Metallica Play Benefit Concert And Reveal They Will Begin Touring In October

Mitchell Peters of Billboard.biz.com reports that Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich revealed during an intimate Los Angeles benefit concert held on May 14th that the band will follow the September release of its new, as-yet-untitled album with a tour in October.

"That was the first show of the tour," announced Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who, along with his bandmates, shredded through a nearly two-hour set with such thrashy hits as "From Whom the Bell Tolls," "Fuel," "Master of Puppets," "...And Justice for All," "Enter Sandman," and "Seek and Destroy," among others.

However, the band didn't reveal any new material during its lengthy set. Nevertheless, "it feels good to play live again," singer/guitarist James Hetfield told a packed audience. "We haven't played here in a long time."

The concert was pulled together at the last minute to help raise funds for the non-profit Silverlake Conservatory of Music, which was co-founded by Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea, who joined Metallica onstage for "Fight Fire With Fire," from the band's 1984 album "Ride the Lightning."

Money raised from the concert will go toward the Silverlake Conservatory of Music's programs and operations, along with scholarships for low-income students who can't afford instruments and music lessons.

Bill White, director of development at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, tells Billboard.biz that the idea for the benefit concert came together during a board meeting when Flea offered to ask Metallica's Ulrich. As a result, "We'll probably raise over $300,000 net on this," White says. "It's a gift from Metallica to the school."

Tickets for the concert went on sale for $200 apiece, along with a limited amount of VIP tickets that ran $500. Along with its annual Hullabaloo fund-raiser, which last year featured Eddie Vedder and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music has plans to do more one-off benefit concerts in the future, according to White.

Meanwhile, Metallica will remain on the West Coast this weekend to play Tucson, Ariz.'s KFMA Day (today), KROQ-Los Angeles' Weenie Roast (May 17) and Manchester, Tenn.'s Bonnaroo Music Festival (June 13th). No other North American dates were announced at deadline, but the band has a handful of concert and festival appearances in Europe slated for August.

Here is the set list of Metallica's concert appearance:

"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Fuel"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"Sanitarium"
"...And Justice For All"
"Sad But True"
"Disposable Heroes"
"One"
"Master of Puppets"
"Battery"
"Last Caress/Green Hell" (Misfits cover)
"No Remorse"
"Enter Sandman"
"Fight Fire with Fire"
"Seek and Destroy"