While there are not many things in the music industry that haven’t been accomplished,Metallica was able to achieve something that no other musicians have. Of course, from the moment Metallica began, they stood out,shaping the metal sound of the 1980s. After that, they broke into the mainstream and redefined the sound that made them bigger than ever.
Over the years,they’ve had many moments that have put them in rarefied air. Among those is havingone of the biggest tours of the 2010s. However, it’s what they were able to accomplish that no one else has that truly sets them apart. Every year when the anniversary occurs,Metallica fans remember and rejoice in what the band did.
It remains to be seen if other artists will attempt this. Some even wonder if Metallica will try to outdo themselves by accomplishing it for a second time. Nonetheless, they’ll forever be in the history books. In fact, it actually did land them in a book asthey were put into the Guinness World Records for this accomplishment.
Metallica Set A Guinness World Record For Playing All Seven Continents
2013 turned out to be a massive year for Metallica. Not only did they release their movie,Metallica: Through the Never, but they also accomplished what no other musician hasby playing on all seven continents. While it may seem like something that at least a few acts would have achieved (or at least tried), they are the only ones to attempt this.
As for six of the seven continents,Metallica played on each one at various points in their career. A well-traveled crew of legends, by the time 2013 had come around, they had been on plenty of world tours under their belt. Always pushing boundaries, the rock icons had to set their sights on one more, going where a mere few have been able to go before.
Of course, what truly makes this difficult is the band playing in Antarctica.The continent is protected by the Antarctic Treaty System, so it takes a lot of preparation to go there. Metallica’s show took place at the Carlini Base and consisted of only 120 people. This included both researchers and winners of a sweepstakes presented by Coca-Cola.
The Antarctic Treaty System is designed to regulate international relations regarding Antarctica. This designates the continent as a scientific preserve, establishing freedom for scientific exploration.
The feat was unheard of — even for Metallica. In 2015,Guinness World Recordsimmortalized the band’s accomplishment, officially stating, “The US rockers have been recognized for being the first musical act to perform a concert on every continent.”
Metallica’s Biggest Tour Was Right Around The Corner
After literally playing all over the world and setting themselves apart from all other musicians, the question was how Metallica would follow this up. They had done so much already; it felt like things couldn’t get any bigger for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. They played a couple of tours between 2014 and 2015, butsomething was brewing.
In 2016, they kicked off theirWorldWired Tour, which coincided with their 10th studio album,Hardwired… to Self-Destruct. The record placed at number one on four differentBillboardcharts, including the coveted 200. Once again,they had a hit album, and fans flocked from all over to see the new and old tunes.
The tour became the biggest that they have put on in their career.It brought in an estimated 430 million dollars, which made it the fifth highest-grossing tour of the 2010s. Once again, the band was part of something historic, as they beat out other legendary groups such as the Rolling Stones and U2.
It’s amazing how Metallica continues to outdo themselves, but they always find a way. Even after setting a world record, they raised the bar,setting even higher standards for their future. It can be argued that the 2010s are the most successful decade the band has had, as they made themselves a key part of rock and roll history.
Will Metallica Ever Play Antarctica Again?
When it comes to their world record, of course, the intriguing part was the fact that the band was able to play in Antarctica. Since the continent is used for research,events like this are mostly unheard of. In fact, the only other live music that has been documented there was from five researchers during a special called Live Earth, who called themselves Nunatak.
In order for Metallica to perform there, it not only took planning who could attend, but also how the music was played. Even headphones were required in order to prevent noise pollution, making each part of the event’s execution painstakingly precise. With the event being so unique, many have wonderedif the band would do it again for a new group of fans.
While Metallica has continued to tour the world, Antarctica is not a place that is on their list again. The band is eyeing some other historic sites to play, butit doesn’t seem like they will be going back to the preserved continent anytime soon. There is a lot that goes into it, and perhaps the specialty of it wouldn’t be the same.
However, this unique performance has been documented by the band in many ways. Not only did they release a live album, but they also released a video about it. Now, there is no telling what the band will do next, but it wouldn’t be surprising to seeMetallica look for more things to do that could set them apart from all other musicians.
