Ross Halfin worked with the band for decades, saw growth during the tour as an opening act and pointed out differences between his friends
Several characters who met the Metallica Right at the beginning of their career, throughout the 1980s, they usually assured that the band was really different. The photographer belongs to this list Ross Halfinwho worked with musicians for decades.
The period was recalled by the professional in a 2021 interview with CNN (via Igor Miranda website) to promote a book about the group (Metallica: The Black Album in Black & White). Halfin cited, in particular, a joint tour done in 1988 with more popular and experienced bands.
The group of James Hetfield (voice and guitar) and Lars Ulrich (battery), complete by Kirk Hammett (guitar) and at the time Jason Newsted (bass), it was the opening act. Even so, they attracted a lot of attention. The photographer points out:
“They were on this tour called Monsters of Rock in 1988 with Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken… Metallica was way down [no lineup]. I started to notice — particularly at Giants Stadium in New York and the LA Coliseum — that after the band played, half the audience was starting to leave. I realized they mean more than you know.”
Afterwards, the photographer highlighted the great difference between friends since the early days, when the Cliff Burton — who died in 1986 — still held the position later taken over by Newsted. For him, the quartet boasted an almost punk image, serving as a counterpoint to the typical excesses of the 1980s. This served as a highlight.
“The kids identified a lot with them in the sense that they looked like kids on the street. They looked like guys who played in a garage. Today they are certainly not like that, but in the period Black Album [1991]they were those long-haired kids who just played. That was the appeal of Metallica: you could do it. And the kids identified with them in that sense.”
Metallica is still different for Ross Halfin
Even today, Metallica — which now has Robert Trujillo on bass, but continues with the other three members — he brings a different energy to his shows. This is what Ross Halfin points out.
“They’re one of those bands that when you see them, whether you know them or not, you’re surprised by their power. There are very few bands with the power they have. They engage the public. When you join their show, you become part of them. You can feel the electricity in the air with them. I started noticing this in the early 90s, but it is very evident today.”
Metallica will continue the tour in 2025 M72promoting the album 72 Seasons (2023). The official schedule has confirmed presentations in North America (between April and June) and Oceania (November).
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Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
