Metallica: How Slipknot Drummer Joey Jordison Saved The Band When Lars Didn't Show Up

Slipknot and Metallica would tour together in 2004 with drummer Joey Jordison saving the band at one gig at Donnington.

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In 2003 Metallica would release their much maligned album St. ANger. The band had gone through a tumultuous time during the making of the record with frontman James Hetfield leaving the group to attend rehab to deal with substance abuse issues. A lot of the turmoil was captured on the 2004 documentary Some Kind Of Monster. A year after the album was released the band was out on tour in Europe during the summer playing their own shows and headlining a variety of festivals across the continent. At one gig in the UK drummer Lars Ulrich was a no show leaving the band in a difficult position. Do they cancel the gig or get someone to fill in? That’s what were going to discuss in today’s video.

On June 6, 2004 Metallica was set to headline the Download Festival, the UK’s biggest metal musical festival. The band had previously played Lisbon Portugal and were on there way to the UK when MTV would report that the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich was feeling under the weather, without disclosing the cause or the symptoms. Ulrich would take a detour to Germany to receive medical treatment while his bandmates headed to the UK. This wasn’t the first time Metallica dealt with illnesses or injuries that jeopordized their live gigs. 4 years earlier in 2000, frontman James Hetfield would suffer a slipped disc and the band had a revolving lineup of singers including Kid Rock and Korn’s Johnathan Davis. Then 8 years prior Hetfield would suffer serious burns to his arms during the group’s co-headlining tour with Guns N’ Roses resulting in John Marshall of Metal Church playing rhythm guitar for a handful of gigs while Hetfield was limited to vocal duties.

Download Festival organizer andy copping would recall Metallica’s infamous gig in 2004 writing on Instagram “Download 2004. The year where there was a no show from Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. I remember receiving a call telling me to go backstage where I was given the news,”
“There were two choices a) do Metallica cancel? or b) do Metallica convince other drummers on site to fill in? I suggested they cancel because I just couldn’t see b) happening, particularly as quite a few drummers that were asked said no.”
Loudersound would publish a piece by writer Alexander milas who was in attendance at the festival that year and recalled that after word spread of Lars being a no-show rumors spread amongst those in attendance about what happened. He would write “I heard Lars Ulrich jumped out of a helicopter as it was landing and disappeared into the crowd,” one allegedly in-the-know label executive tells me with all the severity of a news anchor between JD-and-Coke burps.
Other theories circulating the sardine-packed backstage bar range from death to, even worse, Lars’s departure from the band. ” he’d write.

Metallica weren’t going to let their fans down and as part of their 2004 european tour Slipknot was their opening act and Slipknot that night was also scheduled to play ahead of metallica’s headlining spot at the uk festival.

To salvage the show band would spend several hours rehearsing with several drummers from bands who were playing on the bill that night including Slipknot SLayer and Lars own drum tech. The idea that night was for several drummers to help Metallica make it through their live show. The band would show up an hour late to their gig with frontman james hetfield informing the crowd of w

Sources:

[josh_h]

Joey was one of those drummers who could probably fill in for any heavy band and actually make the band sound better. He truly was the "hero of the day" for Metallica. RIP Joey

[terrykarnowski]

I knew Joey. My Son is a huge Slipknot fan. Every time I saw him he gave me something cool to give to him from the band. He cared about his fans. What a guy.

[craigbush]

I was at that gig. Joey just totally killed it. He owned the stage that night

[jonathaniancarlin]

I was there, they were very late to the stage and the crowd was becoming agitated. Some verbally booing but all was forgive once the set started. It was a shorter than normal Metallica set but something I won’t forget because of its uniqueness.

[Jeepdad]

Always makes me tear up when I hear people honoring Joey after his death. Rip to one of the greatest drummers the worlds ever seen

[jk-]

That was one of their best performances. The band was on FIRE.

[TheRustedShackleford]

One of the coolest live Metallica shows ever! Still fun to watch

[zvendiearschficker]

It's really messed up how Joey was treated by the rest of Slipknot. They fired him as if he was a nobody. I love you Joey. You were the absolute best. There will never be another like you. You didn't deserve to be treated like that. People all grow up to die, but legends never do ❤️

[RyosukeKai]

Joey deserves more. He's a legend and hero, he influenced many musicians today (and for the future generations) His dedication, passion, soul, talent in music is really heartfelt and impressive. You will never be forgotten. The best drummer ever in the world.

slipknot=shit. They don't deserve Joey/the band he created. Its so hurtful and I'm still crying for what happened to Joey. We love and missed you Joey, I'm so sorry, people treated you like that. They're so cruel and ignorant too.

[RahulKapoor]

Many artists died over the course of my life time. But Joey’s death felt personal and close having grown up to his art.
It still makes me sad to know he is gone.
R.I.P. Brother

[vegadeth]

I saw Joey play drums with Ministry. It was by far the best I’ve ever heard them sound. He embellished a few parts which took them to a whole other level

[peterrussell]

Fair play to Joey - a true fighter in every sense of the word - I hope he’s having fun playing the big drum kit in the sky - RIP bro 🥁

[williamjosephdunn]

The footage of Dave Lombardo playing from that night is great. That band hadn't sounded that good since the late 80's and I say that as someone who saw them live when Cliff was still alive.

[josh_h]

A lot of people dogging Lars and I'm not saying he's the greatest drummer but a lot of these metal drummers did look up to Lars and were inspired by his drumming. Joey was a huge Metallica fan and couldn't believe he got the chance to fill in for one of his idols. That should tell people something.

[hikermicefrommars.]

I was at the no show Lars gig. I'll be honest I'm not a Metallica fan, and Lars plays a bit of a part in that, but watching Dave and Joey play drums for them was definitely a great novelty. It was an awesome festival back then, now like most things metal it has gone commercial and sold out. It's also far too expensive for what it is, I'd honestly rather just pay a few hundred more than the ticket price and go on holiday for two weeks somewhere nice.

[AngelPlyr]

Joey is one of does drummers that made a whole new generation to step up their game, yet humble to ask how he was doing, while he was killing it.

[SevenPain]

Joey was a all around musician he could play any instrument he could play all slipknots guitar and drum parts, He will be missed Rip Joey

[dwade]

Joey was a very underrated drummer. Lots of passion and influenced millions. R.I.P. 🤟

[dennisperin]

He was so excited, so was Jame’s his look on his face as he realizes Joey is all over that song! Awesome! Lombardo was awesome as well

[lucaswedderburn]

Joey will always be one of my favorite drummers, he’s a good guy before he’s a drummer which I can respect. Also he’s just a beast on the drums. R.I.P. king