2008 Woodie Awards
Headliners perform big at Bonnaroo
By Peter Rizzo, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Arts & Living
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MANCHESTER, Tenn. - Even the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival headliners with their iconic stature felt the need to perform big.
One such band with a chip on its shoulder was Metallica, whose new album "Death Magnetic" is being touted as a return to form from a band that has been inconsistent in recent years. The move to make the heavy metal band a main stage headliner at the traditional hippie friendly festival was one that sparked speculation amongst fans, and even some of the artists.
Glen Hansard, famous for his recent Oscar nomination for the musical "Once" offered up his thoughts on the matter. Saying that even for his band, a mostly acoustic offering, The Swell Season, the festival was an attractive idea.
"You have to give the festival credit," he said. "They don't seem to really be pacing themselves as they're not [just] going for the hippie genre. I mean they've got Metallica headlining which isn't a band that comes to mind for a festival like this."
By Saturday evening, the bright skies gave way to the oncoming clouds and rain. This might have dampened spirits had it not come at such a fitting time. The dreary weather coincided nicely with the oncoming of Metallica, who were taking the first solo headlining slot, introduced by none other than comedian Chris Rock, who had just finished his set on the stage.
The reaction from the crowd was mixed as many were seeing the band for the first time. Even while lead singer James Hetfield implored the festival goers to sing along, many seemed unable to come up with the words. One Metallica fan expressed his anger after the show saying: "I just wanted to go up to people and shake them and say 'do you have any idea what they're playing?'"
If nothing else, the band successfully proved that regardless of its age, it's still a solid live act, even if it had not been creatively on par for years. The group ended the set with ferocity by ejecting red fireworks while blasting the now-Guitar-Hero-certified jam "One." The display proved the rockers place at the festival and seemed to win over some of the original naysayers.
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David Gerard
posted 9/07/08 @ 12:41 PM EST
"It's the way business is done these days," Mr Ulrich said. "And there's the novelty of anyone wanting to listen to a new Metallica album." http://tinyurl. (Continued…)
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