Metallica Give Back to Ireland + Get Picnic Basket From U2
After the band's concert at Slane Castle in Ireland this past weekend, Metallica donated to charities in the country that benefit the homeless and underprivileged children. Before the show, the group received a warm welcome from Ireland's biggest rock music export, U2, in the form of a pre-loaded picnic basket.
It all surrounded the start of Metallica's current "WorldWired Tour" leg, which commenced with the concert Saturday (June 8). It picked up where the veteran thrash act left off last month with shows in Italy, Switzerland and France. See the photos and watch Metallica's recap video down toward the bottom of this post.
"This leg of #WorldWired kicked off with two donations," the band shared Sunday (June 9) with some pics of the charity visits. "Thank you to everyone who came out for #MetAtSlaneCastle last night for helping raise money in support of the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People and @ISPCCChildline."
The Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People serves breakfast everyday for around 250-300 people in need. The ISPCC is Ireland's child protection charity, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The donations from the band's proceeds were made via their own All Within My Hands Foundation, which this year held its Second Annual Day of Service in the U.S. on May 22.
As for the concert itself, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich described the electric atmosphere. He went on to thank the 8th Marquess Conyngham, Irish nobleman Henry Vivien Pierpont Conyngham, who owns Slane Castle.
"Slane Castle has been rocked..and what an unbelievable vibe!," Ulrich wrote. "As incredible as we were told to expect...the second we stepped on stage and took it all in, the Irish fans, the castle, the bowl like setting, we knew this was other worldly. What a privilege and an honor to play this legendary venue.. Thank you Lord Henry for having us, and thanks to everyone who came from near and far!"
Slane Castle is an iconic landmark in Ireland, and beginning in 1981, they started having music concerts at the venue. However, due to the historic nature of the grounds, there are typically a very limited number of shows held there, usually reserved for top echelon acts. Metallica follow in the footsteps of U2, the Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Oasis, Bruce Springsteen and more.
According to further social media posts from Metallica members, Irish rockers U2 welcomed the band to their home country with their own brand of salutations. That is, they sent Metallica a fancy picnic in a basket. In return, guitarist Kirk Hammett thanked U2 members for the "classy" greeting gift.
"And thank you to @u2 - #classy - for the Greetings @Metallica @larsulrich #metallica #Repost @larsulrich with We are in picnic heaven thanx to our friends in @U2! An honor to be in your hometown!," Hammett posted.
See Metallica's 2019 European "WorldWired Tour" dates here.
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