My Metallica Shows--A History: 1989-2009

a shameless merch plug for SkullCandy© Metalli-phones? Would I do that? (yes I would. I love mine!)

OK. I like Metallica. A lot. Still do. Went to get my flu shot this morning and quoted "Shoot Me Again" (that's on the much-reviled 2003 St. Anger) to the doctor before she stabbed me with it. I have been a fan since winter of '89 when I saw them play "One" on the Grammies and lose to Jethro Tull, in that institution's first attempt at a "hard rock and heavy metal" category. (They won the first of many, the following year, for their cover of Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy." So, a look back in time at Metallica shows I have known, with links to full setlists courtesy of Setlist.Fm. Enjoy!

1. July 23 1989: Damaged Justice Tour, Nassau Coliseum
   The famous Justice Tour with the collapsing statue. Three or four encores concluding with "Breadfan." Openers The Cult were terrible and probably drunk.
   
   
2. Dec. 20 1991: Wherever We May Roam Tour, Nassau Coliseum
   No opening act! The kite-shaped stage. Great show and my friend fell asleep during one of the Black Album songs, indicating that the early shit still works better live. Kirk's solo included the opening riff of "Bastille Day" by Rush!
   
   
3. April 8, 1992: Wherever We May Roam Tour, Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
   This was the show where we were behind the kite-shaped stage. In the middle of the call-and-response thing on "Seek and Destroy", James Hetfield told us: "You guys are fuckin' loud!
   
   
4. July 29, 1992: Metallica/Guns N' Roses Tour, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
   'Tallica opened with "Creeping Death" and played "The Shortest Straw": "Let's see how many of you fuckers know THIS one!" Guns did not finish their set.
   
   
5. November 22, 1999: S&M (with the Orchestra of St. Luke's) at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
   Literally got these tickets at the last minute. A great show, and one of three times the band played with full orchestra and Michael Kamen conducting. But no "Creeping Death."
   
   
6. April 20, 2004: Madly In Anger With the World Tour at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
   My first Metallica show in five years and the first with Rob Trujillo on bass. A great, intense set, capped with a special treat for the Long Island faithful: "Motorbreath" and "Metal Militia" closed the show.
   
   
7. October 15, 2004: Madly In Anger With the World Tour at Pepsi Colisee, Quebec City, PQ, Canada
   A French Canadian crowd that was completely berserk! The first two songs ("Blackened" and "Fuel") were drowned out in a guttural, French-accented roar singing along. Unusually, the encore included an obscure Load track, "Wasting My Hate."
   
   
8. January 29 2009: World Magnetic Tour at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
   An excellent show, with much-needed injections of "Damage Inc." and "Creeping Death" contrasting with five songs from the band's new record. First time I ever saw them play "Phantom Lord."
   
   
9. November 15 2009: World Magnetic Tour, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
   The band's second night at MSG (a venue they've only played a few times) featured Kirk getting cream-pied for his birthday and the first time I've ever seen Metallica play "Trapped Under Ice" and "Dyer's Eve." Full show review to follow.