Graphic and Web designer wich helps me a lot with my work at the Fan club
When was your first time when you heard Maiden?
Well it was back in 1994 when I heard a silly tape compilation named Best Rock Ballads , and there I heard Strange World. An year later my uncle took me to the Maiden gig in Sofia wich was my first concert. And the rest is history
Which are your favorite Iron Maiden Albums?
„The Number Of The Beast" , „Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" , „Somewhere In Time" and all the rest.... And the next one
Do you have a favorite caption or sentence from a song?
„California dreaming as the Earth dies screaming" - Public Enema Number One
What about a favorite cover art?
Definitely "Somewhere In Time". I still remember how I stared at the cover and the details for weeks. Other favorite is "Aces High".
What is the best thing happened to you related with the band?
Well all the concerts of the band are definitely the best thing. But also listening to a new album for the first time is also a nice thing.
How about the most disappointing thing related with the band?
The cancellation of the show in Sofia back in 2000
How many Maiden shows you have attended?
Eight, so far.
Which Maiden show is your favorite?
Hammersmith Odeon 1982
Are you an Iron Maiden collector?
Yes
What is the most precious thing that you have related with the band?
If we are speaking for an item I think is the „Eddie's Archives" box, but ii think my participation in the fan club is much more important for me.
What is the most absurd thing that you heard for IRON MAIDEN?
That they are Satanist
Is there something that you don't like about the band?
Their Official fan club
If you have the opportunity to change something about the band, what it would be?
Well, probably I would try to change this common practice with identical setlist on the whole tour
Since when you are a member of the Bulgarian fan club?
From the beginning in 2007
What was the reason for you to join the club?
It's like everyone else- the love for the band. And the reason why I am still working for the club is the pleasure of meeting people that think and have the same interest as me.
What is the most pleasant memory with the fan club ?
The travel and the concert in Cluj – Romania in 2010. Then the friendship that we have between us sealed and from a fan club we've became one big family.
Tell us about interesting fan club story?
Back in 2008 the company that was responsible for our trip to Athens canceled the trip just a week before the concert, because we were not enough people. The we took everything in our hands and we are not sorry about that. We had a lot of emotions and good memories, but it's definitely the thing I remember the most because it was really hard to do it.
What makes you proud with the fan club?
Every single member of the fan club
What is the thing that can make you hate Iron Maiden and stop listening to their music ?
I'm not sure that there is such thing
And after all "Way Maiden"?
Because nothing else is much more worth it
Why did you decided to collect Iron Maiden items?
I have not decided, it just happens. But unfortunately this is a really bad habit. Because before you know you will be spending a loads of money for albums that you will never listen to.
You are an executive-chairman of the fan club. Is it hard to run such a fan club and what are the difficulties you are face with?
There are always difficulties but the work with the fan club brings me joy and it's easier to handle all these difficulties.
What are the main steps for organizing a trip for a concert in different country? You are looking forward for everything to go smooth in every moment or you are anxious to enter the arena and see the band from the first row?
The preparation for such trip are done months before the concert and everything changes within hours. There are many thing to take care off and responsibility is huge. The main goal of the fans is to get to the certain venue on time witch depends from me in some way. I have to check if everyone's papers are valid and sometimes even I have forgotten my passport. After all the experience is great, especially when we are returning from a concert when everyone is happy filled with energy. Don't get me wrong usually in every trip I'm on the edge of mental disorder and i'm overloaded with work but for now everything has been okay.
Are there moments when you wanted to quit with the Fan club? And why?
Yes, but I will never do it. Because during those years I have met all kinds of people – greedy, jealous, backstabbers, liars, thefts, morons and simple idiots, and I was not sure if I need to do anything for them. But at the same time I found the most dedicated and true fans, and real friends which I will never betray.
Which is the most absurd thing you heard from a fan asking about the fan club?
"If I join the fan club will I meet the band? Can I get a free concert ticket?"
What do you think is there any chances someday the fan club to meet the entire band?
Not everything depends on us but for us is important to do everything right and we can hope for positive results.
If you have the chance to meet someone from the band and have a drink with him , who will you choose and what you will talk about?
Definitely Steve Harris and will not talk for Maiden at all.
Tell us something about you that we don't know or we forgot to ask you?
I'm also interested in photography. I'm photographer for the concert portal RockLiveBg.com and sometimes I write the reviews. Despite Maiden I'm not listening to any other heavy metal band from the 80s. I listen to much more newer bands and mainly Black and death metal.