When word got out last year that Metallica was stopping in Grand Rapids for their WorldWired Tour, I was instantly stoked - and super hopeful to be able to photograph them. We're talking 9 time Grammy Award winning, legends of heavy metal people! I received word a few days before the show that I was in to capture their greatness and I couldn't have been more thankful.
When I think of Metallica, I'm reminded of great memories from my high school days. My weightlifting class teacher would blast Metallica every day to get us pumped and motivated. It worked, for me at least. I went to the Grand Rapids planetarium when they had a Metallica Laser show my senior year. I didn't really know what to expect but I left with so much energy. I had James Hetfield's guitar riff to "Enter Sandman" stuck in my head for days.
Yes, we all know how BA Metallica's music is (best workout music of all time. Period.), but what I personally love about these guys is their giving spirit. Metallica recently donated $1M to ten community colleges across the country. Grand Rapids Community College was one of the ten recipient colleges; that's amazing!
Their show is visually stunning, so many details in the numerous square video boxes hovering above the band as the played and they sound so damn good live. Photographing them was a bit tricky (lighting at times and lots of fans waving their horn fingers in the air), but that's what makes the photos raw and real.
Thank you Metallica for the privilege.
View Metallica's Photo Gallery here.
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