Metallica received their 18th Grammy nomination, this time for 'The Unforgiven III' in the Best Hard Rock Performance category. If Metallica wins it will be their tenth Grammy award.

Metallica had won Best Recording Package and Best Metal Performance for 'My Apocalypse' in 2009.

Metallica's concert from July 2009 at the historic Arenes de Nimes in Nimes, France will be titled Francais Pour Une Nuit ("French For One Night") includes the full show, interviews and more is available November 23, 2009. The show will be sold outside of France via Metallica.com.

The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert Site has announced that "Ozzy Osbourne will join Metallica in their section of the show on October 30th. More special guest will be announced in the next few weeks."

UPDATE: The Rock Hall 25 site has updated that Ray Davies of the Kinks will also join Metallica onstage. The Kinks were part of the so-called 'British Invasion' of the 60's. The Kinks' guitar sound - much due to the cutting of slices into the speakers of their amplifiers - notably on the song 'You Really Got Me,' "arguably provided a blueprint for hard rock, and served as template for heavy metal." (Wikipedia)

Kirk's also mentioned Ozzy being part of the Metallica set at the Rock Hall show, he's also mentioned that Tony Iommi might join them as well (here). Metontour footage has footage of the band jamming to the Black Sabbath classic 'War Pigs' in their backstage practice space (here).

UPDATE: The Madison Square Garden website also lists Lou Reed as a guest during Metallica's set (but not Ray Davies).

The University of Virginia Police Department is seeking information that would help locate a missing person.

Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20-year-old student from Virginia Tech, was last seen on October 17, 2009 near the John Paul Jones Arena.

Morgan was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with the tan letters that spelled “Pantera” across the front, a black mini skirt with black tights and knee high black boots. She has long blond hair and blue eyes. Morgan is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 lbs.

If you have seen Morgan Dana Harrington or have knowledge of her whereabouts contact the University of Virginia Police Department at 434-924-7166.

Today marks the anniversary of the passing of Cliff Burton. Cliff was Metallica's bassist on the first three Metallica albums and a huge influence on the band's work. He was killed in a bus accident in Sweden on September 27, 1986 at the age of 24. He would have turned 47 earlier this year.

"Cliff was so completely honest to himself and the people around him. He hated all this being-put-on-a-pedestal bullshit." - Lars

"He loved music. He was really intellectual but very to the point. He taught me a lot about attitude." - James

ESP Guitars has announced that James' Truckster guitar will be available in black this fall. Hopefully, they'll be a little more affordably priced then the last couple of ESP Signature series from James and Kirk (James' Iron Cross and Kirk's latest Ouija's went for almost $10,000 each).

...and catching up...

Tickets went on sale yesterday, July 1st for the Mill Valley Film Festival at the Smith Rafael Film Center where Lars will present a special screening and discussion of "The Five Obstructions." It happens on Wednesday, September 2.

The previously mentioned DVD's of Metallica's upcoming Paris gig and already shot Mexico City show have fans scratching their heads. The Parsian show has a release date of October 19 in France (and Metallica.com)... it was already known that this DVD would be a French-only item. The Mexican show has yet to have any release date... however, Metallica.com states: "For our friends in Latin America, stay tuned for more details about the release of the Mexico City shows on DVD." Which seems to imply that this will be a Latin America release only... it was thought that this show would have a wider release (unlike the French show).

The show in Ottawa has been pushed back a couple days to make way for "very cool event coming up around that time." Speculation is that Metallica will appear at the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans.

Lamb of God will be the opening act for the fall leg of the North American tour.

An editted version of All Nightmare Long has been heard on the airways in the US. Have you heard it?