METALLICA's LARS ULRICH: Opening For THE ROLLING STONES Was 'An Inspiring And Memorable Experience'

METALLICA's Lars Ulrich says that the opportunity to open for THE ROLLING STONES nearly a decade and a half ago was "an inspiring and memorable experience."

THE ROLLING STONES invited METALLICA to support them on two dates of their "A Bigger Bang" tour in San Francisco in 2005, resulting in METALLICA's only shows that year.

Three days ago, Ulrich took to his Instagram to write: "14 years ago today, November 13, 2005 we returned to live action after almost a year away by supporting an up-and-coming British blues band called @TheRollingStones over a coupla shows in San Francisco.

"The 'St. Anger' tour finished the previous November and after some much-needed chill time, we were gearing up to start thinking about the next creative phase when we got the call.

"Up til that point, we had played with a lot of the bands that I had posters of up on my walls, including DEEP PURPLE, AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN... and the chance to put a check mark next to rocking with THE STONES at home in SF seemed way fucking fun.

"The idea of playing a coupla shows supporting, going on stage early, nothing to promote, performing a shorter set, going to my own bed at home was definitely a vibe and was a cool way to ease ourselves into the making of the next record.

"An inspiring and memorable experience!"

Earlier this year, Lars credited THE ROLLING STONES with helping bring METALLICA back from the brink after a fallout in 2004.

Lars said: "That was the last time we had a real break — we haven't shut down the band in 14 years, but we disappeared then for about a year. And then THE ROLLING STONES called us up and said, 'Come and play some shows with us in California,' and we sort of agreed you're not going to say no to THE STONES, so that was it. It gave us the way to start it back up again. Whether you're a team in an office or a bunch of dudes in a rock and roll band, at some point people have to figure out how to get along and work as a team."

This past September, METALLICA canceled its tour of Australia and New Zealand so that frontman James Hetfield could enter rehab to battle his addictions. The trek was slated to kick off on October 17 in Perth and was to include over 10 dates, with SLIPKNOT in the support slot.

METALLICA will headline five major North American festivals next year, all of which are produced by Danny Wimmer Presents. The events are Epicenter, Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple Music + Arts, Louder Than Life and Aftershock. The band will play two separate headlining sets at each stop, with a unique setlist for each performance, resulting in 10 different shows.

These shows will be METALLICA's only U.S. festival appearances of 2020. The quartet will play on Friday night and Sunday night at each event.