Pierre Dion, President and CEO of Quebecor, and Benoît Robert, President and CEO of Quebecor's Sports & Entertainment Group, have announced that Metallica is coming to Québec City for two historic concerts, the first at the Colisée Pepsi on September 14th and the second at the Videotron Centre on September 16th.

The thirty-year love story between Metallica and Québec City will reach new heights with these two sure-to-be-memorable concerts. The group's loyal fans in Québec City and from around the province will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Metallica play the "old Coliseum" on September 14th, and then break in the city's new arena on September 16th.

Metallica will be performing two different shows. The Colisée Pepsi show will be in a regular arena configuration with an end stage and unique set list. Centre Vidéotron will feature a 360 degree in the round configuration and a different set list from the first night. Metallica fans will be able to see two unique shows, in two different venues, two days apart.

"We are very proud to be able to bring this major international act to Québec City, particularly since there was strong local sentiment in favour of having Metallica inaugurate the new arena and the band itself expressed interest in doing the honours. We listened!" said Benoît Robert. "Metallica concerts in Québec City have always been phenomenal events. We are very pleased to have signed them for this occasion and to be able to put their stamp on the history of the Colisée Pepsi and the Videotron Centre."
"Having Metallica perform the Videotron Centre underscores the venue's status as a new stop on the international circuit of premier stadiums and arenas," said Pierre Dion, President and CEO of Quebecor. "We are eager to announce dates for other Québec and international artists who will be performing at the Videotron Centre in its first weeks."

 

 

Says Metallica: “We're excited to be heading back to Canada this Fall for what promises to be a very unique historical pair of shows as we have been invited to usher out the legendary Colisee Pepsi and welcome the brand new Centre Videotron all in a three day period! On September 14th, we'll be taking the stage for the final event held at the long time mainstay Colisee Pepsi, the classic hockey arena that made its debut in 1949. Our first appearance there was in 1989 and since then we've played seven shows in the arena, including the two shows filmed for the Quebec Magnetic DVD release. Two days later on September 16th we'll open the doors to the brand new Centre Vidéotron for the first event to ever be held there. How cool is that?!

Always one of our favourite places to visit, Quebec City also has a long history of being the home to some of the most rabid 'Tallica fans anywhere. It only seems fitting that we share this special passing of the torch with you! Each show will be a completely different experience right down to where we set up the stage. Look for one night with the classic end stage, the other in the round, different set lists and even different opening bands . . . two totally different Met experiences in one 48 hour period!”

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 24th at noon. Tickets to the September 14th concert at the Colisée Pepsi will be available at the Colisée Pepsi box office, by phone at 418 691-7211 or 1 800 900-SHOW, or through the Billetech network at billetech.com or expocite.com. Tickets to the September 16th concert at the Videotron Centre can be ordered at thevideotroncenter.ca and ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1 855-790 1245. Ticket prices: $76.00 / $97.50 / $120.00 (taxes and service fees included ).

Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta recently caught up with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett for his official podcast, The Jasta Show, which can be heard below. Hammett discusses the making of Metallica's highly anticipated new album, revealing that he lost his iPhone "containing 250 musical ideas."

 

 

Speaking with Sirius XM’s Jose Mangin, Metallica’s Kirk Hammet discussed his inspiration for recording the band’s upcoming new album, and touches on what the new release could sound like.

Talking about inspiration to record a new album, Kirk says: “I always go back to the stuff that influenced me when I was younger and first starting out, ’cause that stuff is still inspiring. And then, you know, I look around to see what’s going on in present day, what bands are sounding like these days, ‘cause I’m always curious. I like to see what’s going on, and I like to see how our sound fits in with what’s going on. It’s really just a day-to-day thing. I’ll throw on the radio, start hitting the stations, and if I hear a piece of music that I think is particularly interesting I’ll listen to it, and maybe I’ll listen and catch something.”

 

 

Asked if the new material is along the lines of last year’s “Lords Of Summer” release, Hammett replies: “I would say some of the stuff is similar to “Lords Of Summer”. “Lords Of Summer” is pretty accessible… I think it’s one of the more accessible sounding riffs, and there’s a really cool melody. A lot of the other material is a little bit more progressive, kind of along the lines of what Death Magnetic turned out to be. I would say that there’s some really, really hooky stuff coming through, really, really catchy stuff. I’m really psyched on the direction of how things are sounding. If I could compare it to anything, it might be remotely similar to the approach we took on …And Justice For All, but it doesn’t sound like …And Justice For All, sonically. It doesn’t have that sound that …And Justice For All had, which I thought was very unique at the time.”