So last month, the entire country spazzed out (and for good reason) about the Big 4’s 1-time-only show in California. Thankfully, it’s developed into an additional affair! To refresh your memory, we’re talking Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica. Yeah. Get ready.

The recently announced show will be held at Yankee Stadium in New York on September 14th. There are pretty few seats left for face value so grab them up before they are gone. Who knows- maybe you’ll see one of us at the event, too! Rock on.

It’s finally happening. The Big Four have announced an appearance in the United States. WOO! In case you aren’t up to speed, this is going to be the most epic show to ever happen in alternative music. We’re talking Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth together at last. I don’t even need to say more. They are playing their own festival on April 23rd at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. Get your tickets the day they go on sale (January 28th, 10AM PST, Ticketmaster) because they won’t last long. At all.

I’m sure you metal buffs remember this summer’s post about The Big 4 (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax) playing together for the first time throughout Europe. And maybe you remember the post about the one-night-only screening of the concert nationwide.

Basically, a string of posts that made you just wish you could have seen it, yeah? So I bring you a blog of hope!

This Tuesday, November 2nd, The Big 4: Live from Sofia will be available on DVD and Blu-ray. Finally! A chance to see it!

The 2-disc set is 345 minutes long- don’t get your calculator, that’s nearly 6 hours. In addition to the basic release, you can also get a “Super Deluxe” Box Set that not only gets you the footage, but also 5 hours worth of music (the entire live sets), a 24-page booklet, two-sided poster, photo of each band and a Big 4 guitar pick. The box set is limited edition, of course.

Want to see what you can look forward to? Check out Megadeth’s full performance of “Symphony of Destruction” below:

A while ago, I was super stoked to announce that the big four (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth) were finally playing together this summer…for only 7 days in Europe. Of course it’s crazy to think we can all afford tickets, flights and accommodations to witness history in the making, but fear not. You can experience the whole thing in a theater near you.

“The Big Four Live” is going to be a live, streaming feed from Sonisphere, the festival all 4 bands will be playing together, so you can catch each of the bands’ performances. It will be a one-time-only showing, so I’m suggesting to get your tickets stat

The screening will be June 22 at 7:30pm your local time. Tickets are up right now. Check out the trailer for all of this to make more sense…and melt your face off due to awesomeness:

It’s not too often you get real metal on television, but I guess Jimmy Kimmel is trying to regain his street cred. I didn’t even know his show was still on. Do people still think it’s funny? I digress…

Behold! Slayer melts faces on last night’s episode with “Hate Worldwide” and “World Painted Blood.” This is also the band’s first appearance since Tom’s back surgery. I think he’s doing just fine!

The video isn’t finished yet, but check out the making of video fro Slayer’s new video: Beauty Through Order:

This is actually the first time in history this has ever happened. Think you can handle this…?

Metallica + Slayer + Megadeth + Anthrax will be on tour together.

They are on the bill for Sonisphere Festival 2010 which as of now is scheduled for 15 dates throughout Europe for June, July and August of next year. I can’t even tell you how much tickets are because the currency varies across the board, but they are all well over $200…assuming you can find any left at face value.

Megadeath’s Dave Mustaine says these shows will be

a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for heavy metal ‘fans’ to see the four greatest heavy metal ‘bands’ in American history back together on one stage. If there are any heads left at the end of this Festival that haven’t banged, they don’t belong there.

There’s speculation if the four will do a US tour together. Right now signs point to we-haven’t-the-slightest-idea-but-really-want-it-but-it-will-probably-be-too-good-to-be-true. Considering Megadeth and Slayer will be touring together soon and Metallic have toured extensively in 2009, I say it’s a long shot. Here’s to hoping…and thankful I have strong ties in the UK.

Europe, enjoy your envy from the rest of the world.

                                     

The Grammys hit 52 this year. With the recent release of nominations, we always perk up our ears for the metal and rock categories. Am I right or am I right? This year we have some of our favorite bands in the mix of all the hype.

Best Metal Performance:

Judas Priest – “Dissident Aggressor” (track from: “A Touch Of Evil Live“)
Lamb Of God – “Set To Fail” (track from: “Wrath“)
Megadeth – “Head Crusher” (track from: “Endgame“)
Ministry – “Senor Peligro” (track from: “Adios…“)
Slayer – “Hate Worldwide” (track from: “World Painted Blood“)

Best Hard Rock Performance:

AC/DC – “War Machine” (track from: “Black Ice“)
Alice In Chains – “Check My Brain” (track from: “Black Gives Way To Blue“)
Linkin Park – “What I’ve Done” (track from: “Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keyes“)
Metallica – “The Unforgiven IIII” (track from: “Death Magnetic“)
Nickelback – “Burn It To The Ground” (track from: “Dark Horse“)

Best Rock Album:

AC/DC– “Black Ice”
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood– “Live From Madison Square Garden”
Green Day– “21st Century Breakdown”
Dave Matthews Band– “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King”
U2– “No Lines on the Horizon”

We wish you guys the best of luck! To see who’s nominated for other categories, the full list is available online. Personally I’m not too blown away by our rock album nominees this year.

Anyone else confused how Dave Matthews falls in the same category as AC/DC and Green Day?

And Nickleback under hard rock? Surely you jest…

The official show revealing the winners will be “GRAMMY Sunday,” Jan. 31. It will air on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Though Slayer postponed their UK tour just a few days ago, they are planning on hitting North America full throttle in early 2010. For the tour, they are taking Megadeath and Testament. It’s called the American Carnage Tour…and for good reason. Plus they promise to have $10 tickets available! Be prepared to have your face rocked off. Pre-sale begins November 18th.

As for the UK and European tour: it was reschedule due to vocalist and bassist Tom Araya recovering from a serious back injury. However, he’s vastly improving and they will head across the pond in March.

1/18 Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theatre
1/19 Portland, OR @ Memorial Coliseum
1/21 San Francisco, CA @ Cow Palace
1/22 Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Arena
1/23 Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
1/25 Denver, CO @ Magness Arena
1/26 Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
1/27 El Paso, TX @ El Paso Coliseum
1/29 Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless
1/31 Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium
2/01 Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Arena
2/02 Louisville, KY @ Broadbent Arena
2/04 Minneapolis, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium
2/05 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion
2/06 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena
2/09 Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theatre
2/11 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
2/13 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Center
2/14 Lowell, MA @ Tsongas Arena
2/16 Quebec City, QC @ Pavillon de La Jeunesse
2/18 London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
2/19 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
2/20 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
2/22 Moncton, NB @ Moncton Coliseum
2/23 Halifax, NS @ Metro Centre


3/07 ENG, Manchester Academy
3/08 ENG, London Forum
3/09 ENG, London Forum
3/11 FRA, Paris Bataclan
3/13 GER, Bochum Ruhrcongress
3/15 HOL, Tilburg 013
3/16 HOL, Tilburg 013
3/17 BEL, Brussels AB
3/18 GER, Herford X
3/20 GER, Berlin Columbiahalle
3/21 GER, Hamburg Docks
3/22 GER, Cologne Live Music Hall
3/24 GER, Dresden Alter Schlachtof
3/25 AUT, Vienna Gasometer Early Show
3/26 GER, Munich Zenith (transferred from Tonhalle)
3/28 ITA, Milan Alcatraz
3/29 ITA, Milan Alcatraz
3/30 SWI, Zurich Volkshaus Late Show
3/31 GER, Wiesbaden Schlachthof
4/02 ENG, Nottingham Rock City
4/03 SCO, Glasgow Barrowland
4/04 ENG, Leeds Academy
4/05 ENG, Birmingham Academy