METALLICA – Fan filmed videos (and pix) by KICKASS FOREVER (John Erigo) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on June 6, 2025 #metallica #m72tampa #m72 #m72tour #thrashmetal #heavymetal

ALRIGHT!!! OK friends – I will first post all the videos from the show – after that I will explain the Metallica weekend events including me being interviewed by Metallica’s filmmaker ADAM DUBIN for a future Metallica project. Also some pix and a video from the Pop Up Shop. But first – it’s ALL about the music!!!!

Set List:

It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) (AC/DC song)
The Ecstasy of Gold (Ennio Morricone song)

Creeping Death
Harvester of Sorrow
Leper Messiah
King Nothing
72 Seasons
If Darkness Had a Son
Kirk and Rob Doodle (“Jalapeño Jam” and “Sleepwalk My Life Away”)
The Day That Never Comes
Cyanide
Orion (Dedicated to Cliff Burton)
Nothing Else Matters
Sad but True
Blackened
Fuel
Seek & Destroy
Master of Puppets

photo by John Erigo (KAF)

My Metallica weekend started early on Wednesday June 4th in Hudson, FL. I had been asked to be interviewed on film by Adam Dubin for a Metallica future project (name and release info TBD). It was quite and honor to be asked to do this. Why me? Because of my lineage to Metallica which dates back to before their first album was out. If you don’t know by now – I was a co-founder/creator of one of the first Heavy Metal Fanzines (a homemade magazine) called KICK ASS MONTHLY. Along with the legendary BOB MULDOWNEY (RIP) we started KAM in August of 1981. We were eventually sent the infamous No Life Til Leather demo and it was the spark that ignited a long relationship where KAM helped Metallica as much as we could in the very early stages of their career. Bob deserves massive amounts of credit for how much he helped them but sadly he passed away and I am the closest connection to those days. The interview went great, I even brought a long a few items for show n tell LOL! Adam has been compiling many interviews for quite a while now and there will be more info as exactly what these will be used for – just gotta stay tuned.

L ro R – My Lady April Hoffmann – ME – Adam Dubin – On location at What Live For studios in Hudson, FL.

This is a pic taken from the screen from the camera feed – I am holding an issue of Kick Ass Monthly that featured Metallica as one of the pix on the cover from September 1983.

Next part of the weekend was the next day at the Pop Up Store located in Ybor City, FL. Lots of cool merch, some specific for the the tampa area shows. They also handed out cards with a scannable QR code to try and win Snakepit tix for the shows.

The main event for me was obviously the show!!! Thanks to the amazing Metallica staff I was gifted 2 tix to the first night, and also VIP passes to hang out in the friends & family room (lounge). Anyone who was at the show can tell you how hot is was – 85 degrees at 8:00 at night, with like 50,000 people generating more heat. So, to be able to sit in a nice cushy AIR CONDITIONED lounge, was a life saver for this old dude LOL!

What can I really say about a Metallica show that I, or anyone else, has said? Sure us old timers can complain about the set list but we all know in a stadium setting, it’s going to mostly known songs.I find amazing after all these years, the incredible love that goes back and forth between the band and the fans. It is a true testament to just how massive Metallica still is. Old fans, young fans, first time show fans – it is amazing!! The band sounded great and the crowd was insane!!!

Thanks to a newly made friend, on Saturday June 7th I was able to attend the Kirk Hammett event at the hard Rock Cafe in Tampa, FL. It was Kirk being interviewed about his new book which features his guitar collection. The stories about how he acquired some of the rarer guitars and which ones he used to records certain songs with, was all really cool. Ross Halfin, who was the photographer for the book, was also there and joined the discussion. Then before the event ended, Rob Trujillo showed up and joined Kirk in a short jam session. Very cool stuff! On the way out they were handing out free posters (see below).

All in all it was a busy and super enjoyable weekend. Again, thanks to Adam and the Metallica staff that helped me have a very gratifying and enjoyable weekend!!!

You can order professionally mastered cds of this show at HERE!!!!!

All of Metallica’s links can be found here —> LINK TREE