This picture here is the first one ever taken of the full complement of the Big Four of thrash metal in the same room. Tonight, June 16th, will be the first time that Anthrax, Slayer, Metallica and Megadeth play together, but for those of us not blessed enough to live in Eastern or Central Europe, the most we can do is marvel at the picture and wonder when the stars will align to bring the tour to the rest of the world.

 

The sixteen people in that picture represent twenty-six years and forty albums of groundbreaking, pioneering and legendary heavy metal. Collectively, they've played to tens of millions of people, sold hundreds of millions of albums, and have influenced hundreds of other bands and styles of heavy metal.

 

They've not always gotten along - Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, Metallica almost fell apart from infighting, Anthrax couldn't get a permanent lead singer, and Mustaine and Kerry King have made disparaging comments about everyone in the room (even their own bandmates). But, amazingly enough, once everyone realized there was something much bigger happening, the egos clammed up and the smiles took over. There were people who would have bet their life savings on the Big Four never coming together for a single picture, let alone a line of festival dates - too much bad blood, too much alcohol, too many egos. And yes, there was a lot of bad blood between these bands, and the alcohol and the egos certainly didn't help. You could be forgiven for being skeptical.

 

But stranger things have happened, and this is right up there with them. So until we read that magical headline ("Big Four Tour Worldwide Dates Confirmed"), let's all gaze in awe and wonder at (from left to right):

 

Frankie Bello (bass, Anthrax)

Tom Araya (bass/vocals, Slayer)

Rob Trujillo (bass, Metallica)

James Hetfield (vocals/guitar, Metallica)

Kirk Hammet (guitar, Metallica)

Lars Ulrich (drums, Metallica)

Kerry King (guitar, Slayer)

Dave Ellefson (bass, Megadeth)

Charlie Benante (drums, Anthrax)

Dave Mustaine (vocals/guitar, Megadeth)

Scott Ian (guitar, Anthrax)

Joey Belladonna (vocals, Anthrax)

Dave Lombado (drums, Slayer)

Rob Caggiano (guitar, Anthrax)

Shawn Drover (drums, Megadeth)

Chris Broderick (guitar, Megadeth)

 

Missing from this awesome lineup is Slayer's other guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was probably in the bar. Again.