The Big 4 Festival – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax make history in Indio

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Written by Chris Carter

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 06:29

When we wrote earlier about heavy metal gods gracing California, I didn’t realize it would be as epic of a day as it actually was. Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica joined us Saturday in Indio for a day of head banging, fist pumping, and crazy moshing. Let’s add history making to that list.

Tailgating and partying started in the parking lot as early as 11AM and there was a tiny line soon thereafter. However the show didn’t start till 4PM with doors opening at 2PM. The second the doors did open, fans rushed in by the thousands to grab their first set of many drinks and grabbed their spots at the front of the barricade.

To see lots of pictures from the crowd at the event, check out The Crowd at Big 4 Festival published earlier.

Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica touring together is nothing new. They had been all over Europe and have even had their shows broadcasted on TV and in movie theatres, missed all the shows? Maybe you were part of the reason their show on DVD, The Big 4 Live from Sofia, Bulgaria peaked at number one on the United States, United Kingdom, Austrian, and Canadian charts.

Now however was time for California to get some, and thanks to the creators of Coachella and Stagecoach Festival, Goldenvoice (AEG Live), California can celebrate. Reminisce of hipster crap from Coachella last weekend didn’t have much of an effect on this crowd – in fact, nothing would this day.

Except for maybe Anthrax. Let’s just say most of the band members seemed like they wanted to be someplace else. Sorry Joey, you seemed to be having fun…

Megadeth had a hard time getting the crowd excited after Anthrax, but I like to think some of it had to do with audio problems that seemed to affect Mustaine’s vocals. Problems aside however Megadeth killed it with classics like “Symphony of Destruction” and the crowd favorite “Holy Wars”.

As Slayer took the stage the sun was starting to set and the lights were coming on. Mosh pits could be seen throughout the crowd wherever you looked and Slayer treated them with open arms, playing hits like Black Magic, but not without some newer stuff like “Hate Worldwide” and “Americon”. Hanneman even joined the band (he is currently treating an injured arm), to complete the set with their encore performance of 'South of Heaven” and “Angel of Death”

Metallica however was obviously the reason Goldenvoice sold the estimated 65,000 tickets. The second they opened with Creeping Death, the crowd was ready to get crazy. “Metallica is with you” James Hetfield screamed into the mic, “This is history and you are part of it!”. The crowd went nuts.

From the first note you could tell Metallica went all out for their fans. I mean sure it wouldn’t have the same effect if Megadeth or Slayer had fire and fireworks as they were on while there was still daylight, but you could just feel the energy and stage presence regardless of the pyrotechnics and extras.

“You told me earlier you saved some energy for Metallica. So now we are going to use some!” James Hetfield asked right before playing “Sad But True”, and euphoria filled the outdoor venue as everybody seemed to be singing like it was their last day on earth.

Metallica didn’t have the same audio problems experienced earlier in the day – but even if they did, I don’t think it would matter much with everybody singing every single word to songs like “Fade to Black”, “Master of Puppets”, “Nothing Else Matters” and “Enter Sandman”, it’s all good.

“Is everyone ok out there? You’ve come to see the Big 4! Can you believe it? 30 years man.” Those 30 years however wasn’t without its drama though. A concert goer named Sarah talked about how Metallica alienated its fans with their anti Napster campaign some years back, but that didn’t matter here. In Indio today for the Big 4 Festival. Sarah pointed out that fans are very supportive of bands, even if they might have pirated a $0.69 cent song in the past, “look at everybody here” she said, “I bet everybody here has pirated, but you still have almost a hundred thousand fucking paying fans here”

Metallica was joined by Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth to start their encore with all bands playing "Am I Evil". Once the trio left the stage. Metallica continued their encore with “Hit the Lights”.

“The only fucking way this could get better is if they end the night with “Seek and Destory””. A fan could be heard screaming.