From metal to the pedal
Zoltan Bathory of Five Finger Death Punch driving Knucklehead monster truck in Avondale this weekend
Zoltan Bathory, best known as the guitarist for Five Finger Death Punch, is in Newfoundland this weekend to show off some other, newer skills.
The man who was named Golden God’s best shredder by Metal Hammer Magazine in 2010 has been really getting into monster truck driving.
“It did start like a bucket-list item, like, ‘OK. I want to do this, amongst a million other things.’ But once I did it I really liked it. It’s so over the top. It’s so much bigger than life,” he said.
“You step on this thing, it literally stands up on two wheels. So everything about it is loud and angry, and I think it completely complements the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.”
Not one to say no to a new challenge, Bathory got into monster trucks after a friend in the scene asked if he’d be interested in trying it. He then hooked up with Monster Jam Freestyle World Champion Jimmy Creten, who showed him the ropes at his Kansas City course. With experience in combat driving and a lot of discipline, he picked it up pretty quickly.
“He was impressed and said, ‘hey, I’ll build you a truck if you want to drive it,’” he said.
The new Knucklehead truck has a 3-D body complete with teeth, Bathory’s hairstyle, brass knuckles and the band’s Knuck-
lehead mascot.
This weekend
Bathory and the crew — and the Knucklehead truck — are in town for the NAPA Auto Parts World Series of Monster Trucks taking place at Eastbound Park in Avondale Friday through Sunday.
“This is a proper monster truck course,” he said of Eastbound. “There are different events all over the world, and this particular course is a proper one, meaning even if you don’t want to get some air, you will get some air because it’s built properly.”
Bathory, who was born in Hungary and lives in the U.S., is also a little excited to be in Newfoundland in general.
“I’ve never been in Newfoundland before. This is the land you fly over when you go to Europe, and always wonder about. Like, ‘Hmm, what’s down there?’ So it’s interesting to actually be here. I’m excited and looking forward to it.”
Monster trucking is just one of countless new adventures he’s been crossing off his bucket list between tour dates. He said it became known to the people around him and he started getting offers to do “all kinds of crazy stuff.”
“And most of the time of course I say yes,” he said, laughing. “If there’s a chance of survival, I say yes.”
Next on his bucket list?
“I’m trying to get the Russians to let me fly a MiG-29 to 80,000 feet so I can see the curvature of the Earth, and it’s looking good. I think I’m going to be able to do it in December.”
He’s also planning on spending some time on a safari in Tanzania to the Ugandan border this summer.
But first: Avondale.