I was very lucky in managing to win a meet and greet pass through the Metclub for this show.  When I got to the gig, me and Pete (skull world tattoo see above) went to the Metclub stand to find out the procedure for the meet and greet. We were told the time to meet at the stand was 6.00 pm. The rest of the day went very slowly as I waited to meet the boys. At 4.00 pm I started waiting at the Metclub stand where we were given backstage passes and the stick-on meet and greet pass. By this point it was raining pretty hard so I was standing with my hand over this now wet stick on pass afraid I would lose it!! When the time came to  walk down to the backstage area both me and Pete were shaking, either because we were excited or because we were very cold and wet (probably the former!). After waiting at various points we were taken into the Metallica area and told to form a line. At this time we did not know how many of the band members, or if any, would come out. James was the first member of the band to come out. He worked his way down the line taking time to talk, sign and pose for photos. When my time came James came over, shook my hand and asked my name. He then spoke to me using my name, signed everything I asked him to and posed for photos. I then asked him to draw a scary guy on my arm which he did, asking "are you going to get it inked in?" which I was, so he then joked about tattooing me himself. He asked for a new pen, then drew the new graffiti style scary guy on my arm and signed it underneath. James had a lot of time for all of us and it was a pleasure meeting him - he seemed very at ease and down to earth. The next person out would be Lars. Lars took his time going through the people talking, joking and bouncing about. When he came to me, again he asked my name and called me by it. He spent some time joking about me buying the first copy of St Anger because it was sold in the UK. This joke carried onto Pete, who is also from the UK, as we stood together in the line. Lars signed everything for me including my arm and, for my friend Ed, a copy of St Anger writing "keep drumming Lars 2003", as he is a drummer (this made his day!). Kirk came out next but by this time I think the band were pushed for time as he seemed to move down the line quicker (we are not complaining though). He had time to pose for a photo and sign all the stuff. Kirk is not one for signing skin so when asked he politely turned down the offer which was fine with me and quite understandable. Rob came out last and meant that we had met the whole band which does not happen very often, so we all felt very privileged. Thanks again Metclub. Rob posed for loads of photos and signed all my stuff including my arm, on which he did a large and flamboyant signature which really finishes the design off and allows it to be visible just below a t-shirt - thanks Rob. After Rob had finished with the last person, we were taken back to the first barrier area so we had access to the front area for the show - this was really great as we could not have got to the first barrier otherwise. I met up a couple of minutes later with my mates who had been waiting all day down at the front and slipped between them onto the barrier. So, I managed to get to the meet and greet and to see the whole show from the front row. It really could not have been any better.

The show

I'm sure most of you have seen the show as it was broadcast live on MTV2 to every country in Europe but if you look, I'm the guy with the writing on my arm who seems to appear quite a lot!! The band opened with Blackened - it was fantastic! They played it the week before at Donnington to open and it really is a super opening song as it takes you right into the Metalli groove. We went nuts. It was great to hear Frantic and St Anger after being able to listen to the album and get fully into those songs. The two new ones were a highlight for me personally because at that point I was really really getting into the new album. Seek and Destroy was a pleasant inclusion as was The Thing That Should Not Be, both songs which have not been heard live for a while. My luck did not change throughout the show as I managed to get the first plectrum thrown out by James which he used for playing Blackened, No Remorse and Harvester of Sorrow. The show really was a fantastic experience from the start to the finish, and I don't know if I will ever be so lucky as to get every element I would wish for rolled into one show again. It was easily my best Metallica gig yet.

Steve 2003