Music

Sammy Hagar, James Hetfield Draft Billie Joe Armstrong for May Benefit

Metallica will also perform at ceremony honoring Ozzy Osbourne that same week

March 18, 2014

Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar is teaming up with Metallica vocalist-guitarist James Hetfield for an upcoming benefit concert entitled Acoustic-4-a-Cure.

The inaugural event will take place at the Fillmore in San Francisco on May 15th and will feature appearances by Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong, producer and musician Scott Mathews, Train’s Pat Monahan, guitar shredder Joe Satriani and Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson. The musicians will play all-acoustic sets, and the event’s website promises once-in-a-lifetime duets and jam sessions alongside surprise appearances. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Program at the Bay Area’s UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and tickets go on sale Friday.

Metallica: Three Decades of Metal Mayhem

“I’ve seen firsthand the great work they’re doing and how vital community support is,” Hagar said about the hospital in a statement. “I ran the idea of a benefit concert by James, and we quickly had an amazing lineup of artists on board.”

The concert will take place during a break in touring for Metallica that finds them visiting Latin America, South America, Europe and Canada, where they are playing “Metallica by Request” concerts as well as a new song called “The Lords of Summer.”

During this same break in May, Metallica will perform at the MusiCares MAP Fund to honor Ozzy Osbourne with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award on May 12th. The recognition goes to someone who has dedicated themselves to helping other addicts in recovery. Hetfield accepted this same award in 2006.

“It’s no secret that Ozzy has been a major presence throughout our entire lives,” Metallica said in a statement. “And we are so humbled and honored to be with Ozzy for this special evening.”

In addition to Metallica, Osbourne will also perform his own set accompanied by former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. Joe Walsh will present the award to the Black Sabbath frontman, while Keb’ Mo’ will also perform. Mix Master Mike will serve as the evening’s DJ in honor of Crazy Town member DJ AM, who died in 2009.