During a recent interview, Machine Head’s Robb Flynn shared a vivid recollection of meeting Metallica’s James Hetfield for the first time and his experience at one of the band’s early shows. This particular concert, held on September 2, 1983, at the Keystone in Berkeley, California, marked the second-to-last show of Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All for One Tour.
Flynn, who was just 16 at the time, described his first-ever metal concert as a mind-blowing experience. It was not only the raw power of Metallica’s performance that left an impression, but also the unexpected encounter with the band’s frontman. He recalled walking into the venue and spotting Hetfield sitting at a barstool, signing autographs.
“We walk in, and the first person we see is James Hetfield from Metallica, and he’s at a bar stool and he’s signing autographs,” Flynn said. “We paid our $7.00 or whatever it was, and we walked 10 feet, and there’s James Hetfield signing autographs.”
Flynn and his friend were in awe, having recently been singing along to Metallica’s song “Whiplash.” They approached Hetfield for an autograph, and the legendary frontman graciously complied, adding his signature along with a “Fuck yeah” before handing it to them.
Following the autograph session, Flynn had the chance to witness the sheer power of Metallica live. The show was an intense, unforgettable experience. He recalled Cliff Burton, the band’s iconic bassist, wearing a “Dawn of the Dead” shirt, his signature bellbottom jeans, while Hetfield sported a “Ronald 6 Wilson 6 Reagan 6” t-shirt with an upside-down cross, an image that Flynn interpreted as a defiant statement against the Reagan administration.
As Metallica launched into their performance, Flynn and his friend were initially hesitant to get close to the crowd, intimidated by the wild energy of the circle pit. Instead, they stood back and headbanged throughout the entire show, completely captivated by the raw intensity of the performance.
Inspired by the experience, Flynn went on to form his own metal band, Forbidden Evil, marking the beginning of his own journey in the heavy metal world.
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