Metallica and Greta Van Fleet Play PNC Park (Sun., 8/14/22)

Metallica has experienced ups and downs for over 35 years, a fact which makes how the band members are still  together and touring all the sweeter. Shortly before the band recorded its debut album, 1983’s Kill ’Em All, the other members fired Dave Mustaine, Metallica’s original lead guitarist, for his excessive substance abuse. (Mustaine later formed Megadeth.) The group’s third album, 1986’s Master of Puppets, was its first to go gold, but before it was certified as such, bassist Cliff Burton died in Sweden after a tour bus accident and rollover during which he was pinned under the bus. Metallica soldiered on with bassist Jason Newsted and somehow achieved even greater success with 1991’s multi-platinum The Black Album. By 2000, though, Metallica alienated some fans when it sued Napster for file-sharing. Then, four years later, the members were in therapy, as documented in the film Some Kind of Monster. All their trials and tribulations are (mostly) behind them, Their latest album is 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct. (C.M.)

Greta Van Fleet  is a melodic, hard rocking band that is very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin. Lead singer Josh Kiszka’s wailing vocals sound evocative of Led Zeppelin’s lead singer, Robert Plant, who reportedly likes the group. Some people have called out the Frankenmuth, Michigan band for those similarities. Whether they have or haven’t flown too closely to previous stars’ works, Greta Van Fleet has created music that people wanted to hear and did it well. Greta Van Fleet is composed of the brothers Kiszka—Josh, Sam (bass guitar/keyboards), and Jake (lead guitar)—and Danny Wagner (drums). The group’s name is from the name of a hometown resident, Gretna Van Fleet, who gave them her OK. They are a relatively young band, just formed in 2012, but have enjoyed great success. From the Fires, their EP which was released in November 2017, hit no. 1 on the Billboard U.S. hard rock chart and No. 4 on the U.S. rock chart. Their latest LP is Battle at Garden’s Gate which was released in 2021 and reached no. 1 on both Billboard’s Top Rock Albums  and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. Special guest is Ice Nine Kills. 6 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Side. (R.H.)

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