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JULY 2000 NEWS


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LARS' SENATE ADDRESS
07.11.00

Lars statement to the US Senate Judiciary Committee:

Mr. Chairman, Senator Leahy, Members of the Committee, my name is Lars Ulrich. I was born in Denmark. In 1980, as a teenager, my parents and I came to America. I started a band named Metallica in 1981 with my best friend James Hetfield. By 1983 we had released our first record, and by 1985 we were no longer living below the poverty line. Since then, we've been very fortunate to achieve a great level of success in the music business throughout the world. It's the classic American dream come true. I'm very honored to be here in this country, and to appear in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Earlier this year, while completing work on a song for the movie Mission Impossible-2, we were startled to hear reports that a work-in- progress version was already being played on some U.S radio stations. We traced the source of this leak to a corporation called Napster. Additionally, we learned that all of our previously recorded copyrighted songs were, via Napster, available for anyone around the world to download from the Internet in a digital format known as MP3. As you are probably aware, we became the first artists to sue Napster, and have been quite vocal about it as well. That's undoubtedly why you invited me to this hearing.

We have many issues with Napster. First and foremost: Napster hijacked our music without asking. They never sought our permission-our catalog of music simply became available as free downloads on the Napster system.

I don't have a problem with any artist voluntarily distributing his or her songs through any means the artist elects-- at no cost to the consumer, if that's what the artist wants. But just like a carpenter who crafts a table gets to decide whether to keep it, sell it or give it away , shouldn't we have the same options? My band authored the music which is Napster's lifeblood. We should decide what happens to it, not Napster -- a company with no rights in our recordings, which never invested a penny in Metallica's music or had anything to do with its creation. The choice has been taken away from us. If you're not fortunate enough to own a computer, there's only one way to assemble a music collection the equivalent of a Napster user's: theft. Walk into a record store, grab what you want and walk out. The difference is that the familiar phrase a computer user hears, "File's done," is replaced by another familiar phrase-"You're under arrest."

Since what I do is make music, let's talk about the recording artist for a moment. When Metallica makes an album we spend many months and many hundreds of thousands of our own dollars writing and recording. We also contribute our inspiration and perspiration. It's what we do for a living. Even though we're passionate about it, it's our job.

We typically employ a record producer, recording engineers, programmers, assistants and, occasionally, other musicians. We rent time for months at recording studios which are owned by small businessmen who have risked their own capital to buy, maintain and constantly upgrade very expensive equipment and facilities. Our record releases are supported by hundreds of record company employees and provide programming for numerous radio and television stations. Add it all up and you have an industry with many jobs--a very few glamorous ones like ours -- and a greater number of demanding ones covering all levels of the pay scale for wages which support families and contribute to our economy.

Remember too, that my band, Metallica, is fortunate enough to make a great living from what it does. Most artists are barely earning a decent wage and need every source of revenue available to scrape by. Also keep in mind that the primary source of income for most songwriters is from the sale of records. Every time a Napster enthusiast downloads a song, it takes money from the pockets of all these members of the creative community.

It's clear, then, that if music is free for downloading, the music industry is not viable; all the jobs I just talked about will be lost and the diverse voices of the artists will disappear. The argument I hear a lot, that "music should be free," must then mean that musicians should work for free. Nobody else works for free. Why should musicians?

In economic terms, music is referred to as intellectual property, as are films, television programs, books, computer software, video games, and the like. As a nation, the U.S has excelled in the creation of intellectual property, and collectively, it is this country's most valuable export.

The backbone for the success of our intellectual property business is the protection that Congress has provided with the copyright statutes. No information-based industry can thrive without this protection. Our current political dialog about trade with China is focused on how we must get that country to respect and enforce copyrights. How can we continue to take that position if we let our own copyright laws wither in the face of technology?

Make no mistake, Metallica is not anti-technology. When we made our first album, the majority of sales were in the vinyl record format. By the late 1980's, cassette sales accounted for over 50% of the market. Now, the compact disc dominates. If the next format is a form of digital downloading from the Internet with distribution and manufacturing savings passed on to the American consumer, then, of course, we will embrace that format too.

But how can we embrace a new format and sell our music for a fair price when someone, with a few lines of code, and no investment costs, creative input or marketing expenses, simply gives it away? How does this square with the level playing field of the capitalist system? In Napster's brave new world, what free market economy models support our ability to compete? The touted "new paradigm" that the Internet gurus tell us we Luddites must adopt sounds to me like old-fashioned trafficking in stolen goods.

We have to find a way to welcome the technological advances and cost savings of the Internet while not destroying the artistic diversity and the international success that has made our intellectual property industries the greatest in the world. Allowing our copyright protections to deteriorate is, in my view, bad policy, both economically and artistically.

To underscore what I've spoken about today, I'd like to read from the "Terms of Use" section of the Napster Internet web site. When you use Napster you are basically agreeing to a contract that includes the following terms:

"This web site or any portion of this web site may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly permitted by Napster."
"All Napster web site design, text, graphics, the selection and arrangement thereof, and all Napster software are Copyright 1999-00 Napster Inc. All rights reserved Napster Inc."
"Napster, the logo and all other trademarks, service marks and trade names of Napster appearing on this web site are owned by Napster. Napster's trademarks, logos, service marks, and trade names may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not Napster's.

Napster itself wants--and surely deserves--copyright and trademark protection. Metallica and other creators of music and intellectual property want, deserve and have a right to that same protection.

In closing, I'd like to read to you from the last paragraph of a New York Times column by Edward Rothstein:

"Information doesn't want to be free; only the transmission of information wants to be free. Information, like culture, is the result of a labor and devotion, investment and risk; it has a value. And nothing will lead to a more deafening cultural silence than ignoring that value and celebrating….[companies like] Napster running amok."

Mr. Chairman, Senator Leahy and Members of the Committee, the title of today's hearing asks the question, "The Future of the Internet: Is there an Upside to Downloading"? My answer is yes. However, as I hope my remarks have made clear, this can only occur when artists' choices are respected and their creative efforts protected.

Thanks to Metaligal for the heads up to this story. You can read the original version of this at the Senate website.




JAMES OUT IN DALLAS
07.09.00

From Metallica.com:

Metallica just announced that James Hetfield unfortunately is not well enough to play at tonight's show in Dallas, Texas. System of a Down, Powerman 5000, Kid Rock and Korn will be playing their full show.

Metallica will be back in the area for a free show (with a Ticket Stub) sometime in the near future. The date for this show will be announced later today when Lars, Kirk and Jason arrives in Dallas. The crowd in Dallas will be hearing Metallica songs as Lars, Kirk and Jason are inviting members of the other bands on the bill for some 'Tallica tunes.

Keep your Ticket Stub!




SPARTA SETLIST
07.09.00

Thanks to Russel we have the setlist for Metallica (without James Hetfield) at Sparta, KY:

Creeping Death, Metallica with Kenny Olson from Twisted Brown Trucker/Kid Rock.
Bellz - Metallica with Kenny Olson and Jason Krause from Twisted Brown Trucker/Kid Rock.
Seek - Metallica with Kenny.
Master of Puppets/Sanitarium - Metallica Jason with Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian from System of a Down.
One -Metallica with Daron and Jonathon Davis of Korn.
Korn's Blind with Lars and Kirk.
Korn's Earache My Eye (aka Cheech & Chong) with Jason Newsted.
Korn's 'Unknown Song' with Jason.
Korn's 'Unknown Song.'
Korn played Slayer's South Of Heaven with Kid Rock.
Sad But True / American Badass - Metallica with Kid Rock, Kenny and Jason.
Nothing Else Matters - Metallica with Kid Rock and Kenny.
Fortunate Son - Metallica with Kid Rock and Kenny.
Jumping Jack Flash - Metallica with Kid Rock and Kenny.
Fuel - Metallica with Kid Rock on turntables
Turn The Page - Metallica with Kid Rock
Whiplash - Metallica
Enter Sandman - Metallica with Everyone!

Lars announced August 2nd at Buckeye Lake for the make up show, but local radio was saying August 6th, so who knows.




SCHNEPF MOVED!?
07.09.00

Ticketmaster.com is reporting that the show on July 16, at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ has been moved to the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix. The date and time for the show remains the same, and all Schnepf Farms tickets will be honored at the Pavilion.

Thanks to Pablo!




JAMES OUT AGAIN
07.09.00

James missed the Kentucky show as well, again an all-star 'jam session' made up the evenings normal Metallica set.

The show in Sparta, KY on July 8th is scheduled for a "free make-up" concert on August 2nd.




METALLICA.COM UPDATES
07.08.00

The Official Metallica site has updated to confirm the story of James not making the Atlanta show. Their statement:

Members of Korn and Kid Rock, along with Jason Newsted, took over for James Hetfield tonight in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome as the Het was sidelined with a back injury and spent the evening in the hospital.

The show in Sparta, KY on July 8th is still slated to happen. Check back here for more updates on the tour and James' condition, as well as photos from Atlanta.

They've also posted some killer Members Only exclusive pictures from the Summer Sanitarium Tour and updated their listing of Members receiving tickets for the rest of the shows on the tour!




ATLANTA SHOW - METKIDKORNICA
07.07.00

Metallica was unable to perform the show in Atlanta, instead fans in Atlanta were treated to an all star 'jam session' made up of members of Metallica, Kid Rock and Korn and the rest of the bands on the bill. It is said James had an 'accident' of some sort. Look for Metallica to play a 'make up' date.

UPDATE: Metallica's make up date has been tentativly set for August 4th. HOLD ONTO YOUR TICKET STUBS! Some of the 'jam session' highlights included "Fuel" with Kid Rock on turn-table, a full rendition of "Sad But True" with Kid Rock on Vocals followed by "American Badass", and Metallica inviting an Atlanta fan onstage to sing Master of Puppets!

UPDATE #2: Steve reports: KKND 106.7 in New Orleans reports that James injured his back while jet-skiing. Apparently he has been in an Atlanta hospital all day, the DJ said that the band is taking future shows on a "play it by ear" approach.




NEWZBYTES
07.07.00

The Metallica Club has updated their Tickets area so members can look up if they received tickets for the last 4 shows of the tour.

Billboad Charts: S&M #1 Music Video Sales, I Disappear is the #2 Mainstream Rock Tracks, The 'Black Album' sits at #2 on the Pop Catalog charts, History of Rock with some Sad But True samples sits at #8, M:I-2 at #20 featuring I Disappear.

Craig reminds us: 'Marsmusic.com has posted gig reports and pictures from the first two shows of the summer sanitarium tour.'

Sonic Net reports that the falling death of 21-year-old Martin Muschette at Tuesday's concert "not appear to be the result of any foul play, in terms of him being pushed or there being an altercation involved." Muschette's death is still listed as "questionable" pending toxicology reports, a police spokesperson said




NEXT ALBUM: HARSHER & GRITTIER
07.05.00

As Metallica takes another break from its year-long sabbatical to play 14 shows across the United States, the band is already thinking about its new record next year.

After releasing four albums in four years, beginning with 1996's ``Load,'' the veteran hard rock band wants to throw the rule book out the window and approach the next one completely differently, drummer Lars Ulrich said.

The impetus is the success of the group's hit single 'I Disappear,' which the group recorded for the 'Mission: Impossible 2' soundtrack. Ulrich said the single took a week to make, from writing to mixing, and the group wants to replicate that process for an entire album: writing a few songs at a time and recording a few songs at a time.

"It was really an interesting way of doing it because the energy in the song and the energy in the process, I think became very different than the stuff that has been on all our records, so it had a much instinctive and spontaneous feel to it," Ulrich told Reuters in a recent interview.

"There's a tendency to very easily become very labored and very meticulous ... where you sit and just worry yourself because you have the time, worry yourself about these details for months and months and months," Ulrich noted.

"I want the next album to be harsher and be a little grittier in the sounds and stuff like that, just to be a little harder hitting."

But Ulrich ruled out a return to the speed metal days of early albums like 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Ride the Lightning.'

It's most likely that producer Bob Rock, who has worked with the band since its self-titled 1991 release (aka 'the black album'), will return to the helm, since he also saw the light during the 'I Disappear' session. Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield also share production chores.

"The fact that we're still a functioning band, the fact that we still f-----' speak to each other, the fact that we get dressed in the same dressing room, the fact that we stay at the same hotel, the fact that we travel together, the fact that we all f-----' get along with each other still, the fact that we are a functioning entity that's still somewhat relevant, that's what I concern myself with."

After the tour ends, Metallica will resume its break, and will "probably" get back to work in January, Ulrich said. - By Dean Goodman (Rueters)




METALLICA.COM UPDATES
07.05.00

Metallica.com has made several updates...

MTV will air a special called ALL ACCESS on July 24th that will feature footage shot at Metallica's rehearsals and the Baltimore show. A MTV special on the Summer Sanitarium tour will also air at a later time.

They've also confirmed that Lars will testify before the US Senate next Tuesday.

..and they've posted Metallica's statement regarding the fan death in Baltimore.




METALLICA STATEMENT REGARDING FAN DEATH
07.05.00

We were notified after the show of the tragedy, and needless to say, we are absolutely devastated. Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family and friends in their time of grief.

We have been told that the police are still investigating the situation, and until we know all of the facts surrounding this unfortunate death, and further comment would be purely speculative.




BALTIMORE SUN REPORT
07.05.00

From the Balitmore Sun:

A 21-year-old Connecticut man fell to his death from the upper deck of PSINet Stadium yesterday during a rock concert, police said.

Police on Wednesday identified the man as Martin Muscheet of Danbury, Conn.

Muscheet fell from an exterior railing onto the pavement outside the stadium Tuesday night during a Metallica concert, police said.

"It appears he had his legs over the railing and either fell or lost his balance," said Col. Robert Novak, a police spokesman.

Lee Stewart, a witness, said he saw the man’s leg over the railing.

"Next thing, I knew he flipped and fell head first," Stewart said.

The concert continued despite the accident.

"I don’t think most people inside realized what was going on," said concert-goer Steve Huber.

The death occurred during the Summer Sanitorium Tour, which featured the bands Metallica, Korn and Kid Rock.

Thanks to Kirin, read the whole story here.




ONE DIES AT BALTIMORE GIG
07.04.00

A person attending the Summer Sanitarium show in Baltimore was killed after falling five stories. It is unlcear if this was an accident or suicide.

More as details become available....

UPDATE Report from Randy: "I attended the show at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore,MD. The show was great my 1st Metallica show ever. Afterthe show I learned that a fan fell to his death. He fell outside the stadium so nobody in the stadium knew what happened. The police do not know if it was suicide or if the guy was pushed. I will send you's information as it is made available. Also, the Metallica fans looked out for each other during the show. As Kid Rock came on everybody was pushing for the front and a bunch of fans fell, so some guys made like a barricade and help the people get back so nothing would happen."




JAYMZ INTERVIEW
07.02.00

Today's Baltimore Sun has a story about Metallica which features an interview with James. Some cool quotes:

About Kid Rock's American Badass... "He's pretty much lifted the whole song and rapped over it," "But I guess he's honoring us in a way. Somehow, he says that song was part of his roots. So we'll take it as that, not as someone's trying to rip us off" ...has some cool qualities."

Regarding Napster.... "I really don't get that," he says. "There was actually an interview - I think it was on MTV - with this law student at one of the colleges. He was saying, 'Well, it's just a few CDs, and they've got enough money, anyway. So this is OK.'" "I'd really like to see this kid defending someone in court if he thinks that just because someone has money it's OK to rip them off. That's crazy, man."

More Napster: "They're trying to come up with 'solutions' for us, which is complete bull," he says. "We're total control freaks. We want to present our work in our way. We were never asked, 'Can we give this away for free?' So now, they're telling us, 'Eventually, you won't make money off of music that you sell. You'll make it off of T-shirts and touring.' And that's totally backwards. We're on the road promoting our music. And you never make money on the road. No matter what. Unless they'd like us to just go on the road with just a combo amp each."

Overall, a great interview with the Mighty Hetfield... check the whole thing out here. Thanks to UBQ.




NEWZBYTES
07.02.00

Mars Music, sponsor of the Summer Sanitarium Tour, has posted an interview with Jason here.

Billboad Charts: I Disappear is the #2 Mainstream Rock Tracks, The 'Black Album' sits at #2 on the Pop Catalog charts, History of Rock with some Sad But True samples sits at #6, M:I-2 at #15 featuring I Disappear.

MTV repeats the EMP Special, today at 4:00 PM EDT.. they show Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and roll part of Battery during the credits.

Setlist for the Rockingham gig is now up on our The Summer Sanitarium Tour Page!




TOUR STUFF
07.01.00

Click here to read about nine people were crushed to death at Rockskilde last night during Pearl Jam's set. With Metallica's Summer Sanitarium tour under way, and the band playing some rather large venues with some rather large opening acts, it is important for Metallica fans to look out for one another if something does happen. It takes only one person to start a riot, or something that can escalate into something worse.

This isn't meant to scare anyone, it's just a reminder that Metallica fans need to look out for one another at times. Have fun, but keep it safe!!




SUMMER SANITARIUM SHOW #1
07.01.00

Sir Paul! sends us the first info on the first show of the Summer Sanitarium....

"Here it is..Great fucken 2 hours and 15 minutes! Ill give a review of it later, I gotta be at work in 5 hours, need sleep!


Ceeping Death
Bellz
Seek & Destroy (whole, no breaks)
Fade
Fuel
Memory
Sad
Clover
King
Roam
MasterTarium
Battery
---
Nothing else matters
Disappear
One
---
Turn the page
Sandman
---
Last Caress/So What/Die Die
Thanks Paul!!

UPDATE: The Summer Sanitarium Tour Page is now up... send your reviews & Setlists!!





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