Metallica at Download Festival 2003

[AndyPVale]

Waited years to see this! It was the first time I saw Metallica AND it was within 24 hours of seeing Iron Maiden for the first time. I didn't know whether to shit or go blind.

[Geogaddi9]

Hand up then - couldn't believe my luck then and a huge THANK YOU for posting this up. Will never forget the roar that went up as their 4x12 cabs were pushed to the front of the stage and then they parted as Lar's kit suddenly appeared from nowhere. Good times.

[BWAFB4LListic]

i was right at the front for this and have taken a still from this video when i first saw it years ago with my hands in front of kirk lol

[SupernovaCustomDrums]

Awesome! I was right there at the front! Had to endure so many crappy bands beforehand... Saw Zach the guitar tech and asked when they were on. One of the best days of my life!

[RAYSTOKES2011]

ive got one of them bags 3.48

[jadcurran]

this just brings it all back they blew my mind was not exspecting metallica it was so fucking aswsome !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[metalfan00000007]

why are none of you headbangin

[salogaz]

this was sick it came up on the text screen next to the main stage sayin "is it true that metallica r playin the small stage"needless to say we dint hang around n neither did any1 else within 2 minutes evanescence was playin to themselves.

[MMEggman]

@salogaz Funny. I'm trying to find vids of Evanescence playing download that year, and I can't find a single one. I wanted to see the lack of crowd, but apparantly you're right if nobody was there to video them :P

[sinKrin]

Ah man, i remember this. Great memories. I was sat on a verge bored as evanescence started to play their UK debut show. Thought if the music was bad then at least the singer was something to look out... All of a sudden i hear a familiar guitar riff.... No... it couldn't be?... The crowd seem to be moving towards to side tent really quickly, oh sh!t its Tally! run! :)

[Toma4449]

Wish i was there, Download couldn't of done it better by having Metallica as the secret guests. Here's the setlist for that show: Blackened No Remorse Harvester of Sorrow Frantic Sad But True Welcome Home (Sanitarium) St. Anger Master of Puppets Creeping Death Damage, Inc.

[salden7777]

This was amazing! We didn't have a clue who it was until we saw the amps and even then still didnt believe it until we saw it. Metallica in a tent at half 2 of an afternoon! So glad i was there.

[beefburgerwasp]

Who got this?? Who filmed it?? Top 'ole . . . . Many, many thanks! That day (that time) was unbelievable. Stumbling into the tent for no real reason and witnessing history! I'll never forget it. Glad I can re-live it, watching the footage.

[metallicaforlife90]

The beard and the haircut of james is awesome here

[kristianbarford]

I was working press for Download this year, and I'd heard weeks before that this was happening. I had to keep a complete lid on it throughout the build-up, which was nigh-on an impossibility, and I made a bunch of my friends stand with me in the tent until what I knew as being the inevitable took place.

Awesome show - the best I've ever had the chance to see Metallca play.

[robincbrown]

I was there with my wife...my 11th Met show and her first. The rumor mill was in overdrive. The bill was supposed to be Apocalypotica...but we all knew really ;-) Awesome show, incredible sound...an afternoon I'll never forget.

[georgiadickson]

Holy shit how amazing. But how aware were the crowd of what was going on? Was there speculation or rumours? At what point did the crowd realise what was happening? What was on the bill? Just TBC or Metallica tribute or something different altogether?

[81runFROMwhat]

I was there for this. I was right down the front because the Beatsteaks were supposed to be on, and a friend of mine who loves Metallica noticed all their amps. I didnt have a clue because im not a massive Metallica fan tbh.

One amazing sight was the sea of people running from the main stage because they put an announcment out that something special was happening on the second stage.

[megster1986]

It was crazy in there.I actually thought i might die.

[Grimeyhoob]

Rob can never pull of Jason's backup vocals

[kirky666]

Superb - The excitement in the tent as people realised what was happening was something else. Have most of the audio from this show, but never realised there was any video footage.

[dpiffy7]

This was the best ive ever seen Metallica!! It was fucking awesome that afternoon in the tent!! Im sure i can see myself!! HA!!

[jaffabuk]

Aye, i was there, one of them frantic waving fists on front right is defenetly mine :)

[Owlyross]

I was there! Possibly the best gig I've seen them play... But I would say that.

[thepipesarecalling]

I was resting my weary bones on the hill beside the tent, watching the Hells Angels at the tent wondering what they were doing around. The band struck up and I said to my nephew "Oh, must be a Metallica tribute band." He went in and about 10 secs. later came racing out shouting "It's f***ing Metallica." We got in before any herd.

[81runFROMwhat]

I WAS THERE! it went mental!

[skoppeindiepoes]

Puts hand up aswell

[dazthefcfan88]

I think it was stupid of them 2 be suprise band. It nearly started a riot i think

[JAVITHRASH1983]

4 songs of this show are in frantic singles ,sound really good.metallica 4ever.james still rocks!!

[kevycanavan]

put your hand up if you were there

...*puts hand up

[cooluh]

I was at download that year and didn't hear about this (was in a 2 hour cash point queue during their show) so didn't see (nevermind, not much of a metallica fan anyway), walking around the site afterwards there were loads of guys in metallica t-shirts who looked like they were about to cry as obviously they'd missed it too :)

[industrialdolphin]

i was fucking there man!!!one of the greatest moments in my life.you cant even describe the atmosphere in there man.fucking electrifying. i remember when it had finished,i was fucked an piss wet thru.reached into my pocket pulled out sum crooked,damp lucky strikes, fired 1 up and tried to comprehend what had just happened to me!that was the 1st time id seen em, ive now gone onto to see em 6 times.look on here for the version of memory remains they do at wembley 2007,the ending is awesome!

[speedfreak18ish]

bet it was annoying for hardcore metal fans at the mainstage watching some shit band, and then realising metallicas playing lol! bet it was awesum for the people in the tent though

[anintendoevafan]

Blackened = greatest Metallica song ever.

[dayakwapis]

(6) (:

[1gashead]

ha ha metalica were quality! evanescance on the mainstage asks wher r they all goin? were off to see metalica!! yeah did any1 find timmy?

[Danwport]

How long did they play for!?

[loztav3]

It was fucking sweet. I remember nearly dying from exaustion between a huge, fat, swaety guy and the rest of the crowd behind me pushing until i couldn't breathe. Fuck staying up front of that, it was too fucking crazy. Fucking sweet show though. "Hey, you guys check the moon? Kind of kool", i'll never forget the words, or how the moon looked on that night.

[TribalWar]

wrong gig ure talking about mate, this show was in a tent, suprise gig 2003 at download. your talking about 06 i think

[loztav3]

:) hehe, yeah man, i'm talkin shit-it's the drugs... lol I was on about 06. my bad, still Metallica at READING 08!!!! AHHH. can't wait.

[vampiresmith]

yeh but download festival still has tents i know as i was there in 06 (greatest time of my life) and they look nothing like they different in 03 and 06.

[Cappie74]

Fuck how awesome would it be standing in a tiny, packed tent not knowing what band is going to come on next, they then take the covers off the amps to reveal the "M" logo and Metallica walk on stage? I would have loved to have been there!!!

[2006Punisher2006]

I knew they were there, I was at main stage and everyone was running around to the tent lol

[djaymedicine]

Thanks for the post this seems like a great day for them - but when is it not??

[Xhosa4]

Ive seen them live 3 times in Sydney Australia, dating back to 92 (i think, lost alot of cells since then) and everytime, it was the best time id had in my life. St.Anger concert came, i had to buy my ticket on ebay, paid $300AU for a ticket, would have paid $30,000 if need be - they put on the most energetic and loudest concert possible, and they are the reason I play guitar.

Long live Metallica. - Truijillo is a wicked choice for a bass player too!

[jimbobbidy]

just realised it was only Blackened i posted, ive got No Remorse and Harvestor of Sorrow from this gig aswell, il try and upload them sometime soon

[LyricalPaddsta]

Sitting here with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes! I was fucking there and it will live forever as one of those gigs that I will remember for the rest of my life, thankyou boys :D :D :D

[olbieo]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[djmissandy]

i sawthem the day b4 in london for the headlinerstv thingy..i knewthey were gonnabe there but couldnt get download..butme n 100 other in tv studio made up for it and some !

[forestred]

This is fucking awesome ! I was down at the front for this show and the atmosphere was amazing. Does anybody know if the whole set is available anywhere ?

[christophershauwn]

I was there and i fucken missed them if you can beleive that shit! Was watchin evanescense! What the fuck!!!

[Thinchap]

OUCH!

[christophershauwn]

I agree

[djaymedicine]

I feel for ya man!

[christophershauwn]

Cheers!

[Bradtortiff]

HOLY SHIT! I'd shit myself if they came out, I want to see them more than any fucking band around.

[wrenchist]

ol' school or no school

[robercx]

These guyz woke up! Since Jamez is not drinking anymore their sound is awesome... also Rob is a very big gift for them three... Metallica Rocks!

[GimmeFuel]

please give james the bottle back for the love of god. rob sucks at backing vocals. bring back NEWSTED!

[Vampyro0099]

You're no Metallica fan.

[GimmeFuel]

How am i not a metallica fan? lmao

We all know James was better on the bottle. If he could stay clean and still kick i wouldnt care and most people know trujillo is a good bassist but does not fit in with Metallica.