METALLICA's KIRK HAMMETT: “JUDAS PRIEST are architects of what we now know as heavy metal”
12-06-2024
Fan-filmed video of the May 25 question-and-answer session at the “Metallica: The Black Album in Black & White” book signing at Alte Kongresshalle in Munich, Germany by METALLICA‘s official photographer Ross Halfin can be seen below. METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett also took part in the discussion.
Speaking about a photo of Hammett and METALLICA frontman James Hetfield rocking out during JUDAS PRIEST‘s set at last October’s Power Trip festival in Indio, California, Kirk said: “We were worshipping at the altar of JUDAS PRIEST. Their music means so much to us. And the way Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing played the guitars — I mean, they are architects of what we now know as heavy metal, to put it bluntly. And James and I, we love PRIEST.
“We don’t really get a chance to see bands, a lot of times, when we’re playing a huge festival or something, because we’re always backstage doing press or getting ready for the show or rehearsing or whatever. So when we did Power Trip, we got there early — a few days early — just so that we could see all the other bands. And it was great — the anticipation of seeing IRON MAIDEN, PRIEST, AC/DC and GUNS N’ ROSES, and actually seeing them. It was a wonderful time.”
Trujillo added: “And it was kind of a trip because on the final day of the Power Trip festival, it was, like, ‘Oh, that’s right. We have to play now.'”
METALLICA‘s “M72” world tour launched in late April in Amsterdam. The trek sees the band playing two nights in every city it visits — with each “No Repeat Weekend” featuring two completely different setlists and support lineups. The “M72” tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the “I Disappear” full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age.
Opening acts include Floor Jansen, EPICA, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, MAMMOTH WVH, PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET and VOLBEAT.
METALLICA promises fans who purchase a two-day ticket that they won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning the band’s 40-plus-year career.
Each weekend offers a variety of “Enhanced Experiences”, ranging from access to a meet-and-greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the Snake Pit. The very popular “Black Laminate” is back, now known as the “I Disappear Ticket”, and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with METALLICA for multiple weekends.
A single “I Disappear” ticket purchase gives you access to as many of METALLICA‘s 46 headlining tour dates across Europe and North America in 2023 and 2024 as you choose. You decide how many shows you’d like to attend around the world, and for how long, and METALLICA will make it as easy as possible.
According to Billboard, “72 Seasons” sold 146,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marks the band’s 12th Top 10-charting album, of which eight have reached the top two.
“72 Seasons” had the biggest week for any rock or hard rock album since TOOL‘s “Fear Inoculum” arrived in September 2019 with 270,000 equivalent album units.
“72 Seasons” was released on April 14 via METALLICA‘s own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, it is METALLICA‘s first full-length collection of new material since “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct”.
In the seven years since the arrival of “Hardwired… To Self-Destruct”, METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with “Master Of Puppets” after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things”.
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