METALLICA In Concert! With Special Guest KORN January 5, 1997
Phoenix, AZ

James Hetfield	Jason Newsted	Kirk Hammett

Lars Ulrich

REVIEW	LIVE PHOTOS
By	By and © Property of
Mary Ellen Gustafson	Gary Gustafson

When tickets for the METALLICA show on 1/4/97 went on sale, they sold out the 19,000 seats so fast a second show on 1/5/97 was added. Even I, a media person, had to go to the second show - which was absolutely fabulous and I didn't mind a bit! The second show wasn't "quite" sold out, but there were still 15,000 people in America West Arena in downtown Phoenix. Once we finally got our photo pass, we joined the enthusiasitic crowd finding their way to their seats. Although METALLICA was obviously the main attraction, KORN fans were very much in evidence also.

While waiting for KORN to take the stage, I spent some time cruising through the "Poor Touring Me" program and watching all the activity going on to put the finishing touches on the set below. METALLICA'S stage set took up the entire basketball court in this Arena home of the Phoenix Suns. I must admit I was very curious about all the different mechanical looking equipment spread from one end of the court to the other. Just looking at that alone gave me an inkling this would be no ordinary concert.

A few moments later KORN took the stage at the far end of the arena from where I was seated, and the opening chords of "Blind" had the crowd on it's feet and banging away. Almost immediately there were bodies being passed over the crowd in the mosh pits on either side of the stage, and plucked from the air by security and sent on their way back into the crowd. As they delivered an extended intro to this song, the band members were really into the whole scene and bent over their instruments with hair flying in every direction. Their entire set ran 35 minutes, and I couldn't quite catch what tunes they played because the sound quality was a bit poorer than usual. Their final number was a very impressive song which began with the lead singer playing the bagpipes to the tune of what turned out to be a stylized version of "Ring Around A Rosie." Certainly an unexpected but great turn of events!

Once KORN left the stage, the roadies swarmed over the set, and I watched what was a first for me. The light crew for METALLICA is certainly high tech to the max. I saw guys climb into four gondolas (two on each side), similar to those used by window washers, and then ascend into the rafters of the arena where they could work the spotlights and other effects. Meanwhile, in the center of the action, other crew members climbed ladders dropped from the rafters to seat themselves in compartments that looked like the movable gun turrets in "Star Wars." There were also what looked like parts of an erector set lying on the ground near the west stage area, while bent poles with huge light displays at the top unfolded over the east stage area. By now I was REALLY intrigued, and didn't know what to expect; but I sure was getting anxious for the headliners to hit the stage.

Once the crew did the sound check, and cleared the way on all the ramps running across the entire floor, I saw a commotion start in the audience in the far corner of the arena. METALLICA is one group that really enjoys their fans - which they proved many times throughout the show. Each band member entered alone and high fived as many fans as they could reach before they took the stage. Then the show started literally with a BANG! Explosions, pyrotechnics and an amazing light show accompanied a long instrumental introduction to a short song that led immediately into a rousing rendition of "Sad But True."

I must say that this concert had the most amazing light show, special effects, indoor pyrotechnics and set changes I've ever seen - and that includes Ozzie's show and several I've seen in Las Vegas. The co-ordination of everything with the songs for the ultimate effect was just outstanding. So was METALLICA. They played hard, fast and fantastic; covered the entire set at various times; and often jumped down from the stage to high five with the audience WHILE STILL PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT AND SINGING! Every person in the stands was on their feet, singing with the band, and awestruck by the special effects. "Ain't My Bitch" was accompanied by an even more spectacular light display, and a long instrumental bridge as the band continued to play enthusiastically.

As the band finished the next number (sorry, couldn't quite catch which one it was) things started happening at the opposite end of the arena. Up until this point, METALLICA had been playing at the east to middle part of the set. Suddenly, the "erector set" unfolded upwards, bathed in red light and fog; another drum kit, lit with neon, came out of the floor; the area around it folded back to create another complete stage. At this point the band moved to the newly created stage on the west side, to the opening strains of "King Nothing," which again featured another awesome light show and long instrumental bridge.

Suddenly the entire stage area was filled with explosions and fire, accompanied by a stacatto beat that triggered tiny strobes all over the set with each tap on a drum. After this lengthy introduction, METALLICA began the song (with the video/story they are probably most known for) "One." Anyone who has ever seen the video, and listened to the words, had to have a chill go up their spine as an artificial battlefield was created onstage during the song. Bombs went off in various parts of the set; fire soared into the air; the drum sounded like bullets as the strobes flashed with it. This particular song was an experience for the eyes, ears and mind!

After the spectacle presented during "One," James Hettfield announced a brand new song heard here for the first time. I believe the name of the song was "Devil's Dance," but the crowd was so wild I couldn't quite hear if that's what he said. With red and green spotlights trained on METALLICA, they proceeded to play a super heavy, grab you by the guts, solid metal, awesome song. I did catch a few of the lyrics ". . . you don't want to take a chance, it's a dance . . . take a chance on my dance . . . Devil's Dance . . ." These four guys are some of the hardest working musicians I've ever seen. There is no doubt that they put every ounce of energy they have into every song they perform, and it's hard to believe so few people can create so much music.

For the beginning of the next number, James sat on a step in the center of the multi-level stage, with an acoustic guitar and soft light falling on him, as he played the opening chords of "Nothing Else Matters." He began to sing alone, in "MTV Unplugged" style, until the second bridge when the rest of the band joined him from the stage at the opposite end of the arena. This was another song that gave me chills. I've always liked it on the "Metallica" album, and hearing it live was a real experience.

Another song from their newest album "Load" brought the pace back up a bit. "Until It Sleeps" was a very popular song with the audience as they sang right along with the band. Another creative light show accompanied this song, but they immediately dimmed and softened to the words ". . . until it sleeps . . ." The coordination of the lighting and effects with the exact words and instrumentals in each song were really well planned and executed. I normally wouldn't go on about the lighting, but this song was another example of perfect timing and interpretation. Following "Until It Sleeps" was a song with a long instrumental intro accompanied by another of those light shows. I was not familiar with this song, although most of the rest of the audience was, and all I can say is that it was one hell of a number in all aspects.

Another hit from the "Metallica" album set off lights moving around the entire set and blue and red lights lowered over the band to the opening guitar solo of "Wherever I May Roam." In addition to the special lighting effects, all the members of the band got involved in audience participation - from clapping, to raised fists, to jumping down to ground level and again high fiving the crowd (with their body guards close behind them of course). Each of the guys took a turn in an area along the gates that surrounded the stage to mingle with the crowd, and they loved it! I wasn't familiar with the next song either, but the instrumentals were great and the drum kit Lars was using turned multi-colored neon lit.

After the song I didn't recognize, the guys took their bows and left the stage. Of course the arena stayed dark ready for an encore, but METALLICA waited for the crowd to reach a fever pitch before returning to the stage. I'm not sure if it's common practice anywhere else, but here, in addition to clapping, screaming and whistling, the crowd also stomps on the floor until it feels like the whole building is shaking. When the band finally hit the stage again, they didn't play any wimpy one or two song encore, and little did we know that the best special effects were yet to come!

The first encore was a fast heavy rock and roll number I think called "Who Cares, So What?" (but don't quote me on that) followed by "Puppet Master." Then, the biggie. The song everyone was waiting for, "Enter Sandman." Damn what a performance that one turned out to be! First of all, this was a definitely extended version with longer instrumental bridges between the choruses. When the words " . . . exit light, enter night . . ." were sung, huge flames shot into the air on either side of the drums, explosions and indoor pyrotechnics took place from one end of the arena to the other and the building shook as much from the crowd as it did from the special effects. At the very end of the song, those erector set things I told you about came crashing down, the light poles bent over the east end of the stage fell in the midst of fire and explosions and a man in flames jumped from the stage into a box in the sound pit in the center of the staging area. This time when the band left the stage the crowd was absolutely wild; screaming, clapping, flicking bics, stomping on the floor, etc. WHAT A FINISH!

So, the show's over and we're ready to go home, right? WRONG! The band returned to the now wrecked stage one at a time and each turned on a single naked light bulb hanging down from the "ceiling" and started it swinging on it's thin cord as they took their places in a row on either side of the drums. Of course the crowd gave each of them a wild standing ovation as they came back to the stage one by one. Once assembled, they performed two more of their older, more rock and roll type songs, then finally left the stage for the last time. As far as I was concerned, I could have listened to them for another two hours, but they definitely earned a well deserved rest.

I've been to concerts, stage shows, plays, ice shows, the circus and any other type of entertainment activity you can think of, from New York to Las Vegas to Los Angeles to here in Phoenix. Except possibly for the "EFX!" show, when it starred Michael Crawford at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, this was absolutely the best show I've ever been to. On my usual scale of 1-5 I rate it about 10+! You will see I have included the tour dates remaining that have been announced up to this point in time below. If you get a chance, run don't walk, to wherever it is you need to be to buy tickets and SEE THIS CONCERT!! You won't regret it!

METALLICA "Poor Touring Me 96-97-98" Dates

Fri 1/10/97 - Las Vegas, NV - Thomas & Mack Center	Wed 2/05/97 - Moline, IL - The Mark of he Quad Cities
Sat 1/11/97 - San Diego, CA - Sports Arena	Fri 2/07/97 - Rosemont, IL - Rosemont Horizon Arena
Fri 1/24/97 - Denver, CO - McNichols Sports Arena	Sun 2/09/97 - Rosemont, IL - Rosemont Horizon Arena
Sat 1/25/97 - Denver, CO - McNichols Sports Arena	Tue 2/11/97 - Fargo, ND - Fargo Dome
Tue 1/28/97 - Ames, IA - Iowa State Center Hilton Coliseum	Wed 2/12/97 - Winnipeg, MA, Canada - Winnipeg Arena
Wed 1/29/97 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center	Fri 2/14/97 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
Fri 1/31/97 - Kansas City, Mo - Kemper Arena	Sat 2/15/97 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
Sat 2/01/97 - Memphis, TN - The Pyramid	Sun 2/16/97 - Indianapolis, IN - Market Spuare Arena
Sun 2/02/97 - Louisville, KY - Freedom Hall	Sat 2/22/97 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Tue 2/04/97 - St. Louis, MO - Kiel Center	Sun 2/23/97 - Auburn Hills, Mi - The Palace of Auburn Hills

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