This was the first Metallica show of 2011 and the first U.S. gig featuring The Big 4. It has been almost three years since the last large outdoor gig in the U.S. for the band; the last large outdoor concert was Ozzfest in August of 2008.
Fans were treated to rare, full version of “Orion” – the Cliff Burton-penned instrumental from “Master Of Puppets.” While the first half of the song was performed at two shows in 2005, this was the first time that the full version was performed in the U.S.
Metallica brought out members of Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax to perform a cover of Diamond Head’s "Am I Evil?." Dave Mustaine, Kerry King, Scott Ian, Rob Caggiano, Chris Broderick, David Ellefson, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Shawn Drover, Dave Lombardo and Joey Belladonna all participated in the jam.
The latest goodies for Metallica fans include audio of the band’s full set at Saturday’s Big 4 show.
Audio samples of Metallica’s set can be streamed at LiveMetallica.com.
Full-song downloads can be purchased for $0.99 each. Full shows can be downloaded for $9.95 and a high-quality FLAC version of the entire set can be purchased for $12.95.
Launched in March 2004, LiveMetallica.com initially sold downloads of nothing but full live sets of Metallica's concerts. In September 2009, the band responded to fan demands to purchase single tracks from the shows.
Fans can also visit "The Vault" section of the web site for free downloads of selected shows prior to 2004.
Metallica
Big 4 - Empire Polo Grounds – Indio, CA – April 23, 2011
01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom the Bell Tolls
03. Fuel
04. Ride the Lightning
05. Fade to Black
06. Cyanide
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. Orion
11. One
12. Master of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
Encore:
16. Am I Evil? (Diamond Head cover) (with all 4 bands)
17. Hit The Lights
18. Seek And Destroy
Metallica Metallica – Orion
Empire Polo Grounds – Indio, CA – April 23, 2011
See also:
VIDEO: Metallica present pro-shot footage of California Big 4 jam
Metallica: Lars Ulrich reflects on Big 4 US debut
Metallica: Big 4 go double-platinum
VIDEO: Metallica, Big 4 rock California
Metallica: Cliff Burton inspired title character in Hesher film
Metallica, Satriani confirmed for Quebec Festival
