Metallica dominated the metal news this week. Dig in, below.
Metallica Appearance with Lady Gaga Plagued by Microphone Glitch
Metallica’s performance with Lady Gaga at the 59th Grammy Awards on February 12 suffered from a dead microphone during the first minute of “Moth Into Flame.” James Hetfield’s microphone wasn’t working and it wasn’t until he walked over to Gaga’s microphone that viewers could hear him.
At the end of the song, a visibly angry Hetfield hurled his guitar at a road-crew member while kicking over his mic stand.
“There was a slight technical snafu, but that’s not really something you can do much about,” drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone. “You just learn to live with that side of it. It happened toAdele last year; I guess this year it was our turn.”
TMZ reported yesterday that between the run-through and the live set, a wire under the stage accidentally became unplugged by a stagehand, but the Grammys have not yet responded.
Metallica did not comment on the snafu until later during their 10-song set at the post-Grammysconcert at the Hollywood Palladium, when drummer Lars Ulrich joked that they should have sent the microphones to the Staples Center where the Grammys were being held.
Lars Ulrich Says Lady Gaga is the ‘Quintessential Fifth Member’ of Metallica
Drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that Lady Gaga is the “quintessential perfect fifth member of this band,” adding, “Her voice, her attitude, her outlook on everything is so awesome. [The performance] was so effortless and organic and she just has the spirit of hard rock and metal flowing through her veins. It comes really easy for her. There’s nothing contrived; she just has this super warm, easy energy.”
It seems that Metallica’s collaboration with Gaga is going to continue. “We already started fast-forwarding to the next chapter when we can do more of this,” he said. “It’s not one of those ’20 lawyers, strategists and managers trying to force two people from two different worlds to figure out how to spend four minutes together on a national telecast.’ Of any of these undertakings, this is about as organic and authentic as there’s ever been one. We’re just getting started.”
Metallica Confirm “WorldWired North American Tour”
Metallica have confirmed their first American tour in eight years for a North American stadium tour this summer as they hit the road in support of the latest chart topping studio album “”Hardwired…To Self Destruct.”. The tour is scheduled to get underway on May 10 in Baltimore, MD and will conclude on August 16 in Edmonton, AB.
The band said, “It was one of the worst kept secrets in the touring world and now we’re here to finally make it official… yes, the WorldWired tour will be hitting the road in North America this summer for our first extended tour of the States and Canada since 2009!
“Whew… it certainly has been way too long and we are beyond excited to be visiting all of our friends in North America. We’re also psyched to announce that after joining us in Minneapolis last year, Avenged Sevenfold and Volbeat have graciously signed on to be the main support acts for the run.”
Check out Metallica’s WorldWired North American Tour dates on the HOH website.