The name says it all. Being one of the most revered pioneers of the “love-it-or-hate-it” metal/hard rock genre, Metallica is considered one of the most influential rock bands that has defined the genre as we know it over the past quarter century . Many bands shaped in the same fashion have come, seen, and yet failed to conquer. One of the key factors that separate them from the hundreds of other bands that tried to emulate the sinister and sarcastic growl of James Hetfield and the lightning fast guitar “shredding” of Kirk Hammett is the fact that Metallica can claim to be the one band that brought the metal and hard rock culture to the mainstream audience.
Being a metal (pronounced Mai-Thaaaaal in Bangalore, complete with the devil symbol) fan in India has been tough and exasperating over the years. The experience has been very similar to that of a full-blooded teen male having a rather conservative girlfriend; a lot of teasing and dry humping but never any of the good stuff. Sure, the bands have come and gone. Opeth, Sepultura, Dream Theater and Aerosmith have served to provide the fans a glimpse of the vast world of live rock music so easily available in other parts of the globe. Incidentally, the closest that any of the thousands of goatee and black t-shirt sporting “Metal-Heads” in India have come to experiencing the full live experience are the two Iron Maiden concerts and Megadeth concert in Bangalore. However, come the end of October, Metallica promises to take every single screaming fan in Palace Grounds “all the way”.
Formed in 1981, Metallica comprises currently of James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Robert Trujillo (bass) and Lars Ulrich (drums). Over the years, Metallica have stuck to their trash metal/hard rock roots, unlike so many other bands that tend to experiment with their style and sound. By sticking to what they do best, Metallica has provided their fans album after album of what they want to hear; good metal music. The early albums such as “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets” can be considered timeless classics not only in the metal or hard rock genre but also in the mainstream rock genre while later albums such as “Death Magnetic” showcases the band’s relevance in today’s music scene dominated by hip-hop and bubblegum pop.
For every kid who picked up the guitar after hearing “Enter Sandman”, for every college student who woke up with a whiplashed and sore neck after a night of furious head banging to “One”, for every girl who decided to reward their boyfriends with something “special” after hearing them play “Nothing Else Matters” on the acoustic, the Metallica concert on 30th October in Bangalore signifies a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience what fans in more privileged parts of the world have been able to do over the years. The ticket price of Rs 2750 might at first seem a steep asking price for a concert by Indian standards, but the question that begs to be answered is whether a band of such magnitude has ever graced the Indian stage before. Fans can expect Metallica, known for their extravagant and dynamic live performances, to set the new standard for live performances, and not just by metal or hard rock bands, in India. I know for a certain fact that one very such fan will be among the horde, screaming every line of every song and will proudly claim after, “I was there”. Metallica is playing in Sector 29, Gurgaon, Delhi on 28th October and in Palace Grounds, Bangalore on 30th December. Tickets are available online at www.ticketgenie.in and at most Planet M and Landmark outlets.
