WATCH: Metallica cover Runnin' With The Devil in tribute to ‘Pasadena boys’ Van Halen
At their epic Rose Bowl Stadium show
Metallica played a brief cover of Van Halen’s 'Runnin' With The Devil' at their gargantuan show at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena on Saturday night (29th July).
Shortly before the heavy metal titans launched into ‘Seek & Destroy’ at the 92,000-capacity stadium, James, Kirk, Robert and Lars played a brief one-minute cover of Van Halen’s seminal 1978 classic in homage to the local “Pasadena boys.”
After James tried to replicate David Lee Roth’s screams, he told the crowd: "That's all I can sing… That's a little homage to the Pasadena boys. Sorry you had to put up with that.”
Metallica later shared professionally shot footage of the tantalising cover on their social channels, which you can watch here:
Metallica toured with Van Halen back in 1988 when the “Pasadena boys” headlined the North American Monsters of Rock Tour. Dokken and Kingdom Come were also on the mouth-watering bill.
Elsewhere during Metallica’s set at the Rose Bowl Stadium, at the end of ‘The Unforgiven’, James said “We forgive you Chester”, in reference to the deceased Linkin Park frontman who was laid to rest over the weekend.
Metallica have seven stadium dates left on the North American leg of their Worldwired Tour, with the University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona being their next pit-stop.
They come to the UK in October for completely sold out arena shows in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.