BLACKSBURG 鈥 No seat was vacant or spot on the floor left unoccupied for nearly two hours during Metallica鈥檚 performance Wednesday evening. Lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield acknowledged the crowd as he finished up his final lyric from 鈥淢aster of Puppets鈥 by wishing the Lane Stadium crowd, 鈥淕ood night,鈥 three times.
Metallica lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield is applauded by fans at the conclusion of 鈥淓nter Sandman鈥 at Lane Stadium Wednesday.
Each time he bid the crowd adieu, there was a mixed reaction from the overflowing crowd. Some booed. Others loudly chanted, 鈥淥ne more song!鈥
Hetfield conceded to the crowd. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e missing something,鈥 he told them.
He walked up to the microphone facing the west grandstands and screamed, 鈥淟et鈥檚 go!鈥 The fans responded with, 鈥淗okies!鈥
After two back-and-forths, Hetfield strummed the first chords of 鈥淓nter Sandman.鈥
People are also reading…
Smoke from pyrotechnics fill the stage area during a performance of Enter Sandman in Lane Stadium Wednesday
The 6,000 students packed into the north end zone began jumping. The thousands of fans on the floor and in the snake pit followed suit.
Metallica fans jump at the start of Enter Sandman in Lane Stadium.
An historic night for a stop on the M72 World Tour was capped with the song every Virginia Tech fan waited to hear live at Lane Stadium for a quarter of a century.
鈥淲hat can I say? We have been waiting so long to come here and play in the Terror Dome,鈥 Hetfield told the crowd early in the set. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time.鈥
Metallica capped its 16-song setlist with the acclimated song off its 1991 self-titled album that has welcomed the Virginia Tech football team into Lane Stadium since the 2000 season.
Metallica fans celebrate during a performance of Enter Sandman in Lane Stadium Wednesday.
The band鈥檚 first performance at Lane Stadium concluded with 鈥淓nter Sandman,鈥 and the crowd drowned out Hetfield鈥檚 singing during the pre-chorus and chorus throughout the song. It continued a trend the Hokies introduced recently where the music during 鈥淓nter Sandman鈥 is lowered and the fans sing the pre-chorus and chorus a cappella before the music volume is raised entering the second verse.
鈥淐an we move here and be the house band?鈥 Hetfield asked the crowd after the show.
The band also experienced what it was like for the football team entering the field.
The studio version of 鈥淓nter Sandman鈥 was played as the band took the stage. The entire crowd 鈥 estimated by Virginia Tech executive associate athletic director Brad Wurthman last week to be around 70,000 strong 鈥 screamed and jumped in unison to the music that has become so familiar to the university.
Metallica opened their set playing three songs from the band鈥檚 second studio album, 鈥淩ide the Lightning,鈥 with 鈥淐reeping Death,鈥 鈥淔or Whom the Bell Tolls,鈥 and 鈥淩ide the Lightning.鈥
From left: Metallica鈥檚 Robert Trujillo, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich perform in Lane Stadium Wednesday.
The conclusion of 鈥淩ide the Lightning鈥 featured Hetfield exclaiming to the crowd: 鈥淲e are so grateful to be the first real band to be playing in your house!鈥
Hetfield and his bandmates interacted with the crowd throughout the two-hour show.
From left: Metallica lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, and bass guitar Robert Trujillo perform in the opening set of the Metallica M72 World Tour performance in Lane Stadium Wednesday.
The lead singer asked the crowd two questions in between 鈥淣othing Else Matters鈥 and 鈥淪ad But True.鈥 He first asked how many were attending a Metallica concert for the first time, and most every hand was raised.
Hetfield looked around in awe and exclaimed, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot, man,鈥 before asking the crowd, 鈥淲hat took you so long? We鈥檙e so glad you鈥檙e here.鈥
He officially welcomed those in attendance into the Metallica family before saying something that sounded like it came from the Eagles鈥 鈥淗otel California.鈥
鈥淭he only stipulation is you can never leave,鈥 Hetfield said.
The crowd didn鈥檛 seem to mind by erupting into cheers.
Concert fans watch from the stands in Lane Stadium Wednesday
Hetfield also gave a shoutout to Hokies football coach Brent Pry. Pry met with the band before the show and gave them customized football jerseys before their first concert at the stadium.
The band members received maroon uniforms with the No. 25 and their names on the back and orange uniforms with the number 72 and Metallica on the back.
The number 72 was for the band鈥檚 most recent album, 鈥72 Seasons.鈥
鈥淭he power of this place is amazing,鈥 bassist Robert Trujillo told the crowd.
Virginia Tech sophomores Jay Foti, left and Elizabeth Boldt talk during a break between bands in the Metallica M72 World Tour performance in Lane Stadium Wednesday.
The second half of the show featured some of Metallica鈥檚 most famous songs, including 鈥淔uel,鈥 鈥淥ne,鈥 and 鈥淪eek & Destroy,鈥 before the band performed the song on everyone鈥檚 playlist.
鈥淲e hope we make you feel good because that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e here,鈥 Hetfield told the crowd. 鈥淭hat is our purpose.鈥
Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett performs in Lane Stadium Wednesday
