Meeting Metallica

Best concert ever! Metallica ripped through a string of favorites during the 2 1/2 hour show, including, Nothing Else Matters, "One" and "Fade to Black." I was suprised and pleased they played my favorite song of all time, Master of Puppets. I was doubly surprised when they played one of their oldest masterpieces, Creeping Death. The lyrics of Creeping Death tell the story of the Passover.



I was in the twelfth row on the side closest the circular stage, right by Lars' drums. Amazing! But of course the best part was after the show was over, I still had something to look forward to. I was headed over to First Ave to meet the band! The line to get in moved quickly, and before I knew it, we were inside watching the Cliff 'Em All video on a huge screen, in the famous black-walled interior of First Ave. Then they called our group to go into the 7th Street Entry, the smaller club room. A lady handed me my copy of the book to be signed, and I caught a glimpse of the guys sitting behind the table on the other side of the room. It was Metallica!!!! My stomach flipped over. I could hardly pull back the dust jacket so they could sign the cover of my book. I handed it to Kirk Hammett and thanked him for the great show. Then he passed it on to Robert Trujillo. Robert signed and passed it to Lars.



I thanked Lars for the great show and I told him that their music inspired me to graduate from college early. Without all those hours of listening to The Unforgiven, I don't think I would have had the courage to defy the advice of my counselor and my favorite teacher. "What I've felt, what I've known, never shined through in what I've shown, never free, never me, so I dub thee Unforgiven." I was determined never to be the Unforgiven. I've made sure that what I've felt has shined through in what I've shown.



Lars said thank you, and his voice was so humble, almost shy in tone. Then he said that that was the best thing he heard all night. He passed my book to James and he asked me how old I was when I graduated. I told him 19, and then he said, that he never got to college, he was "too busy rocking out." There was a subtle note of regret deepening his tone as he spoke. Then someone was ushering me along and before I knew it, handing me a new Metallica T-shirt. Then we were out the door, into the cool, dark.



I actually have a witness to this story, for those who don't believe it. But this was my proudest moment, as pure of a feeling as crossing the stage at graduation. Thank you, Lars, James, Robert and Kirk. I hope this memory burns within me forever.



Review: Metallica delivers pure therapy at Xcel