“We love you Philip. Thank you.”
The came, they saw, they left people with their ear drums shaking.
Another Slane is now in the history books but it’s likely that we’ll never see another band quite like Metallica.
After first playing in Dublin on September 14, 1986 at the SFX – anyone there? – James Hetfield and co. are bona fide rock royalty and those that left Slane will testify that the fearsome foursome are still able to put on one hell of a show.
Almost 30 years have passed since they released The Black Album and in terms of their set list at Meath, it was very much a case of playing the hits.
As you can see below, the running order was pretty eclectic with 18 tracks spread across from the following albums: Kill ‘Em All (1), Ride the Lightning (3), Master of Puppets (1), …And Justice for All (1), Metallica (4), Reload (1), Garage Inc. (1), St. Anger (1), and Hardwired… To Self-Destruct (5).
For Irish fans, one track might have more significance than most, though.
Of course, we’re talking about their cover of Thin Lizzy classic ‘Whiskey in the Jar’.
Much like U2 when they played the famous venue in 2001, James Hetfield took the time to remember the iconic Phil Lynott at the end of the band’s stomping version.
Speaking to Hot Press in 2011, Hetfield reflected on Lynott’s death and it’s clear that the Dubliner continues to have an impact on the Metallica frontman.
“You just wondered, ‘Why did God take such a creative person?’. But I think there was a purpose to it all, because the struggles that he wrote about – with drugs, drink, ethnicity, all of those things – they almost speak louder now he has passed.
“For me, going through the struggle with alcohol and addiction in general, just going back and listening to his lyrics, it’s like, ‘Wow, I know what he’s talking about now.’ I love that,” said Hetfield.
Well, it’s clear that the iconic singer is still on Hetfield’s mind as they took to the stage that Thin Lizzy famously played on in 1981.
Take a look.
Clip via Erynn Halvorson
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