Thrash of the Titans : 2001-2011 Ten Years After

Wow, 10 years have gone since the totally epic ‘Thrash of the Titans’ show was held in San Francisco on August 11, 2001.  I remember the event as well as the events that lead up to this monumental happening quite well, in fact I look back at that time rather fondly.

In July of 2001 I had taken a self-imposed hiatus from life.  At the time I was working for a big coatings company and managing Usurper.  When I left my job, all I did all day was take care of Max.  He was two years old and leaving him every morning was fucking killing me.  So all day we’d do whatever the hell we wanted to do all day and at night I’d write and take care of Usurper stuff if needed. 

Earlier in 2001 the band decided to part ways with their label at the time, Necropolis Records and it was my job to find a new one.  By Summer I was in talks with two labels, one of them daily, trying to figure out a way to get a deal done ASAP. 10 years later at least I can say I did it, but I don’t miss that bullshit one bit.  I still have the Earache contract the band eventually signed, it’s like 60 pages long, filled with so much bullshit it’d make you sick.

The news of Chuck’s Cancer didn’t do too much to me.  Yeah, of course it was a shame, but I was in a different head space then.  At the time it felt like if I couldn’t see you or if I didn’t truly care about you, I couldn’t give a fuck about you.  No middle ground, that’s just the way it was.  But it was strange that another Metal musician named Chuck had been stricken by this illness in a relatively short amount of time.   Not long after Chuck Billy announced his illness his friends put together a benefit show. It was decided that all monies would be split between the Billy and Schuldiner families.   It was a good thing and you know what?  The show went down in history…

I was honored to cover the show for two magazines. Terrorizer from the UK and Unrestrained! from Canada ran my reviews and I was chuffed as fuck to have my writing in Terrorizer for the first time.  Looking back I’m not entirely impressed with the writing.  Bad punctuation and other shit that makes me cringe a bit, as it should!  I hope we’re all a little better at something a decade later, eh?  Having more work in print via Unrestrained! was also nothing short of a thrill.  I respected the hell out of the original U!Crew and shared many a drink with them.  Adrian left us a few years ago, the Metal world lost a good one there.

So I’m not going to re-review the show, no way.  But I will give a run down as if I were reviewing the show today.

Sadus: Still remember them being “on,” Steve D of course nailed it. Drummer Jon Allen I think was jamming with Testament at the time so he was loose. He was a fucking monster on the kit all day and night long.  TOTT was a good day for drummer watching, off to a great start.

Forbidden: I was never the biggest Forbidden fan.  Didn’t like it at the time and not crazy about them today either.  I think their brand new album, ‘Omega Wave’ is the best thing they’ve ever done.  Their songwriting finally caught up with their abilities, good shit.  Ten years ago though?  Yeah, they were good.  I make mention of Tim Calvert joining the band on stage and then Paul Bostaph takes over on drums?  Still good memories.  The band had been out of commission for several years before reuniting and recording the aforementioned ‘Omega Wave’.

Exodus: I could have been a bit more honest in regards to Exodus.  But seeing as it wasn’t my magazine I didn’t want to start calling people out, you know?  But looking back, fuck they were sloppy and yeah, a bit of a mess but they still had that balls-out/chaotic Exodus vibe.  Set-list was cool, nothing more to really say. This was one of Paul Baloff’s last gigs and six months later he’d be gone.

Death Angel: For the same reasons I mention in the reviews, this was a real release of emotion and aggression.  This was the first time the band had performed as Death Angel in 11 years.  Their set was electrifying; it remains one of my favorite live sets from any band any where.  They played a great selection of songs covering all their releases to date. They were well rehearsed and really made an impact.  Their “reunion” continues to this day.

S.O.D.: Killed It.

Anthrax: Same thoughts now as then. “Gung-Ho” with John Bush.  Other than that the usual set-list they still play to this day.  They were going strong and totally fucked up by playing “Bring Tha Noize” at a Thrash Metal Revival.  Seriously, I’ll never forget how disappointed I was.

Vio-Lence: Amazingly good.  Still after all this time, they destroyed like no other band that day or night.  Vio-Lence were 90% of the reason I attended this show to begin with and they made it more than worth it.  They crushed and conquered, it was fucking awesome. Remember the rumours of Jason Newsted playing Bass for Vio-Lence for this show if Deen Dell couldn't? Check out the ‘Eternal Nightmare’ reissue with the live record from December 2001. 

Legacy/Testament: This was a fun set, a lot of inter band changes from John Tempesta to Derrick Ramirez to Zetro to Steve D from Sadus. All jammed early Testament songs including “Reign Of Terror!” Chuck Billy guests at the very end on "Into the Pit", great end to a great show.  Testament has returned and are currently writing a new record.

Machine Head and more - Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival - Tinley Park, IL 8.5.2011

I attended the ever professional yet monstrous Rockstar Energy Drink MayhemFestival on Friday August 5^th and knew from the get-go this was going to be a bit different.  I usually fly solo to mega-big shows and events.  I usually have “work” to do, be it interviews or photos or what have you and I don’t know, it just sometimes makes it tough to do these things when someone is tagging along.  Don’t even get into the guest list situations and the usual absence of “+1’s,” etc.

So I knew this would be a different sort of gig as I was going to be bringing my 12 y/o to the show.  He’s been digging more and more music, gravitating towards music of ‘The Big 4’ and especially Megadeth.  He has the first four Mega CD’s on his iPod, he’s set for now, no?   So his interest in Machine Head is also on a steady rise and seeing as both bands were on this year’s edition of the festival, twas a no brainer. 

I definitely was not on “festival coverage mode” so I wasn’t too concerned with our arrival time, we entered the gates as Suicide Silence was ending.  We headed back to the dressing rooms as I wanted to say hello to Robb and the guys as well as introduce everyone to Max.  Max meeting Robb was a planets collide moment for me, definitely memorable.  Roadrunner UK press goddess Michelle Kerr was here with Metal Hammer scribe Dom Lawson working on the Machine Head ‘fanpack' it's always great to see these long distance friends.  

(Robb Flynn/Max Trakas...sporting a shirt from the Jan/Feb 1988 Dio/Magadeth/Savatage Tour)

We caught several songs from Hatebreed, but I must admit Hatebreed now has so many songs, so many I don’t know and it lessens my enjoyment of their set.  I love their earliest work, but lost em somewhere several years ago.  One of the best live bands around, but not knowing their material loses me. Around the time Hatebreed was shutting down Max and I spent a few watching the Metal Mullisha crue.  Good god, those guys are out of this world crazy.  I never thought I’d be writing about them here, but they were kick ass and this year’s show was one of their most impressive yet. 

There’s something telling about seeing a band’s next era for the first time.  I mean if you take notice of such things, and really pay attention to one or several bands, its interesting stuff.  Because of my interest in Machine Head I couldn’t wait to see the “…Locust” era of the band commence.  I had helped usher in the ‘Blackening’ era of the band back in February of 2007 in Denver.  I remembered how different the vibe of the band was on stage in comparison to the last time I saw them as their “Through The Ashes…’ cycle finished. 

Four years on, Machine Head take the stage victorious before a single note is struck at least that's the feeling I get.  Back on the main stage for another several shows, the crowd is now in the ten’s of thousands are theirs for the next half hour.  Opening with “Imperium” Machine Head plays with an intense swagger but with all the hunger of a band 10 years their junior. “Beautiful Mourning” one of three songs from ‘The Blackening’ was met with a roar as the audience grew. 

“Locust” from their upcoming LP ‘Unto The Locust’ out September 27^th was played and I was impressed with the reaction, very promising response especially considering how many attendees were seeing the band for the first time.  The song came off without a hitch and gave a hint of the next era of the band.  Definitely darker, groove is there but it’s a much heavier groove, this track needs to be heard live.  “Aesthetics Of Hate” and “Halo” closed out the Machine Head portion of the show in grand fashion.  Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the “guitar duel” between Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel but it’s still kick ass.  A new era begins…

Truthfully, and this is funny, but Max lasted several songs of Megadeth.  Personally, I think he was so used to the records and the intensity being so high on those that modern Megadeth live at least, really do not cause any type of stimulation, thus causing 12 year olds to sorta lose a little interest.  Not total interest but when we invited to grab some dinner in catering, food won the war.  Megadeth were themselves, the songs we saw were good, but they could do themselves a helluva favor by mixing the set up a little here and there.  

That was really about it, the rest of my night was filled with much laughter and thankful to be in the company of the MH family, even if for just several hours.  Cheers to all who made a father and son hang more than memorable.  Xtra special thanks to Randy "Big Unit" Johnson for the photo and not being a dick!              

SOUNDGARDEN: UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL 07.16.11

When it comes to writing, I’ve NEVER been a “multi-tasker.”  I applaud those of you who can juggle live reviews, movie reviews and music reviews etc. while doing more!  That’s never been me and I don’t think in my 40^th year I’m about to turn the corner and even attempt.  Whatever it is I have my head wrapped around seems to totally consume me, it may not be productive but it’s how things work around here. 

Since the last time I was here and wrote about my “Big 4” experience I’ve had no inspiration to return.  I wasn’t really getting out to see bands, no new music was forcing my heart to write what it did to me, haven’t had jack shit as far as time for books and movies…I’ve been just “done” for a while now.

This past weekend was sort of a 50/50 one, had plans for both Friday and Saturday with family and friends and lo and behold both plans were canceled.  On a whim I remembered Soundgarden were playing in town that Saturday night, the Saturday I found myself “open.”  I had no tickets, no pre planned options of shooting the show, nothing, nada, zilch, other than being a fan of them band I don’t even know what possessed me to go.  Pretty unlike me to show any sort of spontaneity in my old age, but this worked out rather well.

With everything from the drive in to the parking to finding tickets with perfect seats the evening was off to a great start.  We missed support band The Mars Volta, but having seen them at what I believe was their “peak” several years ago I didn’t think they’d be able to conjure up anything for me in the much larger UIC. 

Speaking of such, I have to say the ten-thousand plus seats the UIC holds was definitely a bold booking for a band of Soundgarden’s stature.  Even with their millions of albums sold as well as their massive 2010 Lollapalooza appearance they’ve still been gone well over a decade and the “super” unknown (sorry, had to) tour traffic they’d generate in today’s climate had to be taken into consideration.   

I was impressed with the amount of people who left the house to see the band again.  No doubt some of the Chicagoans in attendance on Saturday might have seen either the Lolla set or the ‘Palooza warm-up set at the intimate Vic Theater several days earlier.  I was at neither, I can’t even remember the last time I saw Soundgarden.  I think it may have been when they and Blind Melon did a short run supporting Neil Young in 1993??

 

So not long after we found our seats the house lights went down and the rather bare stage was awash in blue/purple lights.  As the intro to “Searching with My Good Eye Closed” rang through the PA and I started to reminisce about the times I’d seen the band before, the whole “time” aspect of not only Soundgarden’s music, but all the music that has become such an important in my life.  But indeed the time spent in the “Grunge Years” were some fucked up years, huh?  Important, yes, but fucked up nonetheless.

As the intro reached its maximum volume the band appeared and took their positions,  “Searching…” was always such a great opening song and time has done nothing to change that, in fact it’s probably made it even better.  That same reminiscent thought process I experienced during the song’s intro is something I’d continue to bombard my brain and soul with throughout the show.

“Spoonman,” “Room A Thousand Years Wide,” and the pummeling “Jesus Christ Pose,” were nailed down before Vocalist Chris Cornell addressed the crowd.  Making mention of Guitarist Kim Thayil’s Chicago roots and the fact that the band must love our city as they’ve played here more than anywhere else over the past decade plus.  Of course any type of personalization in the concert going experience is instantly met with approval, tonight was no different.  Did I mention I cannot stand fucking “Spoonman!”  Even so, it was enjoyable tonight. 

One of my favorite SG tracks ever, is from the 1996 ‘Down on the Upside’ album, “Blow up the Outside World.”   Having never had the opportunity to see this song performed live this was one of those moments that transcended the usual excitement of seeing a band play.  This was just beyond “whatever” for me, several days later, it still holds true.  The crowd reception and total participation on this song was also a very pleasant surprise.   A triple shot from the ‘Superunknown’ album followed, “The Day I Tried to Live,” “My Wave,” and “Fell on Black Days,” followed and again this for me, went far beyond a simple “concert.”  I needed an evening with no wife, no kids, no phones, no computer, no nothing.  I needed me and music… 

Individually as well as collectively the performances tonight were simply on another level.  Soundgarden co-founder and current Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron basically put on a clinic in power and being a human metronome tonight.  Flawless fucking precision people, seriously.  Bassist Ben Shepherd, never the most visual subject played his ass off as well.  Bass slung low, he is obviously an extremely important cog in the machine and his volume in the mix cemented this fact.   

Guitarist Kim Thayil absolutely came up aces this evening.  His sound was definitely one of the darkest and heaviest I’ve heard in a building this size in a long time.  His work on the next set of songs “Ugly Truth,” “Hunted Down,” “Outshined,” and “Flower” was just rafter shaking heavy.  Always an overlooked riff lord, Thayil whipped out a generation of licks and hardly broke a sweat in the process.   

“Rusty Cage,” “Black Hole Sun,” “Burden in My Hand,” and “Pretty Noose” followed.  Funny, I’ve disliked the song “Black Hole Sun” for many a reason, over played really, but when the band went into it on Saturday it didn’t bother me.  Truthfully all my talk of Soundgarden and time?  “Black Hole Sun” is more of a memory of playing Rock Band with Max.  That’s one of the first songs we played on the game so my connection with the song over time has changed.  

Much has been said of Chris Cornell in the years that followed the silencing of the ‘Garden.  From his solo work as well as his union with the R.A.T.M. rejects, Audioslave to the disastrous Timberland collaboration, Cornell since the earliest days of the band has always been near the headlines.  I’m not sure what I was expecting from the guy, but I know for a fact I wasn’t supposed to be this blown away! Think about all the vocal gods in Rock/Metal and I will say Cornell was absolutely fucking godly in his delivery. 

That being said, the tail end of the show including the encore was some of the best Soundgarden I’ve ever witnessed.  From “4^th of July,” to “Nothing To Say,” to “Mailman” to “Beyond The Wheel.”  Closing it all was the immaculate “Slaves and Bulldozers” I cannot remember the last time I had such a “lose yourself for two hours” concert experience.  The vibe was great, I don’t think, make that know I wouldn’t have gotten this feeling from seeing some overly aggressive balls out Metal show, this is what I needed and this is what I got.

The Big 4, Indio, California April 23, 2011

So I’ve been trying to get these words out of my head since I landed back in Chicago after my ‘Big 4’ weekend of April 22-25^th.  I’ve written about the gig for a website called AntiMusic and that can be found HERE.  But until I “None But My Own” the event and what it meant to me, I won’t be able to move on.  So thanks for the barrage of emails asking for my opinion, here we go. 

If you’re of a certain age group I think at one point or another one of the bands that make up the ‘Big 4’ was probably “your band.”  You know the one that you really identified with and the one that made life livable throughout your late adolescent years.  I was one of those kids that, at one time or another, ALL four bands were the only one that mattered.  I wasn’t alone. 

As the years flew by, all of these bands would either continue to stimulate me by way of live shows and/or recordings (Metallica/Slayer) or at the least remind me of a much simpler time in my life (Megadeth/Anthrax).  Still the idea of all four sharing the same stage was something I really thought I’d never see.  So almost 10 months to the day since the first ever "Big 4" concert became a reality, it was time for the US to finally witness the historic bill some 25+ years in the making.

I flew out on black Friday, April 22 landing at LAX and met upon arrival by my friend of over fourteen years Brian Subterfuge.  When the Southern California concert was announced earlier this year there was a list maybe five people in the world that I would have picked to see this show with, he was way up there on that list.  We met via tape trading and a specific addiction to the band Vio-Lence.  This was 1997 people, there weren’t that many of “us” around at that time, he’s been a brother from another mother ever since.  

So think about it, before this “show review” even begins I’m already kicking it with one of my favorite people in the world.  This would not be the only highlight of the weekend…

We made the two hour drive into Indio on Saturday, day of show to check into our hotel and could already sense the anticipation.   Indio seems to survive off the festivals and events in the area so having different divisions and masses descend on the town seems normal to the locals as far as I can tell.  As far as the weather, I left a rainy 45 degree Chicago day some 24 hours earlier so the 11:00am desert sun was incredible.  I was in a great mood and I couldn’t wait to get to the festival site.

I was set to pick up my credentials early so we faced none of the horrific tales of Coachella festivals gone wrong, the throngs of people all entering the site at once ala Woodstock.  So I check in, pick up my ticket and we begin our day.  My day and mood goes from great to unfuckingbelieveable when I meet another Bonded via Metal friend, Brian “ümlaut” Lew.  Please, see some of his work HERE and HERE and watch for THIS coming fall of 2011.  Long story short, Brian looked out for me and basically handed me the keys to the kingdom.  This review, cheesy as it sounds is dedicated to him. Cheers .

As I walked through the security laden entrance of the Empire Polo Club, site of the aforementioned and massive Coachella Festival everything seemed so intense.  I was excited to be there, no doubt, but so was everyone else.  I’ve never experienced European festivals but sometimes you think by watching your US Festivals, California Jams, Wacken videos you’d be “used to it.” The electricity present was very real and I was just in total awe to be at such a place. 

As I walked towards the main stage area it meant passing through the food and merch vendors and multiple bars. As I stepped onto the grass the sounds of Exodus’ “Piranha” was blasting through the PA.  I took it as a sign; it would be one of those days.  It wouldn’t be too long before the music started, but I was ready to hear something loud. It had been far too long since my last show and I wanted it, make that needed it.  

Anthrax kicked things off promptly at 2pm.  It was Scott Ian’s opening chords of “Caught In A Mosh” that kicked off the first ever “Big 4” show in North America and it was kick ass.  Anthrax was into it and the roar of the crowd was all the approval they’d need.  The set would be a series of highs and lows and really, everything that you either love or hate about Anthrax was well on display.  For the highs there was standard ‘Thrax fare such as “A.I.R.,” “I Am The Law,” “Among The Living,” “Metal Thrashing Mad,” and “Madhouse.”  

For the lows there were “Got The Time,” “Anti-Social” and Joey Belladonna.  I know the guy is trying his best and performance wise he’s doing a helluva job but still.  I mean isn’t it strange to have him coming in early (or late) on songs he’s been playing since 1987?  However, his timing aside it’s his stage persona, song intros and general rapport with the crowd that’s unbelievably bad.  I mean I’m writing this piece three weeks after the event and I still can’t believe they (Scott and Charlie) let him say a fucking thing in between songs.

 

Still Anthrax played a solid set I’ll give the band that. They played new song “Fight Em Til You Can’t” and you’ve gotta wonder how much longer they can fight? If the Belladonna sung ‘Worship Music’ fails to find followers will that be the knockout blow?  They’ve been staggering and receiving standing eight counts for an extremely long time now, some would say since the Elektra years.  Even Jake LaMotta eventually hit the canvas, guys. 

It was cool in a geeky way to see Scott Ian break out the “S.O.D.” Jackson, which I’ve never seen him play before.  They did their job of warming up the sun baked warriors but in some way I think they could have done something a bit special for the show.  Especially seeing they have the most to prove of all the bands, but I guess that’s just me. 

At the conclusion of Anthrax’ set we ventured into the general admission bars and we grabbed $9 beers.  Happy to say these would be the first and only $9 beers of the event as not long after someone let us know of the “VIP” bar area with $4 beers and well, life is good.  In the same area as the bar were clean toilets and no lines, loving this day. 

Photo by Umlaut

Time between sets wasn’t that long, enough time to re-group with friends old and new and of course have a drink or two.  Throughout the day I would meet so many people, so many very cool people obviously having just as good a day as myself.  Many moments, many conversations and yeah, I was looking forward to seeing Megadeth. 

Opening with one of the weirdest songs for this or any other Megadeth era since its release in 1997’s “Trust” wasn’t the song to open with, Dave!  I mean whatever, again but fucking “Trust?”  Opening??  Well regardless, Megadeth take the stage and gladly the opening was a distant memory as they tore into “In My Darkest Hour,” one of Mega’s finest. 

Dave Mustaine a man who owns stages for a living didn’t need too long to claim another on the massive Coachella structure.  Looking pretty cool, calm and collected, Mustaine was armed and ready with a custom double neck Dean as his weapon of choice for the first few songs.  “Hangar 18” and “Wake up Dead” deliver the goods as the ever increasing crowd begins to swell.  

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the current line-up of Megadeth - Mustiane, Ellefson, Broderick and Drover is their best, ever.  They hit strides throughout the show that were scarily good.  Anthrax didn’t hit that stride, Megadeth hit it several times.  They were truly “on.”  

Megadeth played many of their fan favorites old and new as a unit they were really commanding and played an excellent set.  Closing with their “big 3” of “Symphony Of Destruction,” “Peace Sells,” and the timeless “Holy Wars…the Punishment Due” Megadeth bid farewell.

The time spent between Megadeth and Slayer was in the bar and in the band compound area of trailers and “personal space.”  Again just a gaggle of people like Eddie Trunk (“Stumble the Trunk” by the end of the night), Brian Slagel, Ross “Gross Halfwit” Halfin, Chris Jehrico, Brian Posehn, Don Jameson from That Metal Show Mike Portnoy, Chuck Billy, John Tempesta, Mike Inez and Jerry Cantrell, etc. etc. walking around.  More on that later. 

It’s funny how no matter the situation, opening or closing, indoors or out, night or daylight when it’s Slayer time, it’s SLAYER time.  Seeing them in the pre-dusk hours did little to subdue the largest crowd of the day, so far.  Opening with the title track from their 2009 release, 'World Painted Blood' it didn't take long for Slayer to turn the festival site into their own private battlefield.  Tearing through new burners like "Hate Wordwide," and "Snuff" to bona fide classics like "Black Magic," "Raining Blood," and "Postmortem" Slayer were killing it.

 

Guest Guitarist, Exodus’ Gary Holt was flawless in his attack on simply everything.  I arranged myself on his side of the stage so I could get a clear sound of what he adds to the band live, it was fucking heavy.  He blended in with Kerry King almost seamlessly and the results were pure Slayer.  While I was surprised at the amount of new songs played it wasn’t long before the classic material took over. 

Bassist/Vocalist Tom Araya, the ever cool frontman of the band continues to be vocally intense and spot on with his timing and delivery.  I think the surgery and his being unable to headbang has resulted in excellent vocal performances still so essential to the Slayer experience.  “Silent Scream,” and “Anti-Christ” were perfect examples of this.  

Behind the kit, back with the band for over eleven years now was the often imitated, never duplicated Dave Lombardo.  Lombardo  paced the band through levels of intensity bands 20 years their junior will never produce.  I must say seeing Slayer perform “Seasons In The Abyss” in the desert was and will always be pretty memorable.  

Encore time was something of a surprise.  As the pre-recorded “South Of Heaven” tape rolled, stage right was filed with a familiar sight.  Jeff Hanneman out of commission since late 2010 had taken his rightful position.  Jamming on both “South” and set closer “Angel Of Death” he looked re-energized and far more animated than I’ve seen from his side of the stage in many years.  No matter what, it was great and totally Slayer-like to have him out there and say not a fucking thing about it.

Between the bars and the fun I was about as ready as I could get for Metallica.  I was in the photo pit and was talking to the people who had been on the barrier since maybe 11:30 AM, some seven or so hours.  There was a group of people from Romania and they were there for one reason and that reason was Metallica.  One of them told me “I hate every other band on the bill, I am here for Metallica!”  I thought that was great.  Fanaticism makes the world go around, it’s taken me to many places myself and for these people, I was happy as hell for them. 

When the intro “Ecstasy of Gold” concluded and Metallica took the stage with “Creeping Death” the roar from the now estimated at 55,000+ crowd was simply deafening.  I remember turning my back to the band to face the crowd during the “Die-Die-Die” chants of the song and it was fucking intense.  So much passion for this band, so many still boiling,  this was going to be a memorable set.  

“For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Ride The Lightning,” and “Fade To Black” were next and it felt like Metallica had a switch to control the masses of people in the palm of their hand.  They sounded heavy as all hell, really it was almost bludgeoning.  Being up in the photo pit, the bass sound was unreal.  New ‘Death Magnetic’ material “Cyanide” and “All Nightmare Long” blended in nicely, being only two of three songs from the years 1992-1997 to be played tonight; it definitely was a greatest hits sort of night.  Not that anyone minded.

A brutal and heavy "Sad But True" from their gargantuan 1991 self titled album was aired alongside Metalli-classics “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” “Master Of Puppets” and “One.”  All great songs, timeless Metal classics but it was around this time Metallica did what the other bands wouldn’t or couldn’t do.  

Pulling out an ace of spades, they go into “Orion.” For the first time ever in America, they throw down with fucking “Orion!”  The 1986 instrumental was delivered with class with Bassist Robert Trujillo honoring the life, music and spirit of long departed Cliff Burton while guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett harmonized in perfection.  This was something as a Metallica fan as well as a fan of music I will never forget.

If you’re here you know what all that means to me and it was probably THE song of the entire festival for me.  I remember when Trujillo went into the first bass break everything sort of hit me.  Where I was, whom I was with, what I am, who I am.  Things like - just how fucking fast time flies and it was just a general intense moment for me “alone” in the desert night.  I actually found a star in the sky and was grateful for everything and [almost] everyone that had brought me to this point. 

“Blackened” began the descent of the set for Metallica.  Still brilliant after 23 years, the post apocalyptic ditty reaches new levels of vitality in the festival setting.  The night was highlighted in what is now known as 'The Big 4 Jam' which, if you've seen either the DVD or broadcast from last summer's Sofia, Bulgaria concert you know what that is. The joining of all four bands performing the Diamond Head classic 'Am I Evil?" and I will admit how much cooler this was in person. 

Trust me; don't judge this until you're in the same "room" with this "jam." It was again, something you never thought you’d see in person.  But like I said, seeing it is feeling it. 

One complaint, Joey Belladonna.  Dude STILL doesn’t know the words to “Am I Evil?” What the fuck is wrong with him? 

Metallica then ended the night with the one-two punch of “Hit The Lights” and “Seek And Destroy.”  That was it, 20 some songs later and the first North American “Big 4” show comes to a pyro-tastic finish.  After the show it was off to the bar to see where the night took us.  Meeting up with SF-by-way-of-Chicago friend Marc Paschke is always a good time. 

After a few drinks and general chatter about the day was when I had the strangest “how weird is this” moment.  At one point in the evening it felt as if I had walked into a Metallica book. Throughout the day I had come into contact with several important characters that participated in the bands world domination. 

Umlaut, Vader, Subterfuge and Gibson (Exodus).

From Brian Slagel, to Brian Lew to Mike Alago to Steffan Chirazi to to one of the bands first tech’s, Dave Marrs to former fan club president and Metalli-author K.J. Doughton.  The original Metalli-video guy, THE main source for the ‘Cliff Em All’ footage, Otto from Detroit was there too. Fuck, right?  Earlier in the day I had spoken with Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, just hellos and whatnot, but again, fuck. 

I know I’m forgetting people, but that’s the downside of getting this off my chest so long after. But in closing it was one of the greatest concert experiences I’ve ever had.  That’s say’s a lot and means a lot.  I always wanted to do one of those massive festivals, but was never crazy about being one of the 55,000 all clamoring for the same space.  This was a flawless day, in every regard.

So that’s about it.  It was epic to the truest sense of the word and that’s all I have to say about that.  They say a picture say’s a thousand words?  Well here’s a thousand more. 

Fuck yeah.