Described by Metallica’s website as a unique, one-off experience – they are certainly correct. You will not get the chance to see another set quite like tonight’s. Earlier on in the day it turns out that Lars has been taken ill and a flurry of action starts backstage as Metallica try to put together a set with other drummers.
An hour and a half late, with no announcement by the promoters, Metallica (almost complete) finally walk on stage as James announces to 40-odd-thousand fans that Lars “couldn’t make it”. Out comes Slayer’s Dave Lombardo to play ‘Battery’ followed by ‘The Four Horsemen’.
The rest of the set progresses almost entirely with Joey Jordison from Slipknot except for ‘Fade To Black’ played by Lar’s drum tech Flemming. It’s not Lars but considering that they’ve only been practicing together since 3pm it is definitely impressive.
As Joey finishes ‘Wherever I May Roam’ James asks whether they should receive their own masks receiving a laugh from the crowd. The crowd laugh now but when the set finishes after only an hour to ‘Enter Sandman’ many people leave Donington feeling saddened – this was, after all, many people’s main reason for this year’s festival.
A good set, it may have been short and it certainly wasn’t Lars but there is no doubt that Joey saved the day. For every single person that was there this is a set that will be remembered for a long time.
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