Around the world in 300 dates: Metallica’s black album tour – in pictures

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Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album, known to fans as ‘the black album’, helped turn the rock band into global stars. Photographer Ross Halfin accompanied them on an epic tour

Thu 20 Jan 2022 02.00 EST

• Kirk Hammett at a soundcheck in Copenhagen – the first show of the tour

  ‘I’m good at reading people,’ says Halfin. ‘When you’re up on that stage it’s not simply a matter of sticking a camera in someone’s face – you have to read the artist.’ Metallica: The Black Album in Black & White by Ross Halfin is published by Reel Art Press Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• James Hetfield, Faro, Portugal

  ‘On the tour, we would always go to places and do pictures. In Lisbon we just had a minivan and a driver and we would stop wherever we felt had a vibe … with Metallica, it’s always about the vibe’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Lars Ulrich, Faro, Portugal

  The album was a hit with music critics as well as fans. Entertainment Weekly wrote that ‘Metallica may have invented a new genre: progressive thrash’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Kirk Hammett, Faro, Portugal

  Two decades after the album’s release, Classic Rock magazine described it as ‘the absolute pinnacle of Metallica’s long and successful career’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Jason Newsted, Faro, Portugal

  The album has sold more than 30m copies to date. It was released in remastered form for its 30th anniversary this year Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Ross Halfin (left) with Lars Ulrich, Moscow

  After the Tushino Airfield show, when ‘Lars had cut his fingers from hitting the drums so hard’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• St James Club, Paris

  ‘When I look at my old photos I always look at the black and white first,’ says Halfin, ‘they stand the test of time’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• West Hollywood, first press shoot for the album

  ‘What can I say about the black album?’ asks Halfin. ‘It turned Metallica from a large garage band into an arena act, then a stadium act. It changed everything.’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Jason Newsted, Copenhagen

  Newstead gets into gear before the first show of the blockbuster two-year tour Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• James Hetfield, Turin, Italy

  Halfin says: ‘I want to give you, the audience, the idea that you are there. It’s how Lars views what I do for Metallica’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Day on the Green, Oakland Coliseum, California

  ‘Looking back at these pictures,’ remember Halfin, ‘I have a distinct memory of when they’d walk to the stage: it would be the tour manager, myself and the four of them. Now that just wouldn’t happen’ Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Photography

• Metallica
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