TOUR ARCHIVE

Date: 1998-06-26
Location: Atlanta, GA - United States [17 shows here]
Venue: Lakewood Amphitheatre [6 shows here]
Fan reviews: 1 - Add yours!
Author: Phil
Setlist: Yes

06/24/98 - 06/26/98 Concert Review

Pictures from the trip!!

6/24 Pre-Concert
Well it was one hell of a trip!!! On Wednesday we (me, and my friend Josh) left for the Motel in FL, and met Robert Reisinger (Chapter Head for German Power Wolves, and the guy in charge of giving backstage passes to those who helped out with the club), and Gerben Kok (Chapter Head for Harvesters of Holland, who also helped with BS passes, etc.). We checked in, got settled, and they left to go pick up famous Steve Wiig (you know the dude who writes those extremely long articles for So What!), and then go to the venue.

6/24 The Show
Doors opened at 5pm, so we knew we had to be there about 4. We left the motel at 3 just in case (only takes half an hour), and got there at 3:30. However it was a 15-20 walk from the parking area to Will Call. Unfortunately there was a screw-up with the venue, and us clubbers were waiting out front until 6:15 to get our tickets (first opening band was at 6:30). Well after 3 hours waiting in the hot Florida sun we got our tickets and ran to the club booth. Niclas Swanlund (metontour.com dude) gave us some flyers (10 gazillion), and said to go to the far gate. We grabbed a coke, and made our way to the other side of the amphitheater. Telling people this was the best club in the world, and how I had 2nd row seats because of them, etc., etc. I managed to hand them out pretty quickly. By this time Jerry was about to come on, I ran back to the club booth, and found Robert. He said to hang around until he could find out what was going on with the passes. Josh finished about 5 minutes later, and came running back to the booth. When Jerry finished, I told Robert I wasn't about to miss any of Metallica and I didn't know what to do. He told us to meet him there after the show, so we ran to our second row seats. Great setlist, lots of rare stuff. The boys were really really into it. For those of you who don't already know, very toned down stage, like lollapalooza. Less pyro and effects, but more raw Metallica. I like it, gave it a real edge, and a new side of Metallica. The pyro that was there included huge flames along the back of the stage, a huge flame on either side of the drum kit, a sparks from the corners. Kirk came out wearing what appeared to be black leather pants, and a black satin button-down shirt, the rest were wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt. Jaymz changed into the white Metallica undershirt that is for sale (at the beginning of the acoustic set), and I believe changed into another black t-shirt. Among the guitars that James used were his wood-burned elk skull Explorer, diamond pattern Explorer, Natural color with funky head Explorer, an ESP Eclipse (I think), and his green flying V. Kirk used his Horror one, his ouija one, his black Flying V, and some others I can't remember. The acoustic set in the middle got a good reaction, and added a lot of feeling to the show. "Bleeding Me" also got a very good reaction (supposedly got a bad reaction last tour). Overall a great, great show!

WHAT A SHOW!!!!!!! Highlights:

Last three seconds of master (all lights go out except a red light from the stage up to James, as he does his evilest laugh.

Of Wolf and Man

Fight Fire with Fire

Could have sworn Kirk was looking at me when I stopped thrashing during that heavy-ass middle riff in "Bleeding Me"

Ecstasy of Gold
Bad points:

No pyro during "One" intro.

No Fade

Nearly got kicked out of venue (read further) About half way through the set the second row, jumped into the first row. There was a guy pulling people out of the first row who had come from the 5th row, but they hadn't bothered us. However this dick from behind the fence pointed at Josh and I, and he dragged us off to the side of the crowed, (I couldn't get my ticket out of my pocket fast enough), and when I finally got my ticket out, he was like� "uhhh oh�� well you still need to be in the second row." Went back to my seat, and enjoyed the rest of the show. On Creeping Death (last song) one of James' strings broke near the beginning of the song, that's something you don't see very often! Then we found Robert, got our passes, and security kept telling us to go to the wrong fucking place for the After-show meet. Assholes. Finally Niclas showed us where to go, and we waited. Jason came out soon, and signed everyone's stuff, and then sat down to hang out for a while. We talked to him about a few things, and he spoke to some girls he had met in a bar, and Robert, and Gerben. Jason was sitting on a long table, and on the table next to him was a drunk passed out guy. These other guys kept telling Jason to sign his shoes and shit, but he said no. Then I asked Jason where James' daughter was born, and how she got her name (which you can find in the General News section), and he was cool enough to tell us what he knew. Speaking of which, Jason was tired, but still managed to come out and hang with us, and he's a really nice guy, thanks Jason!! After Jason left Alli A. (dressing room lady from Year and a Half) was hanging around, and we spoke to her, and got her autograph (another really, really nice person). Then security kicked us out, and we went back to the motel. At about 3am Robert, Gerben, Steve, and Steve's friend Roger come in. We wake up, and talk while they get ready for bed (Steve Wiig knew about IPOM, when I told him my name, he said "Your Insanity Palace, right?"). I was amazed! Steve Wiig knew my website!! Steve and Roger were pissed they had to sleep on the floor, but Robert, Gerben, Josh, and I were there first, sorry guys!!

6/25
It turns out Steve has similar sleep habits to me� he likes to sleep longer than he's awake. Well at 11 o'fucking clock, Robert, and Roger, and Gerben are awake, Josh, and Steve, and I are trying not to be awakened. Ha, that's funny. Eventually we wake up, and Robert, Gerben, and Steve left for Atlanta (Robert, and Gerben had taken Roger to a train station while we were showering). Josh and I left for Atlanta about a half-hour later (about 1pm). About 9:30pm we arrive at the GA/FL line, and call IS webmaster, Jeff. He tells us we have at least another 3 hours. Woo Hoo =(. 1:30am, we arrive at the Motel. No Robert. No Gerben. No Steve. They let us check in (even though we're both 16), and we crash.

6/26 The Concert
Next day I left a message at Jeff's house to tell him what we look like (he has our fucking tickets!). So we're off to the venue. We talk to a few people, and then Robert shows up. Turns out at about 10pm, the got tired, and stopped at a Motel in northern FL. LOL. Anyway, it was all cool, and I told him to find us, if he found Jeff. Well some guy starts talking to Robert saying "You know a guy named 'Phil'?" I was like "Jeff?" and it was him. He had come from work, and didn't look like he belonged at a Metallica concert, but that's OK. We took the back gate into the venue, got flyers (about half as many this time� I could actually hold them� much better), and we waited (this time inside the venue) for the doors to open. Once again I was hollering "Official Metallica Club, join the official Metallica Club, would you like to join the official Metallica Club?" Went back for another stack, finished those, and then, waited around the club booth. I got to feel even more official, when we got to move all the pre-show clubbers, into a corner and act like we were of high authority. Robert gave us our passes, and then we hung around with Robert, Gerben, and Jeff. Club members kept coming and asking about backstage passes 2 hours after gates opened (is that early? I think not). Then this one girl came up and asked me "What is the MetClub?" I started to explain, and she said "No, I'm in the Metallica Club, what's the MetClub? And what's the difference" I told her they were the same thing, and she said "oh" and walked away.

Jeff, Josh and I all took our seats in row WW, and waited for the show to start. A lot more light effects that night. Only two small setlist changes, instead of Jason and Kirk jamming on "Where the Wild Things Are", they did "My Friend of Misery", and they replaced acoustic "Last Caress" with "Motorbreath". Other than that it was the same. Once again every security guard told us that the After Show meet was in a different place. We finally found it, and all was good once again. Well, actually, we were dying of thirst. At this point in time, I was happy to have roomed with MetClub people, because Jeff, Josh and I were able to get a soda. =) Once again Jason came back (according to him 47 minutes after he left the stage), and signed stuff. We stayed out of his way for a while, and when the crowd cleared I went to say hi, and Jeff asked me to tell Jason, to tell Kirk thanks for Killing Time (if you don't read the AOL MMC, don't worry about it). So we did, and once again, the passed out guy came up, and Jason said he'd thought about it, and that guy was stupid for working to get backstage and then screwing it all up, and we whole-heartedly agreed. We discussed a couple of mean things we should have done to him (i.e. Shaving cream, shaving leg hair, eye brows, etc.), and had a few laughs, Jason asked our names, and said he'd see us next tour. Then we talked to Steve, Robert, Gerben, and Jeff for a while, then Jeff, Josh and I left.

So that was my adventure with Robert, Steve, Gerben, Jeff, Jason, Alli, the drunken guy, Roger, Niclas, security, Metallica, and the club booth!

Special thanks to the following who without it wouldn't have been possible (or as fun):

Josh Ahsman (my partner in crime)

Jeff McNiel (got me to GA, got me seats, and jinxed the chicks!)

Robert Reisinger (for more than I can list)

Gerben Kok (same as above)

Steve Wiig (soda's, laughs, and knowing about IPOM!)

Niclas Swanlund (being so cool about everything)

Super 8 Motel

Jason Newsted (for always hanging out as long as you can, and being a really cool guy)

Elvis (right Robert?)

The woman who worked for Alli, who I forgot to ask your name

Alli

Pier (for having 2, right Jeff?)

The boyfriend (right Jeff?)

James, Jason, Kirk, Lars, and Metallica in general for being the best band ever)

METCLUB (for hooking me up, and making it a great trip)

And everyone else who we met on this trip!! (I owe you one)