Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi guys, Yesterday we had an awesome time. It was my brother's 16th birthday a few weeks ago and we surprised him with Tickets to see Metallica at Webley's new stadium. We also took my 14 yo bro too. And my 11 yo bro came over to play with our kids (so my parents had 2 nights to themselves - their anniversary is next month!!!). Yesterday Mikey and Jess made sure we got up early. Sarah drove the three of us to the station (wearing our metal gear) and we hopped the train into London. My brothers didn't know it, but I was surprising them with lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe (the first one that started it all in 1971). They were nocked out, and we enjoyed the artefacts de Rock! A great lunch, and my brothers were flirted with by the waitress (which they loved). There was a famioly next to us in the restaurant celebrating the father's 50th birthday - he wanted to come too, but couldn't lol. After lunch, we hopped the tube to Wembley - surrounded by Metal heads!!!! As we got off the train, the awesome new stadium and it's arch greeted us, beaconing us on to rock harder than a grandmother with tarrets in a rocking chair during an earthquake! After buying the necessary tour shirts, it was into the stadium. went to the restroom (very little lines - there are loads in this new complex, excellent design - we waited no longer than 3 minutes to go to the bathroom the whole time we were there). Then on to the refreshment stand for drinks - 1 beer and 2 cokes, $20!!! But at least again due to an awesome design, no longer than a 4 minute wait. Into the stands, and the venue was awesome. No pillars supporting the roof, so great views all around. Mastadon were ok, not bad. Machine Head rocked hard - and the headbangers and mosh puts were full of life. HIM were awesome in their gothic glory. The lead singer cracked a joke - "What do you guys think of the new anti smoking laws? I don't drink, and now I can't smoke, so what do I do with my hands?" Lol - he used to chain smoke on stage. We had fun in between sets with the Mexican Wave. And there were blown up condoms and an inflatable doll bouncing around the crowd. At &:45 the main event. Metallica are so tight, so awesome, and their 2.5 hour set did not disappoint. Definately in my top 3 gigs. The atmosphere was electric. And when they performed Unforgiven, the crowd went wile. One - the place was alive, and the pyros around the stadium was awesome. The bass solo was one of the finest I have ever witnessed. Lars rocked the heads like Animal in heat. And James Hetfield is still sooo amazing. Then Enter Sandman took them over the top. Awesome gig! Getting home was not as much fun though. Getting back to the station (about 1/4 mile away) took an hour, controlled by mounted police (those horses were so good), but spirits were high with people singing as we walked. As we got on the tube - after doing impressions of the Salmon run up the steps, we then felt like sardines - a very drunk and high couple pushed through nearly sepereating me from my little brothers (remember there were 70,000 people at this gig), I trapped my foot between the train and platform - so it's a little sore today. We managed to catch one of the last trains home, and into bed for 2:30. I was very tired getting up for work this morning, but it was a great day. So awesome few weeks. DLP for 2 weeks, followed by the LGA conference with some great talks by Cabinet Members and newscasters, a great Dinner at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the fab product launch and wine tasting masterclass at Vinopolis, and then this amazing weekend. This week may be a little anteclimatic!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Cheers Smeds. And Man I am so tired, that post was so full of spelling, grammer and typos I am embarressed. I should have proof read - oops.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins Wow. What an exciting report! It was good of you to take your brothers. This will be a favorite family memory for years to come.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden The setlist from what I saw was absolutely killer. Only one song from post-Black Album era, everything else was vintage.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep - it was an awesome gig, and they were in much better form than during Live Earth.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Finally watched the Metallica LiveEarth set. They were on soooo much better form on the Sunday.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Sounds great davewasbaloo! Glad you guys had such a good time at the concert. You sound like one cool brother surprising your little bro with tickets like that! So what's a "Mexican" Wave? Is it any different from the regular Wave?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Nope - it's just in the UK it's called a Mexican Wave. But having 70,000 people doing it is pretty awesome!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I really wanted to make it special. My 16th was aweful. I don't really want to go into details here - but needless to say - it was one of the worst birthdays ever. I was determined to make Danny's unforgetable.
