Watch CBS News

Metallica Premieres Motion Picture In San Francisco

Metallica In San Francisco
(L-R) Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Robert Trujillo of Metallica (credit: C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

 

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) - It's been 22 years since Metallica hit the charts with one of their best known songs "Enter Sandman" and on Monday night the guys walked the red carpet in San Francisco.

KPIX 5's Joe Vazquez shows us how the Bay Area band has gone from making heavy metal music to making a movie:


It's not just a concert movie. It's a 3-D heavy metal explosion. While 24 cameras simultaneously capture the band performing their epic hits, the film called "Metallica: Through The Never" actually has a plot. A young roadie is sent out on an errand that turns into a post-apocalyptic odyssey.

"We consider ourselves a Bay Area Band." guitarist Kirk Hammet said during the films premiere at the Metreon. "…and so of course we're going to have our U.S. Premiere here in the Bay Area."

Three of the four members of Metallica live in the Bay Area. They walked the red carpet and answered reporter's questions, all before their film premiered at the Metreon in San Francisco.

The big question is "Why would a band that won 9 Grammys and sold more than a hundred million albums worldwide risk millions of dollars of their own money to put out a feature film?" Lars Ulrich, the band's drummer said "We have absolutely no answer to that! But once we figured it out, we'll let you know, first. But three years ago it seemed like a really good idea. And it's been one fun, crazy, cooky ride ever since."

Metallica Through the Never - Official Theatrical Trailer [HD] by Metallica on YouTube

One major movie highlight is a mind-blowing electric chair based on the band's second album, 1984's Ride The Lightning. "This is the most dangerous stage that has ever been" exclaimed lead singer James Hetfield. The filmmakers worried that the lightning they generated would actually strike the band or crew. Vazquez asked "Did we make it through without anybody dying?" Hetfield replied "It's not over yet. It is 3-D, not 4-D where electricity comes out to the audience."

VIDEO: On The Red Carpet w/ Franco Finn
James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett of Metallica


 
Metallica: Through The Never in theaters September 27.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.