Click here for an update from Lars in this exclusive video

For the last few hours James, Kirk and Rob had been busily jamming with Joey Jordison from Slipknot and Dave Lombardo from Slayer. Word filtered through that Lars suffered a medical emergency and frankly, I don't like to ask too many questions when the boys are preparing to deliver in unusual circumstances. The CD players were out, the guys were ripping through jams and the clock was ticking. Atlanta 2000 Sanitarium anybody? I mean, the comparisons are too crazy, too symmetrically perfect...so did we really, ever doubt that this Metallica show would be anything less than plain goddam cool? No. Why? Because when their backs are against the wall, they ALWAYS ALWAYS deliver.

Rehearsing with Dave Lombardo (SLAYER)

In a sense, the thought of watching Dave Lombardo hammering Battery was something many have dreamt might happen in some crazy "rock swap" game, and as for Jordison, the man behind the mask, his command of the Metallicatalogue was rumored (and proven) to be second to none.

Before the guys went onstage their energy was high high high, and with the show having been delayed without announcement, James stepped out and filled in the crowd on what had been going on, informing them of the Lars situation and that the guys had some friends stepping up to fill in. Thus it was that Lombardo bashed out a brutal Battery, a crushing statement that this show was not going to do anything less than deliver. The uniqueness got even greater after Lombardo drilled out Horsemen, when Jordison appeared clad in his Slip-mask to deliver For Whom The Bell Tolls (adding his own unique twist and flavor) before tearing through Creeping Death and Seek and Destroy.

Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) stepping up to the plate

Then came my favorite moment... Flemming Larsen, Lars' tech for so many years, delivering a flawless Fade To Black, spotless, calm and with a family feeling to huge to capture...or was it watching James ask suddenly who was gonna do Nothing Else Matters behind the stage, moments before it went down, and seeing Joey, mask shining evil in the night-light, take a deep breath and step up to nail the waltzy percussion...or James beaming a grin back at Joey and chuckling "when do we get some masks?" Or was it just watching the guys step up themselves, continually delivering song after song and not losing a beat...or was it Rob making sure that all occupants of the stool were comfortable and on the count?

Fade To Black with Flemming Larsen (Lars' drumtech)

Look, I could go on and on (I know I know,hard to believe -!!), but time is running out here, the clean-up crew are creeping in and I'm losing time.
Listen.
This was not a fill-in.
These were not substitutes.
That was UNIQUE SHOW.
An EVENT.
And everyone stepped up.
Really.

This was family metal, the true way it should be, the proper Donington spirit, in many ways so much more than anyone could've expected.

There will be more news as it comes through, and ignore the rumors that will inevitably spring up until you read it here.Too many people out there wanna grab "scoops" and end up missing both the point and the facts altogether.

And right here, right now, the big story is that Metallica stepped up to support their missing brother (with the help of some friends) and that the night was yet another unique chapter of Metallihistory.

A final abiding memory?
Seeing the members of Slayer and Slipknot watching their respective drummers do the business and wearing big, fat, shit-eating grins.

A special night of metal?
Ohhhhh yes, I think so...

Steffan Chirazi
SW! Editor

Tonight's performers, Rob, Dave, Kirk, Flemming, Joey and James

SETLIST:

Battery w/ Dave Lombardo from Slayer
The Four Horsemen w/ Dave Lombardo from Slayer
For Whom The Bell Tolls w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Creeping Death w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Seek And Destroy w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Fade To Black w/ Flemming (Lars' Drum Tech)
Wherever I May Roam w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Last Caress w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Sad But True w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Nothing Else Matters w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot
Enter Sandman w/ Joey Jordison from Slipknot