The metal event of the year occurred yesterday (Saturday, April 23rd) as the Big Four of '80s thrash metal - METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX - took the stage at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA in front of over 50,000 raging metalheads!

After suffering a spider bite a few months ago and being forced to miss numerous live dates the first time in his career, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman returned to the stage last night. EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt filled in for Slayer's main set, but Hanneman joined the band on stage for their two-song encore which included 'South Of Heaven' and 'Angel Of Death'. Check out a photo of Hanneman on stage from Slayer's Facebook page below:

RockNMetalNewz has posted pre-show photos below:

Anthrax' set-list was as follows:

'Caught In A Mosh'

'Got the Time'

'Madhouse'

'Among the Living'

'Antisocial'

'Indians'

'Fight 'Em Till You Can't'

'A.I.R.'

'I Am The Law'

Check out Anthrax photos (courtesy of RockNMetalNewz) below:

Megadeth's set-list was as follows:

‘Trust’

‘In My Darkest Hour’

‘Hangar 18’

Wake Up Dead’

‘Poison Was the Cure’

‘She-Wolf’

‘Sweating Bullets’

‘Head Crusher’

‘A Tout Le Monde’

‘Symphony of Destruction’

‘Peace Sells’

‘Holy Wars... The Punishment Due/Mechanix’

Check out Megadeth photos (courtesy of RockNMetalNewz) below:

Slayer's set-list included the encore of 'South Of Heaven' and 'Angel Of Death' with Jeff Hanneman.

Check out Slayer photos (courtesy of RockNMetalNewz) below:

Metallica's set-list was as follows:

'The Ecstasy of Gold'

'Creeping Death'

'For Whom The Bell Tolls'

'Fuel'

'Ride The Lightning'

'Fade to Black'

'Cyanide'

'All Nightmare Long'

'Sad But True'

'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)'

'Orion'

One'

'Master of Puppets'

'Blackened'

'Nothing Else Matters'

'Enter Sandman'

Encore:

'Am I Evil? (DIAMOND HEAD cover jam with members of Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax; see fan-filmed footage below)

'Hit The Lights'

'Seek And Destroy'

Check out Metallica photos (courtesy of RockNMetalNewz) below: