Libby Andrew

HEAVY METAL MAN
By Kathleen Hay
Standard-Freeholder 14 May 2008

Andrew Libbey loves metal. Whether it's putting the pedal to the metal on the floor,
or turning up the volume in his CD player. "Heavy metal, that's truly become too broad
a phrase now," says the Cornwall man. "My musical tastes veer more towards 80s metal,
like Motley Crue and Helix.
"It's really been since my grandmother bought me a Kiss record back in Grade 5, much to her dismay; that I've been attracted to the genre."
By day, Libbey, 39, runs his own business, MF Chassisworks, which specializes in sheet
metal fabrication. He'll make "anything you can't buy," he does antique car repairs, customizes late model vehicles.
Whatever.
But it is that "whatever" which has welded both his love for music, and his career path, in
a new direction. "I'd always done well in art, you just need perspective and imagination," says Libbey: "Twenty-five years this June, I was coming back from St. Lucia, where our family had been living for the past year. "We'd stopped in Orlando and I remember choosing a Motley Crue tape, over a Scorpions one, for my Walkman, just because the cover artwork looked cool."
In fact, Libbey had never heard of the famous metal-headers, but once he started listening he never stopped.
But whether it's life imitating art, or art imitating life; in a twist of fate, Libbey's own metal designs have now found a home in a huge charity fundraiser the band's lead singer, Vince Neal, holds each year in memory of his late daughter. .
This year's 12th annual event Skylar Neil Memorial Golf Tournament was held recently
at the Lost Canyons Golf Club in Simi Valley, CA. To date, nearly $2 million has been raised for children's illnesses.
And on the auction table for the third time was Libbey's artwork.
Two years ago, a two-foot logo Libbey did of Neil's vineyard, fetched $1,600 for the cause. In 2007, a copy of Neal's logo for the singer's Las Vegas tattoo shop, Vince Neal Ink, garnered $3,200 for the charity:
This year, who knows?
But he's hopeful.
Neil, obviously not just a metalhead, but a canny businessman, opened another venture,
Dr. Feelgood's Rock Bar and Grill, in downtown West Palm Beach, FL this past January:
The bar's logo, based on the band's best selling album, features a skull-festooned dagger
with a snake wrapped around it.
That's also where Libbey found inspiration for his latest donation to the charity auction.
Working in partnership with another friend, Guillaume Bourdeau, a Dupont technical sales representative, all of the distinctive designs are coated with brilliant Hot Hues shades.
"I sent them photos of it and Neil's response was, 'That's kick-ass," beamed Libbey: "It's
more Motley Crue than the other two were, so I'm hopeful it's going to fetch them even more money.'
Libbey's struck up acquaintance with Neil about five years ago during a solo gig in
Kingston. It was just before Motley Crue was going to reunite and Libbey; who's been known to wear artwork, too, was hopeful to get Neil to sign his arm for a later tattoo.
"I'd met Tommy Lee and had him sign my arm," he explained. "I knew someone who
knew someone who knew' Neil, and that was how I managed to meet him.
"I'm a drummer, and I thought it would be interesting to get Nikki Sixx', too, and Mick
Mars' autographs, but the chance was slim.
"I mean, this is a band I listened to as a teen.
You think, 'As if!'
As the metal gods would have it, Libbey found himself at the reunion date in Montreal,
and once again in the company of Motley Crue, where he finally secured all the signatures of the band members. There have been other concerts over the years, but Libbey; who places a high value. on his relationship with them, doesn't go around spreading the news.
Want tickets? Don't even bother asking.
Just don't, okay?
It's a far cry from that day in Orlando when Libbey decided purely on the artwork of the
band's release to purchase the tape.
"Just the fact that I got to meet them and hear their music is enough. It's an, 'As if!'
when you grow up listening to them. You just never know where things might lead," Libbey says.