The Many Faces Of Metallica : 2004 Lars Ulrich

Metallica
Arrowhead Pond
Anaheim, CA
November 27, 2004

When Metallica rolled through Southern California on this leg of The Madly In Anger Tour, they hit Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond for the first time – a very large and beautifully kept venue- right in the backyard of their original stomping grounds.

Despite mixed reviews and dispersed disappointment over the St. Anger cd, Metallica was back and they were still the biggest hard rock band in the world.  The band had thrown away the eyeliner, got rid of the designer clothing and got their edge back.

This shoot presented a bit of a challenge for me – Metallica was now playing in the round, and I was going to have be quick on my feet to keep up with the band.  Not only was the stage round allowing each member to run from side to side, from front to back, to face the audience on all sides of the arena, but the drum riser was also rotating on its own.  So as the band was constantly moving, so was Lars.

I never ran so much shooting a show in my life.  The band opened with Blackened, ripping everyone’s heads off.  Their energy was incredible and I knew I had to put a game plan together if I wanted to get the shots I needed.  For the next two songs – Fuel and The Four Horsemen – I decided to concentrate on one guy at a time – first Lars, then James, etc, while making sure to hit Kirk on all the solos.  Wherever my target moved, I would follow – no matter what.

I was tired, hot and sweaty, but my planned worked…I got it all.  I even got my face heated up pretty badly by the flame shooters at the base of the stage.

I always liked this shot of Lars, I felt that it really captured the excitement and energy that Metallica was giving to the audience that night.

Photographed with a Canon 1D and a Canon 70mm-200mm lens.

Historical Note:  Metallica’s first show ever was also in Anaheim, CA at Radio City on March 14, 1982.

The Many Faces Of Metallica: 2003 Rob Trujillo

Metallica
Summer Sanitarium
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles, Ca
August 9, 2003

Metallica had just released the St. Anger CD about 8 weeks before this tour came through Los Angeles.  There were a number of notable changes this time around: the band was growing their hair out a bit; black t-shirts and jeans were brought back into the mix; and for the first time, a conscious decision was made by the band to give up alcohol.  But the band had one more trick up their sleeves, a secret weapon – new bass player Rob Trujillo.

As I popped off photos that night, I remember feeling the energy that Trujillo was giving off.  He was so powerful that the rest of the band had no choice but to try to keep up with Trujillo as he set the tone and pushed the band song after song.  It was the first time I felt true, pissed off energy from Metallica in years.  St. Anger may not have been the right choice, but Rob Trujillo definitely was.

One strange note worthy of mentioning: as I was in the photo pit that night, dodging crowd surfers that fall from the crowd into my tiny world, you will never guess who fell in.  Quentin Tarantino – sporting a $120 Metallica hockey jersey.  As security guards escorted him out, Quentin high fived me after experiencing his very first taste of crowd surfing.  He was on a natural high with a smile a mile wide.

Photographed with my Canon EOS-1 and a f5.6 Canon 80-300mm  lens.  Shot on Fujichrome film.

The Many Faces Of Metallica : 1996 Kirk Hammet

Metallica
Lollapalooza ’96
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Laguna Hills, CA
August 4, 1996

To put things lightly – a lot had changed.  Metallica were now a corporate giant and were pulling in big enough numbers to headline the once-alternative Lollapalooza Tour. Load had just been released not too long before this gig and it was the first time they rolled through town in support of the new CD.  I had seen a handful of photos showcasing Metallica’s new image.  To be honest, I thought it was some sort of joke or publicity stunt, or at least something that wouldn’t last.

As Metallica took the stage that summer evening, I stood there – stunned.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing through my lens.  Short hair, designer clothing, nicely trimmed facial hair, facial piercings and (it still keeps me up at night) eyeliner.  It was at this point that I realized that Metallica was no longer influencing bands…they were now being influenced.

One of my favorite moments in Metallica history was when Hettfield barked at the 1984 Donnington crowd, “If you came here to see spandex, eye makeup, and the words ‘Oh baby’ in every fuckin’ song, this ain’t the fuckin’ band.”  Now, it looked like I might be seeing that band.

Photographed with my Canon EOS-1 and a Canon f5.6 80-300mm lens.  Shot on Fujichrome film.