Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax: Thrash Metal's Big Four to Perform Together

Even more big metal news: The holy grail of thrash/speed metal concerts is about to come to pass, as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax prepare to gather and share the same stage for the first time in history. The legendary "Big Four" will perform at European Sonisphere festivals this summer, with two dates confirmed so far: June 16 in Warsaw and June 19 in Prague. More are promised. A press release detailing the announcement hails it as "a move that will have metalheads across the globe frenzied with excitement." That may be an understatement. As news of the shows spreads, it's not hard to imagine that the combined momentum of millions of fans throwing goat simultaneously causing a measurable wobble in the earth's rotation. 

The announcement includes appropriately heavy words of metal. Metallica's Lars Ulrich: "Who would have thought that more than 25 years after its inception, thrash metal's Big Four would not only still be around and more popular than ever, but will now play together for the first time? What a mindf**k. Bring it on!" Slayer's Kerry King: It's about f**king time this happened, and about tim the fans finally get what they want. this is f**king awesome. Anthrax's Scott Ian: "No other four bands as influential as the four of us have ever done this. Imagine if The Beatles, Stones, The Who, and Zeppelin had done shows? Or Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Motorhead? I may be getting into some rarified air here, but as a fan, that's how big I feel this it." Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: "If there are any heads left at the end of this festival that haven't banged, they don't belong there."

Will they bring this ferocious combination home for shows in the States? We'll have to wait and see.