Metallica Bring Metal Thunder and Heavy Pyro to Bonnaroo

Throughout Metallica's two-hour headlining set at Bonnaroo on Friday night, singer James Hetfield kept teasing that the band would be playing new songs from their just-finished album, at one point saying: "If you want, we'll just play some old stuff. But what if I said "No!" Alas, the crowd would have to settle for the band's metal classics, and one of the heaviest Bonnaroo sets ever. (There were some hints that would be the case: The band had played only old songs at the warm-up show the night before in nearby Nashville, Tennessee at the very small Basement club.)

Metallica absolutely killed with a set heavy on classics like "Master of Puppets," "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Unforgiven" as well as some deep cuts like the Misfits cover "Last Caress/Green Hell" (from the Garage Days EP). Metallica wrapped things up with massive, ear-shattering pyrotechnics during the one-two punch of the set closer: "One" and "Enter Sandman." As for anything related to the new album - aside from a pocket of fans shouting "Play new songs!" - Lars Ulrich offered only this just before leaving the stage: "We'll be back in October with a brand new record and a tour. Thank you!"

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Song Stories

“Weird”

Hanson | 1997

Accomplished tunesmith Desmond Child co-wrote "Weird" with the three brothers that make up Hanson. Credited for dozens of cuts, including songs by Kiss, Cher, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, Child told Rolling Stone that "Weird" holds a special place in his heart, "because it's about being different--and I grew up poor, I grew up being Latin, I grew up being gay, and now I'm fat!" The song was included on Hanson's 1997 album Middle of Nowhere, which sold more than ten million units.

More Song Stories entries »

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