Latest news with #Metallica
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Colin Sheridan: Bloom is the crowning jewel of our capital city
Ah, Bloom! That annual horticultural hootenanny where the scent of freshly turned soil mingles with the aroma of artisan sausage rolls, and where the only thing more abundant than the flora is the flurry of floppy hats. This year, Bord Bia Bloom 2025 blossomed once again in Dublin's Phoenix Park, transforming 70 acres into a veritable Eden of eco-consciousness, culinary delights, and enough garden gnomes to march on the Aras and stage a coup. The earth laughs in flowers, so said Ralph Waldo Emerson, yesterday, it was in stitches. First, an admission of guilt. As a novice, the name of this festival confused me. Bloomsday falls on June 16 each year. That celebration of Joycean pomp is no relation to Bord Bia Bloom, but the timing and title caught me a little off guard. Were there enough Ulysses nuts to warrant a five-day celebration in the largest public park in any capital city in Europe? No, it turns out, there isn't. Which is a relief. This is something else entirely. It's reductive to compare festivals — each lives and dies on its own merits — but given the scale and logistical footprint of Bloom, the National Ploughing Festival is an obvious and worthy inspiration for Irelands premier gardening and horticultural festival. Beginning on Thursday and running throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, Bloom will have attracted over 120,000 punters through its gates by the time the last tent is collapsed on Monday. If the ploughing is Glastonbury, Bloom is Electric Picnic. The setting is majestic and the mood more than a little mischievous. The variety on display from the moment you enter is so rich it'd make a willow weep. Puns aside, Bloom means business. I'm no sooner in the gate but I'm watching the Ballymaloe crew do a cooking demo on the Dunnes Stores stage. Chef Neven Maguire is hanging in the wings signing autographs like he's a member of Metallica. Maisie Carton, aged 15, from Dundrum, was prepared for moody weather in the Phoenix Park. Picture: Moya Nolan If there are politicians about, they are keeping a low profile. The weather, too, is appropriate; wet on Thursday, Friday brings dark clouds broken up by brilliant sunshine. Good gardening weather, right? Weather so rich you can feel the grass grow beneath your feet. Excited school kids follow patient teachers like mini climbers trailing their sherpa. Grownups who should know better sip Aperol spritz from recyclable plastic cups. With a taste of summer already lingering in the back of our throats, the timing of Bloom could not be more apposite. The heart of the festival lies in its show gardens — 21 verdant visions ranging from the sublime to the surreal. Take, for instance, the 'Make A Wish Foundation Garden' by Linda McKeown, a space so enchanting it could make a grown man weep into his compost. Then there's the 'GRÁ' garden by Kathryn Feeley for Dogs Trust, a canine-centric paradise where even the shrubs seem to wag their leaves in approval. Not to be outdone, the 'Tusla Fostering Garden' by Pip Probert offers a vibrant tapestry of colours and textures, symbolising the diverse journeys of foster families. Bloom, though, is not just about seasoned green thumbs; it's also a fertile ground for budding gardening superstars. The 'Cultivating Talent' initiative, now in its third year, continues to nurture and showcase the next generation of garden designers. This year's standout is Dr Sarah Cotterill — an assistant professor at UCD — whose 'Into the Woods' garden pays homage to Ireland's Atlantic rainforests, proving that even civil engineers can have a soft spot for ferns. Billy Alexander of Kells Bay House and Gardens in Kerry brought his Chelsea Flower Show-winning fern garden to Bloom. Picture: Moya Nolan For those of us whose idea of gardening involves little more ingenuity than picking herbs for a G&T, the Food Village offers enough distraction to fill a day. I unwittingly followed one chap who easily reached his daily calorie quota by exclusively eating free samples. It was an admirably frugal tactic, if a tad unnecessary. Unlike other festivals, the food was ample and reasonably priced. The village — which features nearly 100 Irish producers — is a smorgasbord of local delights. I'd eaten two gourmet burgers and a hot dog before lunchtime. Not every day in the trenches is like this, and this one-man army marches on its stomach. The food stages are accessible and unfussy — culinary luminaries like Neven, Darina Allen, and Fiona Uyema are on hand to whip up some dishes that would make an intermittent faster reconsider their life choices. The atmosphere is collegiate, the food divine. Sure, there are plenty of healthy options on display, too, but Bloom is not the space to suddenly become precious. There is lots of cream and butter, and the fun and food police are conspicuous in their absence. A key theme running throughout the festival is sustainability, with the Sustainable Living Stage hosting 40 talks on topics ranging from food waste to natural skincare hacks. The festival walked the walk — quite literally — by offering free shuttle buses, ample bicycle parking, and ensuring all food and drink packaging was compostable or recyclable. There were even volunteers on hand at each bin to advise you on what goes where. Keen not to take itself too seriously, Bloom isn't just for the horticulturally inclined; it's a family affair. The Budding Bloomers area offered a range of activities for the young and the young at heart, from bug workshops to interactive performances. Chef Tricia Lewis giving a cookery demonstration to a crew of hungry festivalgoers. Picture: Moya Nolan For those looking to bring a piece of Bloom home, the Grand Pavilion and Plant Emporium offered everything from handcrafted garden sculptures to rare plant species. It's the kind of place where you go in for a packet of seeds and come out with a bonsai tree and a newfound appreciation for macrame rope. In its 19th year, Bord Bia Bloom continues to be a testament to Ireland's love affair with all things green and growing. It's a safe, creative space where gardeners, foodies, and families converge to celebrate the simple joys of nature, nourishment, and community. In a time when the deforestation of the island is a hot topic, Bloom offers an antidote to the doom and gloom that can sometimes suffocate green-adjacent conversations. The jewel of the crown of this festival, however, is not any one of the celebrity gardeners, chefs or even Juniperus Communis on display. It's not even the extra-mature cheeses, of which I consumed quite a few. No, it is unquestionably the venue. The Phoenix Park frames this event and makes it a masterpiece, a celebration of nature its creators and organisers can absolutely be proud of. Verdant and resplendent, the vastness of the park itself makes access and egress easy. The walled gardens within the festival compound act as a spine for a sprawl that is beautifully organised, but never contrived. Great oak trees provide shelter from the infrequent showers. The grass acts as a quilt to lie on and bask in the brilliant sunshine. Just outside the fence, a herd of fallow deer skip by, as if curious about the din inside. There is a lot wrong with our capital city, and, understandably, we spend plenty of time talking about it. Bloom is an example of something done incredibly right. A festival of nature, food, colour, and life, hosted in a public park at an incredibly reasonable price. Accessible to everybody, and not a Joycean scholar in sight.
Forbes
17 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Metallica's Number Of Platinum Hits Explodes
Metallica has ranked as one of the bestselling rock bands of all time for decades, but the group's commercial success has largely been centered around albums, not singles — at least as far as certifications are concerned. For an act that has remained hugely popular for so long, many might be surprised to learn that the rock outfit claimed only a relatively small number of RIAA-certified hits — meaning tunes that have been named gold or platinum in the U.S. – until recently. That has changed, as Metallica scores dozens of new honors from the music industry organization, and in one fell swoop, the band proves once again just how massively popular its back catalog remains. Before May 28, when the RIAA handed down a new swath of certifications to Metallica, the band had only ever scored one platinum-certified hit in the U.S. 'Enter Sandman' was named a gold smash in 2008 and a platinum success in 2009. Now, it has advanced to nine-times platinum status, which means it has shifted nine million equivalent units in the U.S. One more of these awards, and it will become the rock outfit's first diamond-certified tune — a prestigious honor that is surely within reach. Nine other smashes by Metallica earn some kind of platinum status, with many moving up from gold, which any piece of music reaches after half a million units shifted. Some had never claimed any certification before. 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' 'Master of Puppets,' 'Fade to Black,' 'Sad but True,' and 'The Unforgiven' all move up from gold to multi-platinum status. The greatest gainer of that bunch is one that jumps from half a million units to five million, or quintuple platinum. Several others reach the triple platinum tier, and the last three are now double platinum successes. Three other cuts — 'Seek & Destroy,' 'Turn the Page,' and 'Wherever I May Roam' — jump from no recognition to platinum, as they have now moved at least one million equivalent units in the U.S. alone. At the same time, 13 songs by Metallica snag their first plaques and are named gold-certified wins. That roundup includes 'Battery,' 'Blackened,' 'Creeping Death,' 'Don't Tread on Me,' 'Hardwired,' 'Hero of the Day,' 'I Disappear,' 'King Nothing,' 'Ride the Lightning,' 'The Four Horsemen,' 'The Memory Remains,' 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium),' and '...And Justice for All.'
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Please don't let it be true' cry fans as Metallica tickets go on sale for major Dublin summer gigs
METALLICA fans have been crying out for more dates after general sale for their Dublin gigs were nabbed in minutes. The legendary heavy metal band are coming back with a bang next year as they bring their M72 World Tour to Aviva Stadium. 2 Metallica will play two nights in Dublin next summer 2 Tickets for their one-of-a-kind gigs went on general sale this morning The 90's rockers are set perform two The musicians promised to keep their No Repeat Weekend tradition and each show will feature a unique setlist and support line-up - so hardcore fans are in for a treat! Pantera and Avatar will be supporting on Friday, June 19, while Gojira and Knocked Loose are the special guests on Sunday, June 21. Tickets for the gigs went on general sale this morning at 10am, and while some fans managed to nab tickets, others were sadly left with nothing. READ MORE IN METALLICA Fans were able to purchase a two-day ticket as well as single-night engagements. However, disappointed fans took to social media to express their rage when tickets sold out in minutes. While few lucky fans expressed their glee in securing a ticket to the hottest gig of 2026. One fan wrote on Twitter: "Most stressful week of my life trying to get Metallica tickets." Most read in Music Stephen said: "Scoring tickets for Metallica next year has perked me up today." Gabby added: "Easily winning the best daughter award because I just got my dad pit tickets for Metallica." Metallica's The Black Album: A Record-Breaking Journey While Nicky remarked: "Will there be more date added, need these for my mam." Taylor exclaimed: "I can't get Metallica tickets they sold out it 10 minutesss." And Cathal posted: "Metallica tickets already sold out, please don't let it be true." Since opening in April 2023 in Amsterdam, M72 has seen Metallica play to around four million fans. The 2026 world tour will The band will also be performing in Romania , Poland , Switzerland , Italy , Scotland , Wales and Their last show is in London on July 5, 2026. But, will you be attending the rockers big gig in Dublin next summer ?
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Dave Mustaine claims he was left without credit for songs that 'made' Metallica
Dave Mustaine has claimed he penned "a lot of" music that "made" Metallica. Before he co-founded thrash metal band Megadeth, Mustaine was the lead guitarist for Metallica, though he was dismissed from the band before their debut album in 1983. In a recent interview, the 63-year-old rocker admitted he was left "p***** off" after the band allegedly went ahead and used his riffs - despite him telling them not to use his music. Asked whether it was his booze habit that led to his departure, Mustaine told 'The Shawn Ryan Show': "We all drank. That's why they called it Alcoholica. I mean, they didn't call it Dave-Alcoholica. We all drank. And they continued to drink like that even after I was gone. But that was, I think, the beginning of the end.' Mustaine then shared that he had left Metallica with a tape of his riffs. He went on: 'Just me playing and playing and playing… We took that tape player and the reel of tape with us out to New York. 'We did two shows out there, and after those two shows, they woke me up one morning and said, 'Look, you're out of the band.' 'And I said, 'What are you talking about?' 'You're out of the band.' I said, 'No warning? No second chance? You're not gonna give me a warning? You're just gonna kick me out?' And I thought that was unfair. And it showed a grotesque lack of character. And so that p***** me off and was a huge part of the fuel. 'But at the time, I was really mad and I didn't wanna forgive them for what they did. 'And I told them when I left, 'Do not use my music. And of course they used it.' Mustaine claims Metallica tracks such as 'Ride The Lightning', 'The Call Of Ktulu', 'Phantom Lord', 'Metal Militia', 'Jump In The Fire', and 'The Four Horsemen' contain his riffs. He added: 'And I wrote a bunch of Leper Messiah [on Metallica's third album, Master Of Puppets] too. They didn't give me credit on that. 'You listen to the riffs, you know they're my riffs. It's, like, you think I'm gonna all of a sudden hear my riff and say, 'That's not me.' So, yeah, I wrote a lot of their music that made them, and all the solos on that first record were mine – the best Kirk [Hammett, Mustaine's replacement] could try and copy them.'
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dave Mustaine says Metallica stole ‘Enter Sandman' riff from another band
Dave Mustaine, frontman of Megadeth and former Metallica guitarist, has reignited a long-running controversy by accusing his former band of lifting the signature riff from their most popular hit, 'Enter Sandman,' from a lesser-known thrash act. In a recent appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show, Mustaine claimed that Metallica's 1991 hit bears a striking resemblance to 'Tapping Into the Emotional Void,' a track by Los Angeles crossover thrash band Excel released just two years earlier. 'Hell, their biggest song, 'Enter Sandman' — go look up the band Excel right now,' Mustaine said. 'Look up their song, I think it's something 'Into the Unknown.' Pretty similar.' The track in question appears on 'The Joke's on You,' Excel's second studio album. Though the band never filed a lawsuit, similarities between the two songs have fueled speculation for decades. 'A lawsuit, unfortunately, sucks everything else out of your life,' Excel's then-manager Jane Hoffman told the Los Angeles Times in 1991. Metallica co-manager Cliff Burnstein said at the time that he had never heard the Excel track, though he was familiar with the band. Mustaine, who was dismissed from Metallica in 1983 before the band recorded its debut album, has a history of accusing his former bandmates of using his material. 'I told them when I left, 'Do not use my music.' And of course they used it,' he said, citing songs like 'Ride the Lightning,' 'The Call of Ktulu' and 'The Four Horsemen.' 'I wrote a bunch of 'Leper Messiah,' too,' Mustaine added. 'They didn't give me credit on that. You listen to the riffs, you know they're my riffs.' He first raised the Excel comparison more than 20 years ago, and the claim continues to resurface. In 2023, 'Enter Sandman' surpassed 1.6 billion streams on Spotify, securing its place in the platform's '1 Billion Club.' Earlier this month, the track headlined Metallica's first-ever show at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium — a fitting location, as the song has famously accompanied the Hokies' football entrance for nearly 25 years, even causing minor seismic activity. 'Enter Sandman,' which debuted on Metallica's self-titled 1991 release, also known as 'The Black Album,' remains a staple of the band's live performances. Metallica — consisting of frontman James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo — is currently touring North America on its 'M72 World Tour.' The band is scheduled to perform at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on June 20 and 22.
