Orion Music + Horror Crypt?!

New details have surfaced about Metallica’s new annual music, arts and lifestyle festival called Orion Music + More. In a recent online video interview, guitarist Kirk Hammett revealed that the fest will also feature an exhibit celebrating classic horror films.

Titled Kirk’s Crypt, the showcase will feature Hammett’s personal collection of rare horror movie memorabilia, classic comics, monster toys, posters, props and much more. Hammett, who’s been collecting horror memorabilia since he was six years old, is looking forward to sharing his collection with fans at the festival.

“I would like to think that people would recognize the cultural significance of this stuff and I hope that it attracts people who are just like-minded and share similar passions,” says Hammett. “I hope they can come in to my little zone and…really have good time checking it out and seeing everything and interacting with all this stuff.” More details about the event will be released in the coming weeks.

The inaugural Orion Music + More festival will make its debut June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ. For more details, head over to OrionMusicAndMore.com.

Drummer Debut

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is ready to show off his acting skills. Ulrich will be playing Dutch documentarian Joris Ivens in the upcoming HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn. While this is the first substantial film role for Ulrich, it isn't the first time that the drummer has appeared on the silver screen. Ulrich had previously made a cameo as himself in the 2010 comedy Get Him to the Greek in addition to being featured in the 2004 Metallica documentary, Some Kind of Monster.

According to IMDb.com, Hemingway & Gellhorn is “a drama centered on the romance between Ernest Hemingway and WWII correspondent Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway's inspiration for For Whom the Bell Tolls and the only woman who ever asked for a divorce from the writer." The film stars Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen. Hemingway & Gellhorn will air on HBO on May 28 at 9 p.m.

Orion Music + MORE!

New details have surfaced about Metallica’s new annual music, arts and lifestyle festival called Orion Music + More. In a recent online video interview, frontman James Hetfield revealed that there will be a custom car and motorcycle show that will take place during the festival.

“For a Metallica fan…maybe they wouldn’t normally go to a car show and see really what goes on there,” said Hetfield. “It would be great to get a little of everything, from muscle cars to traditional stock things to full-blown crazy customs to dragsters to things spitting flames…to beautiful long elegant pieces of art representing hopefully everything, so everyone can get a taste of the automobile passion and obsession that I seem to have.”

More than 300 customs, hot rods, muscle cars and custom motorcycles will be on display at the Orion Custom Car + Motorcycle Show inside the festival grounds throughout the weekend, including Hetfield’s 1936 Auburn Roadster Slow Burn Kustom. Awards will be given for Best in Show in the customs, hot rods, muscle cars, and custom motorcycles categories. In addition, Orion ticketholders will have the chance to cast their votes for the award for Fan Favorite.

The inaugural Orion Music + More festival will make its debut June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ. For more details, head over to OrionMusicAndMore.com.

Orion Music + More = VIDEO!

Last month, Metallica announced that they're launching a new annual music, arts and lifestyle festival called Orion Music + More. Recently, the band gave fans a taste of what they can expect at the upcoming event by posting a trailer online. Ft. performance footage of Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, and Modest Mouse. In addition, the video confirms that Metallica will perform their 1991 album Metallica, a.k.a. the Black Album, and their 1984 Ride the Lightning album in their entirety during the event.

The inaugural Orion Music + More festival will make its debut June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ.

Metallica the 3D experience!

METALLICA is planning a 3D movie for theatrical release in 2013. There's no word yet if it's a concert, a documentary or something else. (--But I have a feeling Metallica fans will accept anything, as long as Lou Reed isn't involved.) Read more HERE

Shakira covers Metallica

Did you know that SHAKIRA is totally into METALLICA? She is. She says, quote, "I am great fan of bands like [LED] ZEPPELIN, NIRVANA or THE CURE. I used to be a huge Metallica fan when I was 15 [or] 16 years old. "Back then, I used to sing 'Nothing Else Matters' all day long. I am still a very huge Metallica fan, though. [And] I thought it would be kind of surprising to include it in my repertoire for this tour." Shakira has been performing "Nothing Else Matters" on her current tour. Song starts around the 3:05 marks. Singing at 3:55.

MOST METAL

"Rolling Stone" recently polled their readers to come up with a list of the Top 10 Metal Bands of All Time. They released the results yesterday. If you're a REAL metal fan, you're probably going to question how "Rolling Stone" readers define "metal." For example, LED ZEPPELIN made the Top 10, and DREAM THEATER came in second place, behind METALLICA. There are write-ups on each band at RollingStone.com.
Here are the results:

1.) Metallica
2.) Dream Theater
3.) Black Sabbath
4.) Iron Maiden
5.) Slayer
6.) Megadeth
7.) Judas Priest
8.) Led Zeppelin
9.) Pantera
10.) Tool

Metallicopoly

METALLICA is getting their own version of Monopoly. The game will be available beginning sometime next week on their website. Metallica isn't the first band to have its own Monopoly game. KISS has one, naturally, as well as The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, the Grateful Dead among others. Check out the online store HERE

Metallica make a wish

Metallica was performing in New Zealand last month when they took time to meet Jed Roberts. The 17 year-old is suffering from leukemia and got to meet the rockers through the Make A Wish Foundation.

Price of Fame

A Metallica fan recently paid $35,000 for a one-hour private drumming lesson from Lars Ulrich. The money went to Andre Agassi's charity, which raised $8.5 million during last weekend's 15th annual Grand Slam for Children benefit gala

Drumline

A private drumming lesson from Lars Ulrich is being auctioned for charity. Proceeds will benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
Learn more HERE

The Gospel according to Metallica

John Van Sloten, a pastor at the New Hope Church in Calgary, Alberta, uses Metallica in his sermons and has written "The Day Metallica Came To Church: Searching For The Everywhere God In Everything". He says, "Some kid asked me at church to preach Metallica . I sort of said, 'Yeah, sure,' and told him I'd pray about it, which is how we slough people off, and then the next day someone from our church called me with Metallica tickets. So my wife and I went to Metallica and had an experience there, in a very deep communal sense that these people are all sharing a lament and a feeling of injustice about how screwed up the world is. "That got my heart into it so I went back and read all the lyrics and as I was reading their lyrics I would have a biblical truth or a scriptural passage come at the same time."

Sticks & Stones

Metallica's Bogota, Colombia concert recently ended in chaos when 600 ticketless fans tried to rush the entrance gates. Cops used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the angry crowds. Several officers were injured by rocks and sticks.

Metallica Boycott

Some Metallica fans plan to boycott their upcoming show in Israel because of high ticket prices. They say seats should be selling for $80 not $160 a piece.

No Santa?

Metallica's James Hetfield says his brother ruined Christmas for him. "The worst Christmas was discovering that there was no Santa. You know, I had gotten up at whatever, one in the morning and walked out and saw my brothers carrying presents down to put under the tree, and I was like, 'What are you doing?' And so that was, the St. Nick bubble was burst."

Metallica's No #1 Fan!

85-year-old cancer survivor Margaret Priebe met Metallica during their Tampa show on Saturday. James Hetfield dedicated "Nothing Else Matters" to her and called her "The number one METALLICA fan!" The band signed her copy of "Death Magnetic" and gave her a roadie T-shirt.

Giving Back

Metallica recently played a show in their hometown of San Rafael, California. Lars Ulrich says they raised $200,000 for the Marin Rocks Museum Project, an interactive museum of Marin music history which includes educational programs for young people in music and the arts. "We love Marin, and we don't get chances to make an imprint in our backyard as much as we'd like. And this just seemed like a perfect opportunity to get involved in something that had Marin stamped all over it."

Metallica-fest?

Lars Ulrich is planning a metal tour that would feature Metallica. Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax. Slayer guitarist Kerry King says, "I don't know Lars that well and I haven't heard it from Lars, but apparently he's talking to somebody about it. Maybe us, Metallica, Megadeth (and), I think he even threw in Anthrax." The guitarist insists Machine Head would be a better fit than Anthrax, but he's game for the tour.

Creamed!

Metallica's James Hetfield got hit in the face with a cream pie following the band's performance last Sunday. His bandmates creamed him as part of his birthday celebration. Hetfield turned 46 on Monday

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert

Metallica will perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon as a solo act, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Aretha Franklin, U2, and Eric Clapton will also perform on October 29th and 30th.