METALLICA's HETFIELD Performs With MACHINE HEAD In Oberhausen

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield joined MACHINE HEAD on stage last night (Saturday, May 16) at KoPi-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany to perform the song "Aethetics Of Hate", taken from MH's latest album, "The Blackening".

Photos and fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

MACHINE HEAD is in the middle of a lengthy world tour as the support act for METALLICA.

In a 2008 interview with Revolver magazine, Hetfield spoke highly of MACHINE HEAD, stating, "We just did some dates with them over in Europe. And man, I couldn't get enough. It was unbelievable . . . They're so heavy, and super-friendly. They get it, and they love it. The last album, 'The Blackening' — unbelievable. Unbelievable sound, power. It sounds like a band on fire. They have really turned it on again for me."

Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich concurred, stating, "The staying power of that record ['The Blackening'] is unbelievable. I have a six-CD changer in my car and that has been in there for the better part of the last year. I listen to it and my kids listen to it — it's a great record. MACHINE HEAD have been around for a while now, but on this record, it seems like they found their strength again and made a mindfuck of a record. Even though it's a couple of years old now, they're out there playing with us every night and fucking bringing the house down. And on top of that, it's a pleasure to have them around. Even though Robb [Flynn, MACHINE HEAD frontman] does such a good job of giving this impression that he's an absolute lunatic, he's actually a really nice guy to be around. All of them, the whole gang, it's just a pleasure to have them around. But, like I told Robb the other day, maybe they should think about going and recording another record soon. [Laughs.] We all wanna hear it!"

Asked by Metal Hammer magazine what his thoughts were on James Hetfield saying how influential "The Blackening" was for METALLICA, Flynn said, "I saw some YouTube clips of some stuff he said in interviews, [and] my brain basically discombobulated! I could not believe it. I was so honored and amazed, dude. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area, maybe it's because METALLICA has meant so much to me over my life. I mean, MACHINE HEAD was formed at a METALLICA show, at the Day On The Green [festival in San Francisco] on the 'black album' tour. So they've been so important to me [that] maybe I've wanted some kind of approval from them for some reason. I've wanted some kind of 'Yeah, you guys are cool' from them. To read the things James said about 'The Blackening', my jaw hit the fucking floor, dude. My jaw hit the fucking floor!"

Photo credit: Henning Gulli

Photo credit: Metallica.com

Robb Flynn on METALLICA:

(Thanks: TakeMyScars.com)