The movie, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, is basically about the relationship between Metallica and their fans. While the movie does cover the early days of the band, it’s not a movie about their career as a whole. The background information about their beginnings really serves as more of a foundation to show how they built a following— from fan #1, all the way to the present-day generation of 12-year-olds. It's filled with emotion and joy, and if you're a superfan of any band, you'll be able to relate.
There are various stories told by fans chosen to be in the film. They explain how they got into the band, which was usually word of mouth. In one case, it was seeing Lars and thinking he was the “Cutest everrrr!” The diehards discuss how Metallica’s special brand of powerful lyrics and driving music helped them get the courage to face another day, and how there is simply no experience like a live Metallica show. They’ll go to great lengths to get to a gig, dedicating a huge portion of their personal budget just for travel and concert ticket expenses.
At some point during the press for the film, I saw drummer Lars Ulrich make a comment about wanting to get to know their fans some more, and it made me realize how they really don’t have that opportunity. Certainly not as much as back in the day, before they became a multi-platinum band. They continue to have meet and greets, but the pass is costly and the encounter is very brief (understandably). Plus, it appears that James has taken himself out of that part of the tour for reasons he hasn’t officially stated (as far as I know). Having said that, even with all of the countless chats they’ve had and seas of fan mail they’ve received, there are fans who have made such an impact on the band that it influenced their music. This was the case with “Here Comes Revenge,” inspired by a family who lost their Metallica-loving daughter to a drunk driver.
Especially impactful on me were the stories from people living in war torn countries or areas where listening to Metal and expressing that you’re part of that community are forbidden or even illegal. Learning about these kinds of oppressive acts made me appreciate the freedoms sometimes taken for granted, like listening to the music you want and being able to wear your favorite band’s t-shirt without a second thought out in public.
After the screening, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo took the stage to answer questions, followed by Lars Ulrich, who was off visiting the Men’s room. When he arrived, the band laughed at how they didn’t intend to watch the whole film but got sucked into all the stories being shared, and in Lars' case, it resulted in his unexpected trip that caused his delay. The panel was moderated by Amanda Petrusich, writer for The New Yorker.
Part of the discussion focused on what it’s like to be on the receiving end of that kind of intense adulation and gratitude from strangers. The band members mentioned how they stay grounded at home, including Rob pointing out your wife and kids will humble you and Kirk giving the example of getting into arguments with the locals when he’s out surfing, because they don’t care how high up in the Rock kingdom he is. They mentioned that their meet and greets have been a great source of joy in keeping the connection to their fans. I couldn’t help wonder why they don’t offer something more accessible than the $4,400 ticket (before fees) that includes the opportunity to speak to any combination of Rob, Kirk and Lars. But hey, it’s show BUSINESS, right?
Overall, I am so glad I was able to get to go. I had just enjoyed the thrill of winning a pass to the Snake Pit just weeks before and thought that was the end of my time with Metallica in 2025. So to have the chance to go to something like this was amazing. I don't know if I'll ever get to be in a room that small with the band for any reason ever again, but I'll never forget the time that I was.
