Metallica: Glastonbury experience was 'sensational'

Heavy metal band Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage on Saturday. The band played for 90 minutes, with highlights including One, Cyanide and an extended version of Master Of Puppets. The quartet are the first metal act to headline the festival since its inception in 1970. Drummer Lars Ulrich said: "That was sensational. I don't remember much of it... the energy was fantastic." Speaking to the BBC's Jo Whiley backstage after their set, Ulrich said he had been at Glastonbury since Friday and wanted to immerse himself in the experience. "We have one shot, you never know if you'll be invited back," he said. Metallica opened their Glastonbury set with Creeping Death "I want to soak up every second of this thing. We would love to come back." He added that he was looking forward to Sunday's acts, including Dolly Parton and Kasabian. "I'll be the last one (here)... the one walking round with a garbage bag on Tuesday." Asked to describe his Glastonbury experience in one sentence, Ulrich simply said: "Other-worldly." Even the band's detractors would have been hard-pushed to deny their musicianship. Fans and supporters lined the back of the stage as they ended the main set with Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman. "Metallica. Glastonbury. Together at last," declared songwriter James Hetfield. "That felt good." Returning for an encore of Whiskey in the Jar and Seek and Destroy, the band launched dozens of black Metallica-branded weather balloons into the audience, triggering a giant game of dodgeball between the audience and security guards. Lars Ulrich told the BBC that headlining the festival was "the biggest honour" The band played an encore of Whiskey in the Jar and Seek and Destroy "Metallica loves you, Glastonbury," said Hetfield as the band took their final bow. "You made us feel so good. Thank you for having us." Taking the microphone, Ulrich added: "There's no place on this earth like this beautiful Glastonbury Festival. Thank you for letting us be part of your experience and we hope to see you one more time." Formed 33 years ago, the group's best-known songs include Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Master of Puppets. Prior to their arrival on the Pyramid Stage, the band played a clip of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, in tribute to actor Eli Wallach, who died this week. Ennio Morricone's Ecstasy of Gold, which features in the classic Western, has been Metallica's introduction music for many years. The band also addressed criticism of Hetfield's involvement with pro-hunting groups head-on, showing an extended clip of an English fox hunt, soundtracked by Sweet's glam rock classic Fox on the Run. At the climax of the hunt, four men in bear costumes shot the riders from their horses. The bear's heads were removed to reveal the four grinning members of Metallica. In the field Metallica rocked Glastonbury with a strange mix of arrogance and humility.
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