METAL-MAYOR’S MUSEUM GOES ON A TOUR

"The Museum of Kmetala” (The Museum of the Metal-Mayor) sets off on a national tour from the studio of the BNT progranmme ‘The Day Begins’. Tsonko Tsonev, called the “the Metal Mayor” for being a heavy metal fan, is the current Mayor of the small Black Sea coastal town of Kavarna.

He was the guest of the BNT morning show and brought with him some of the objects he had collected for many years from various rock and heavy metal musicians and bands during their tours and concerts performed on the stage in Kavarna, known as ‘the rock capital of Bulgaria’.  

The unique exposition of the Metal-Mayor includes autographed guitars, drum pad, a model of the monument of Ronnie James Dio, Deep Purpule’s gold record autographed by Glenn Hughes, a gold disc autographed by ZZ Top, a poster of Deep Purple with autographs from the band’s world tour in 2013 and many other objects.

Exceptionally valuable for Tsonko Tsonev is the album “BURN”, which was a gift for him, given personally by Glenn Hughes on the stage of Kavarna in 2006. The most highly appreciated object however is a guitar pick from AC/DC Angus Yang ‘s guitar, but it will not be shown at the exhibition.

The idea about the museum started when Tsonko Tsonev was talking with some young owners of a recently opened rockers’ bar and club in Varna. He thought that the objects could be displayed in this rock bar in Varna and other Bulgarian places too.

Tsonko Tsonev’s primary quest since taking office has been to turn Kavarna into Bulgaria’s rock capital.

Tsonko Tsonev is the initiator of Kavarna Rock Fest, which is a rock and heavy metal festival, and since 2006 has taken place every year in the Black Sea town of Kavarna.

A passionate hard rock and heavy metal fan, Tsonev has attracted dozens of top metal bands to his hometown – Deep Purple, Motörhead, Manowar, the Scorpions and Robert Plant.

Tsonev’ helps with the organization of another event, the July morning fest, which has turned into an international event since he became the mayor of Kavarna municipality.

In the days before the 1st of July, thousands of people gather at Kamen Bryag village every summer to meet the first sun rays on the 1st day of July, usually gathered round a fire, sharing drinks and playing music while waiting for the sunrise.

‘July Morning’ is a unique event for Bulgaria. Some say the tradition dates back to the hippie period in the 1960s-1980s and originated as a protest against the restrictions of the communist regime. The meeting of the sunrise was a symbol of meeting a new beginning and a better future.

Nowadays this meaning is lost, but the sun worship as a symbol of a new beginning in life motivates young people to keep the tradition live.

In the recent years, a regular guest of the July Morning festival is John Lawton from the British rock band Uriah Heep, who are the authors of the July morning song.