Metallica - O2 Arena 15th September 08

Fan club and Mission Metallica members only show, cost at £5 with all money going to charity.
Or as the band called it a "Release Party" for the magnificent Death Magnetic CD. Our first visit to the main arena and "wow!" is all I can say really. It is nice to see that the white elephant Millennium Dome is finally being used. Ticketless entry so passport and credit card in hand we arrived.No problems.

The band were using an 'in the round' set up so our seats on the side which were OK for an end gig became superb. We were in row 4 but rows 1 and 2 were covered over so row 2 it was. To our left was a walkway and looking down we could see the Metallica dressing room. In fact got a high five from James Hetfield on the way to the stage and at the end!

All the sound was above the band and from the music played before they came on it was a superb set up.A narrow standing area on both sides with larger at the end. Eight microphones were around the stage to give James the opportunity to move around. Lars' drum kit rotated through 90 degrees 4 times in the gig to give everyone the chance to see him. The people sat in the upper tier must need oxygen and climbing ropes. It is so high and steep that they watched though the lighting rig!

No support act but IT WAS ONLY A FIVER!! !!!!!!!!
They came on to two numbers off the new cd That was "Just Your Life" and "The End of the Line". Fab sound lights and the band moving to all 4 front rows standing we were level with the band and only 20 yards or so away!!

The set that followed was
  • The Thing That Should Not Be
  • Of Wolf and Man
  • One(early and no pyro)
  • Broken Beat and Scarred
  • Cyanide
  • Frantic
  • Until it Sleeps
  • Wherever I May Roam
  • For Whom the Bell Tolls
  • The Day that Never Comes
  • Master of Puppets
  • Blackened.
The two hour show finished with encores of Stone Cold Crazy, Jump in the Fire and Seek & Destroy played with the house lights on, showing the venue at it's best.

Five new songs all fitted in fantastically,one off the "much loved" St.Anger and a host of songs not played so often,In fact no Enter Sandman for the first time in 17 years or Creeping Death but I have to say it didn't matter. Highlights were a stunningly fast and soloing Jump In The Fire, Queen's Stone Cold Crazy with added mistake in the middle and pretty much everything really.

A special mention to James who was having a ball headbanging like he was 20 years younger.Great to see a band who have been together 27 years having such a ball. In fact mentioning ball giant black beach balls with Metallica on them dropped to the floor at the end Shaz caught one before the twat behind her bashed it out of her hands.He was lucky she didn't kill him!

So a stunning night out which went by in a flash.The band will be back in February/March for an indoor arena tour.Earlier in the year I said Maiden was the gig of the year I am now allowed indoor and oudoor awards?
10/10. ME

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