The food and drink stands and beer garden in front of the Olympic Stadium already give the first of two Metallicaconcerts a real festival atmosphere. While in the stadium the second band Architects While the arena audience could encourage small mosh pits, where fans run in growing circles, outside on the Olympiaberg the onlookers enjoy the Munich evening sun.
Meanwhile, the audience in the stadium enjoys the circular stage positioned in the middle of the stadium, which not only allows for a larger snake pit in the middle, but also allows all visitors to stand and sit unusually close to the stage. Nevertheless, the action on stage is also shown on eight LED walls designed as water towers that frame the stage.
Then finally, shortly after half past eight, AC/DC’s “It’s a long way to the top.” The stadium visitors cheer. The most famous Western film sequence for Metallica fans then appears on the water tower screens. Every Metallica concert starts with this scene and the accompanying film score from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” And even today, fans sing along to Ennio Morricone’s famous melody when Metallica finally takes the stage.
With “Whiplash” from their first album “Kill ‘Em All” from 1983, they delve straight into the beginnings of their personal rock history, to which the new current album fits better than any of their later albums for a long time. Like a pack of wolves, the musicians circle their fans in the snake pit. But because they are used to playing in sold-out stadiums, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo always maintain eye contact with the rest of the audience in the stadium.
“For Whom The Bell Tolls” played in second place gets all the fans in the stadium cheering euphorically. When the hour strikes – if it is, it would be one of the best hours in the life of a rock fan. Lars Ulrich provides the rhythm on the drums, and the drum kit also moves across the stage. This way, everyone can get close to the drummer.
Finally, “Lux aeterna” is a song from the new album. And then Hetfield counts in “Too far gone”. In German: One, two, three, four. “Welcome to the party,” says Robert, and plays the fans a new song called “Hofbräuhaus Fuck Jam.” Or was it just a fun jam? In any case, it’s almost jazz, this skillful duet of guitar and bass especially for Munich.
It is the first blow of the double thump of the heavy metal stars from San Francisco in Munich in front of around 70,000 guests each. Metallica want to play two concerts in 22 cities on their “72 Seasons” world tour, each with completely different song lists and two new support acts. It has the character of a festival. Many of the loyal rock fans want to make the pilgrimage to the Olympic Stadium this Friday and again on Sunday, especially since no one knows on which evening the great classics such as “Enter Sandman”, “Master of Puppets” or “Nothing Else Matter” from the band’s 43-year history will be played, when the title song of the new album “72 Seasons” will be played – and when their own favorite song will be played.
For the fans, it’s about much more than just the concerts. The only two Metallica concerts in Germany this year are more of a setting for a class or family reunion of super fans from many countries in Munich. Since Wednesday, there has been a pop-up shop with exclusive Metallica memorabilia, from the special Munich shirt to the Germany edition of the new record. On Thursday, many rockers started a “beerathon” – a mixture of jogging and drinking – through the Hirschgarten.
On the day off between the concerts, things won’t be quiet either: After the Fan Club St. Germany Chapter helped with the Munich food bank’s food distribution to those in need on Saturday morning, everyone met up for the big “Metallica Weekend Bash” with barbecue, party, tribute concert and guests of honor in the Backstage Club, in the Old Congress Hall there was a reading with Rolf Halfin, the band’s companion and photographer, and a Metallica film festival.
On Sunday, rock listeners suffering from neck pain can prepare for the second show with a “headbanger workout”.
You can read a detailed review of the first Metallica concert at the Olympic Stadium here on Saturday.