It was the worst kept secret at SXSW but tonight it came to fruition. Metallica played Stubbs BBQ in Austin, Texas.
This was Metallica as you have never seen them before and will never see them again, in front of 2,100 fans.
Outside, an estimated 5,000 fans that could not get it surrounded the block and filled the streets around the venue just to listen.
Metallica did the one-off gig to launch Guitar Hero: Metallica, due at the end of the month.
"We're a young band from Norway and want to get signed," James Hatfield said connecting with the theme of SXSW and why most acts attend.
But this was not any young unsigned band. This is a band that has sold more than 50 million albums.
Here is the setlist from tonight's show:
Creeping Death (from Kill Em All, 1983)
For Whom The Bell Tolls (from Ride The Lightning, 1984)
Harvester Of Sorrow (from And Justice For All, 1988)
One (from And Justice For All, 1988)
Broken, Beat & Scarred (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
Cyanide (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
Sad But True (from Metallica, 1991)
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (from Master of Puppets, 1986)
Master Of Puppets (from Master of Puppets, 1986)
Blackened (from And Justice For All, 1988)
Undercover.com.au