B Rock Note: Metallica’s James Hetfield Recalls Band’s First Gig

Metallica kicked off the North American leg of its 2017 "WorldWired" tour on Wednesday night (May 10) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, marking the start of the band's first full trek here in seven years.

The 18-song setlist included five tracks from Metallica's latest studio effort, Hardwired... To Self-Destruct, along with classics from throughout the group's 35 years and nine previous albums.

Frontman James Hetfield told Pulse of Radio a while back that he still recalls the group's very first gig, with original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine:

"First Metallica show was at Radio City in Anaheim. I remember the first song we played, Dave broke a string, and I was stranded up there. I was just singing, I wasn't playing guitar back then, and I was so uncomfortable, I was like, 'So, how's it going...' There were about 200 people. You know, your first gig, everyone shows up. Second gig, there's about 20, you know."

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