Biography
The First Spark – Motorbreath (1987)
The roots of Meatallica go back to 1987, when founder Geoffrey Vanderhaegen, at the age of seven, first heard the sounds of Motorbreath at his friend Boudy’s place. Although he didn’t fully understand what he was feeling at the time, one thing was immediately clear: he was hooked. The speed and energy of the song grabbed him and never let go. This moment not only marked the beginning of his musical journey but also inspired him to one day stand on stage himself and bring that same energy to life.
The Beginning – Agonize (1998)
In 1994, Geoffrey started playing guitar, determined to one day bring Metallica’s music to the stage himself. In 1998, he founded his first tribute band: Agonize.
The first show took place on Saturday, May 27, 2000, at the youth center where he had spent much of his younger years. Surrounded by friends, family, and familiar faces, Agonize delivered an enthusiastic evening of Metallica. The atmosphere was magical and left them wanting more, but as so often happens, other priorities such as work and studies got in the way, and the chapter ended sooner than hoped.
The Second Round – Magnetica (2009)
The release of Death Magnetic in 2008 gave Geoffrey a fresh boost of inspiration. After years of silence, he decided to form a new tribute band. He chose the name Magnetica as a nod to the new album, but above all as an ode to the enduring pull Metallica had on him. Geoffrey gathered some musicians and started working on a fresh approach to the music. Over the years, however, he realized that not everyone shared the same passion for Metallica—something he considered inseparable from the music itself. Combined with his move to Bruges in 2017, this led Geoffrey to let go of Magnetica and hand the project entirely over to the remaining members.
The Rediscovery – Metalmania (2018)
In 2018, Geoffrey was approached by a festival organizer to put together a one-off Metallica tribute band. Although he declined the request, it reignited the fire within him. His passion for Metallica burned too brightly to ignore, so he decided to give it another try. Together with his old friend and fellow Metallica fan Werner Versyp (ex-Meclassica), he took the first steps.
It felt right from the start, especially when guitarist Conrad Hultermans (X-tinxion), drummer Stefan Simons (ex-Meclassica), and bassist Kornee Kleefman gave their approval to join in this new chapter.
In a very short time, Metalmania managed to put on impressive productions, with the highlight being their performance at TT Assen in 2019, where they played for an ecstatic crowd of 12,000 fans at the Koopmansplein.
The Birth of Meatallica (2021)
After several internal changes within the band, Geoffrey and Conrad increasingly realized that the name Metalmania no longer fit. Metalmania had once been a five-member tribute band, but after the departure of Werner and Stefan just before the pandemic, the dynamic changed. Conrad introduced Arnoud Van de Griend as the new drummer, and after only one audition, it was immediately clear that Arnoud was the man the band needed to move forward.
At Conrad’s request, Geoffrey picked up the guitar again—a role he had set aside since his Magnetica days. It soon became clear that the band needed a fresh start, something that better matched their vision and energy. They searched for a name that radiated power, a raw, primal energy that captured the essence of Metallica, but with a playful twist.
In June 2021, the idea was born: MEATALLICA. The name was meant to reflect both intensity and humor—a name that embodied the raw, primal force of metal, but could also be worn with a smile. With the tagline Metallica to the bone, their mission was complete.
In the summer of 2023, the final piece of Meatallica fell into place with the arrival of bassist Frederick Peeters. Frederick, an old acquaintance from Geoffrey’s tribute past, brought the missing link the band needed. His playing style, his experience with Sanitarium, and his approach added a new dimension to the band. With his arrival, Meatallica stood stronger than ever.
Today, Meatallica can look back on an intense and beautiful journey, with hundreds of shows under their belt and impressive productions in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.
Meatallica strives to become Europe’s leading Metallica tribute band. The band not only seeks to honor Metallica’s music but also to offer audiences an experience that authentically revives the intensity and magic of the original band.
We’ll never stop, we’ll never quit, ’cause we’re MEATALLICA!!
