Metallica At The O2 Last Night

By NME

Posted on 09/16/08 at 11:40:00 am

Does anyone love their fans more than Metallica?

metallica

continued...

Right, I’ll be honest: the last time I went to a gig with my Dad I was probably playing bongos in a band called The Silent Call at Welwyn Garden City’s premier shed/venue/lacky-boozer, The Green Room. Or it could have been Simple Minds at some Marks & Spencer-sponsored picnic where the number of camping stools outnumbered the crowd.

Last night, witnessing Metallica play in-the-round at the 02 Arena in front of 18,000 squealing fanatics represented a bit of a departure. After some neat wangling from NME’s Ben Patashnik we found ourselves in one of the stadia’s sponsored boxes (“nachos, sir?”) for probably one of the oddest gigging experiences of my life: my Dad and I necking red wine and headbanging to ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’…

metallica

While Metallica were stunning – that’s coming from someone who likes metal but doesn’t have ‘St Anger’ tattooed across his shoulder blades – but the most impressive, striking thing?

Not RobTrujillo’s lip-curl gurn, Lars Ulrich’s thunder-crack drumming or James Hetfield’s amusing call for the crowd to put their camera phones away (“You can call mummy later, Youtube won’t make you famous”) but the 10 minutes the band spend at the end of their set thanking the crowd, throwing guitar picks, shaking hands and just generally (genuinely) appreciating those who’d turned out.

Now if that sounds wanky, compare that to an experience I had in NME’s signing tent a few years ago when a certain American band (who might come from Las Vegas) grumbled and bitched their way through 20 (arduous) minutes felt-tipping autographs for the people who’ve bought their records, and well, it makes a difference.

Whether you’re a fan of metal or not, it’s refreshing to see it’s not just riffs but respect that has got Metallica this far.

Were you there? What did you think of the gig? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Greg Cochrane

Photo Gallery – Metallica Live At The 02 Arena

Photo Gallery - 25 Things You Never Knew About Metaliica

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Andy Robinson [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 12:09

I was at the O2. The set was amazing, the crowd were amazing and the stage set up was awesome. To be so close to the biggest band in the world is something else. How many bands nowadays let you so close. Most gigs you could fit another venue between the crowd and the band. Great night, just wish I was going again tonight!!!!

stankinjankin [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 13:00

Great show. Cool crowd, wierd venue. My neck is sore.

Moz [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 13:55

I was there last night and I have to say that was one of the best of the seven times i've had the pleasure of seeing Metallica. Even though they've played a different set-list every time i've seen them, every other set had a greatest hits agenda which, although great, gets boring after a while. But last night they played PLENTY of new songs, each of them sounding just as relevant as any of their classics. In addition, they weren't afraid to bring out some of the lesser played 'classics' such as Of Wolf And Man and Jump in the Fire. Up close and very personal, a completely new set-list, bargainous ticket prices and new Metallica material. Brilliant. The only negative I could think of was that the sound was a tad too loud and sounded muffled for the louder parts of their songs. But complaining about something like that would be like going into a steak-house only to complain about the excessive meat options on the menu.

LondonBrett [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 14:29

Was utterly amazing!! Will never forget that Cunning stunts arena

lewis [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 15:59

WOW!! last nite was amazing, even if james and the others looked like subbuteo men from where i was sitting, the atmosphere was immense, and metallica themselves were great, great set list new and old, and not playing the same old songs which they playe every time, like frantic and blackened, and the balloons at the end...............lucky gits whoever got one, overall a great night

Simon Arneaud [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 16:01

I was at the gig and it's hard to comment on how good Metallica were as from where I was sitting (High up in the stands) it was hard to hear anything clearly! The sound was awful! Hetfields lyrics were simply undistinguishable! The concept of a fans-only, tout free gig and the cheap tickets is admirable and I applaud them for it (U2 and St Bono take note) ... It was just a shame that the sound (I don't know if it's an acoustics problem with the venue or what) was so poor! I thought the gig was going to be one of the best gigs I'd ever get to go to ... One of those "I was there" moments ... And whilst the sentiment has to be praised, I left the O2 last night slightly disappointed (and not just because there was no Enter the Sandman or Nothing Else Matters!)

Ross Carosn [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 20:40

Yep... a truly great gig by one of the world's greatest acts! Whilst the new material went down a treat, nothing could beat the experience (for me) that was "Master of Puppets" into "Blackened"!!

metallikid [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 22:35

i was there, it was good

Ste [Visitor] //September 16 2008 at 22:56

An awesome gig.

Chris [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 12:11

I was there, it was Awesome, I think it was my 11th time seeing Metallica, and it was certainly refreshing to not have to sit through Sandman, Sad But True, and Nothing Else Matters.... if there is any Black Album track they have to play every gig it's 'Wherever I May Roam' absolutely kicks ass. Always great when they play in the round, seemed that they were genuinely having fun, and Stone Cold Crazy was awesome. I look forward to an indoor tour next year!

Jodie [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 12:15

Completely agree, the gig was awesome in its entirety - nothing to fault about it at all, from the way the band played, the songs they played, the crowd interaction and yeh, then finally the way they actually made you feel like they appreciated you being there - its was an amazing gig, one that i think i will not shut up about for a long time! the guys are legends, this is what music and musicians should be like, without a shadow of a doubt.

Gennadiy [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 14:25

I watch the show from the stands and it was awsome! Does anybody know if they will release a DVD or something along the lines from this concert?

scott lomas [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 14:35

yes, it was touching to see them make a point of thanking the crowd. the gig itself was amazing, as metallica always are when playing live. to sum up how great this band are, the new album was all of 4 or 5 days old at the point of this performance and the fans sang along as if they were old school classics, which they eventually will be!

Nicholas [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 15:03

it was fucking amazing!

jason royal [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 15:38

I have met the band several times and they have always been gracious to the fans and provided the opportunitty before and after shows to hang with them. They have always showed up on time as well (except when James was hurt, but still played and came back later and played a refund show for him being absent). Metallica does respecet its fan base or they definetly know who butters their bread.

Big Al [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 19:37

A good night out, I took my partner as my guest (not a big metallica fan) but she had a stiff neck from headbanging in the morning - nice one chaps!

Lesley [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 20:35

Just one word AWESOME!!!

sarah [Visitor] //September 17 2008 at 23:11

omg. best night of my life... i touched james hetfield.. mmm and got a pic..but yeah it was the best night ever /m/

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Metallica At The O2 Last Night

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Posted on 09/16/08 at 11:40:00 am

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