Y'know what?
For an awards show, for a big awards show, for a big huge LA star-studded glitter-flitter-look-who's-coolest awards show, the 2003 American Music Awards were pretty damn good. And y'know who really stood up to deliver?
Our boys.

Dress Rehearsals

That's right, it felt like the underground inside the Shrine Auditorium when Metallica took up the club and swun the big, brutish object all around the theater, delivering a quite stunningly raucous rendition of 'St.Anger' (an edited one at that) and bringing some tru grit, volume and ?Metallic life to an event (and show) which hadn't been half-bad to start with.

On the Red Carpet

Indeed, couple that with longtime buddies Kid Rock winning a fat award and being there to do their bit, and you had a pretty fine day all round. The guys, despite being bleary eyed having just come in from Japan, were in surprisingly coherent and cheerful form, mood was very very positive and all round vibe running at a pretty high volume. Yes, there were some other celebs hanging around the parking lot (where the majority of band dressing room trailers were) and it has to be said that there was a great deal of general impress from inside the Metallicamp when introductions were made to Rod Stewart...and James found a moment to share a laugh and a quick chat with Weird Al Yankovic...before we forget, there was also a loud and throaty response from the fans who lined up to get into a gantry and watch the red carpet procession, some hearty souls having penned a welcome banner for our boys. Very cool!

Performing St. Anger

Was the guy's performance of 'St.Anger' live? Are you breathing now?! Hell YEAH it was live, and direct, no overdubs and plenty of power.

Did the guys have fun?
Hell YES they did, perhaps as much as any other awards performance they've put in for many years, which was a plesent surprise (let's face it, having just landed from Tokyo they'd have been forgiven if they'd have been a teeny-tiny bit off the boil but NOPE! NOT THIS LOT!)

And to cap it all off?
A multi-platinum awards presentation at a post-show party held by their label Elektra Records in the Hotel Figueroa.

A positive and cheery note on which to end this phase of the 'St.Anger' tour, with soooo much more to come, starting in a couple of weeks with Europe...keep your eyes peeled for more information and take note that a full report on the entire AMAs will appear in a future So What! magazine.

Performing St. Anger