----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log number 2: Starski's account of the day at Wembley. 

Having been inspired by the climate change concert we saw the boys at the day before, we decided to set off from Steve’s house in 3 cars rather than just the two we used the day before (colour our world blackened…eeek) and set off down the A1 to Wembley. 

After a bit of road rage, Steve cutting up his 5th car and forgetting to set the sat nav…again.. we were soon to arrive in cannon’s park for steve to complete the trip with (as stu describes so well) a clutch destroying exercise in how not to parallel park. 

We take the tubular bell to Wembley and start to queue up in various interchangeable locations (organization was like a dog’s large intestine) hoping for a wristband for the pit. Finally after an enjoyable 3-4h wait we were in and enjoying Mastodon from the pit area. They were V.heavy. 

Machine Head played a killer set and Imperium started one of the most insane circle pits I’ve ever seen. Hundreds of people circling round the pit area like a tornado of human meat.  The insanity continued after the set as Triggers recollection of him trampling some weaker Mosher was rudely interrupted by a small glass JD bottle… hitting him on the head and causing profuse bleeding…. Bastards. Trip to first aid room for him then. 

The day turned to reflection.. food, praying to the gods we didn’t get the entirety of M.O.P. again and seeing Hector who I haven’t seen in years. ... Bloody hell he hadn't seen me hair cut... from long to shorter...that was ages ago. Oh yeah and a band called HIM played and were almost universally hated... Jesus. 

Reflection lasted about 2 minutes when the pure psychology of seeing your fav band live kicked in. We made our way down early and got about 6th row for a killer set. The set list was awesome.

Creep killed any amount of residual pussyness still in the air from the HIM show and Bellz pretty much gave me a new frame of reference to the words 'heavy as F&*K'. Sad early was cool and as Disposable kicked in, the air was lifted by the knowledge that the whole of puppets was left back stage and still packed away. 

Justice was amazing. Sorry but to all the people who might think it was a bit long, or not a classic, go find a mans arse cos that song is how it should be done.... sways of riffing and note perfect soloing pleasuring the ear like an acoustic Reiki massage. Nearly cried during Orion and Fade to Black did little to make me feel less emotional. Puppets cleansed the emotional pallet like a brick through a brand new Mercedes C-class, battery pummelled the crowd into a fit of frenzy... there was no letting up tonight. The 1st real break came at this juncture and when No leaf intro began to play... god I was in 7th heaven... brilliant brilliant song. I loved this show it was my 25th I bloody loved it.... classic 3 came, Whiplash and Seek finished off after another brief interlude.... man o man I could not complain 1 bit. 

We headed back at this point snaking through the crowds like eels in a vat of KY, Mike nearly treating one objector to the full RAF training in the face! Police enjoyed the display Mike put on and congratulated him with a stern ticking off over his megaphone. 

We finally get to the cars and the usual feed began. Steve does talk absolute dog shit to any proprietor of a kebab establishment! “Make it big, big, I'm a big eater, put on lots of sauce” he yells”. 

Anyway brilliant day! 

Off home we trot. Thank you Metallica. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log number 3: TheJohn's account of the day at Wembley.

I hope my employers will forgive me being "ill" on Sunday but any trouble I may possibly get in was well worth it.

We left home about 10o clock ish and went to pick a mate who was coming along. Of course cranking some sweet Metallica tunes on a mix CD i made earlier in the day, blaring out to tell London metallica are coming to tear them a new arsehole! Got to Wembley about one o clock and encountered the first of some annoyances - the car parks did not open until three hours before the first band came on so we had to go and sit outside a shopping centre for an hour before parking but it was ok as we met up with my mates daughter and boyfriend before they went in.

We parked the car in the first row of cars in the car park when they opened which was the furthest from the exit as possible! but oh well. It was twenty five quid to park your car or $50 in american money!

The stadium itself is very impressive. It is physically enormous and is modern and clean in its looks while the place around it is a dump. (hey it is London). Access by road was appalling as you had to drive through an industrial estate with narrow roads.

We then wandered up to the main arena and got some merch which at 18 quid for a shirt was better than the twenty it is usually at a gig. I got the shirt with the pictures of the boys on which was pretty cool and that now increases the number of Metallica shirts I own to a grand number of four.

Then the major mishap occurred. Ticketmaster printed the tickets with the letter of your designated entrance on but put the wrong letter on our tikets so we ended up having to join a huge queue to get on the pitch. We only queued for about thirty five minutes though which was not too bad in reality.

Went in and down onto the pitch and in true style we all had to eat some of the grass poking up between the covers! Yeah I ate some Wembley Turf!

It was the first concert i have been to in a stadium and the sheer size and scale of Wembley it breathtaking (well it is the largest covered stadium in Europe).

Mastodon were up first and their brand of progressive metal was sadly let down by dire sound which made them sound like a loud drone but it was a good thirty minute opener even thought the crowd did not really react to them.

Bang on time Machine Head came on and played a shortened version of Clenching the Fists of Dissent to open - gotta love the riff in that song as well as Halo, Imperium, Old, Davidian and another i did not recognise. I must say they were better than at Download with an improved sound and they are always good to see.

Why HIM played i will never know (although I spose Metallica likes to take rubbish bands on tour, just look at the support for the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2000 - Korn, S.O.A.D., slipknot, Deftones)

Many took the time to visit the other facilities on offer. for starters there were not enough toilets but at least they were clean and still new. The food however was a rip-off, £6 for a pie or £3.90 for a plain old hotdog, needless to say we waited until the end of the concert for some eats.

In the build up for Metallica the people in the stands were doing Mexican waves the entire way around the stadium which was pretty cool to see how excited everyone was in anticipation. Eventually AC/DC "Its a long way to the top" came on and we knew the boys were only moments away from coming on. the Ecstasy of Gold intro tape is of course as spine tingling as ever.

First out the gate was the titanic Creeping Death which suffered some technical gremlins as you could not hear kirks solo but they were quickly banished and the boys then thrashed their way through a set of the hits and some old stuff and rare gems like the Disposables, Orion and And Justice for All sounding as good as when they were written.

A highlight was when Rob played his bass like the bongos treating us all to some monster slap bass. Also the crowds singing on The Memory Remains was so beautiful and James and Lars looked like they were going to cry. It certainly tells me that the boys have turned over a new chapter and I am sure they will go to new heights with the new album (which I am sure all you doubters will be rather good)

The first encore saw gargantuan rendition of One and Enter Sandman were amazing with some cool pyrotechnics but were small potatoes compared to the balls to the wall back to back thrash attack of Whiplash and Seek and Destroy. I was stoked to hear Whiplash after it was omitted from the first time I saw them as it is in my opinion the greatest thrash metal song ever!

After the end Lars promised a new tour along with the new album next year so all I say is roll on 2008 cos I cant wait!

The concert was easily better than the first time I saw them by far and anyone says they won't go and see them for whatever reason is missing out and I would even say it was the best concert I have ever been to. Although I must admit I have not been to a lot of them!

Come back soon boys we will miss you!