METALLICA check in with the following update:

"After years in the making, we are beyond excited to finally unveil the all new, out of control, massive stage and Metalli-show to some of our most rabid fans in the world with three shows in Mexico City at Sports Palace on August 1st, 2nd, and 4th, 2012.

When we last visited Mexico City in June of 2009, those three sold out nights with over 150,000 of our craziest friends at Foro Sol Stadium were some of the most memorable, over the top, insane shows we have ever played. Now we'll be back with a brand new show that features your favorite iconic elements spanning our entire 30 year touring career all on a massive stage that is twice the size of the World Magnetic set up... we think it's something that needs to be seen to believed!!!

Tickets go on sale on Saturday, March 24 at 11 AM at Ticketmaster.mx. There will be a Banamex pre-sale starting Thursday, March 22nd at 11 AM, ending Friday March 23rd at 8 PM.

Mexico will be the first to see what will be the cornerstone of our touring escapades for years to come. Don't be scared boys and girls, this is going next level and we are just getting started!"

Metallica have released the special edition of the fan club mag, So What!, world-wide. The band posted the following message on their website:

“We've always been incredibly proud of our little publication So What! magazine that is sent to all Fan Club members every three months and is now in its 19th year of existence. As we were putting together the first issue of 2012 commemorating our 30th anniversary celebration at the Fillmore Theatre in December of last year, we realized that the upcoming issue was looking so special, so unique and so unprecedented that we really should make it available to share with all our friends around the world. Now we know that we're breaking the rules here – So What! is for Fan Club members only – but we figured since we make the rules, we can occasionally break 'em!! So for the first time ever we are printing a special limited edition newsstand version of the magazine in collaboration with Metal Hammer, who has joined us for our new adventure.

Hitting worldwide newsstands, book stores, websites (including metallica.com) and wherever else you pick up your reading material on May 14th, the issue will be a 128 page extravaganza packed with exclusive photos and special post Fillmore interviews. You'll hear from all the members of Metallica, a few of your favorites that were on stage including Brian Tatler, Sean Harris, KING DIAMOND, Dave Mustaine, and Rob Halford, and a look behind the scenes at how it all came together. As an added bonus, an exclusive 7" vinyl single featuring live recordings from those nights of \So What’ and ‘Through The Never’ is included with each and every issue.

We'll have previews and more details for you here as the release gets closer. And Fan Club members, do not fret!!! YOU will receive your very own anniversary special issue with additional exclusive interviews, photos and reviews. For more on that, log in and visit 'Virtual So What!' The special edition of the magazine is available for pre-order here and will be available for sale in the store at metallica.com.”

It was recently announced that Metallica has made Billboard's highly-prestigious list of the longest-charting albums with the band's self-titled monster from 1991, which is also the best-selling album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales for Billboard on March 1, 1991, with units sold of more than 15,735,000.

Billboard's Longest-Charting Albums

800 - Dark Side Of The Moon - PINK FLOYD, 1973
490 - Johnny's Greatest Hits - JOHNNY MATHIS, 1958
480 - My Fair Lady - Original Cast, 1956
331 - Highlights from the Phantom of the Opera - Original Cast, 1992
305 - Oklahoma! - soundtrack, 1956 (*includes weeks before the Billboard 200 became a weekly chart the week of March 24, 1956)
302 - Tapestry - CAROLE KING, 1971
295 - Heavenly - JOHNNY MATHIS, 1959
282 - MCMXC a.D. - ENIGMA, 1991
282 - Metallica - METALLICA, 1991
277 - The King and I - soundtrack, 1956