Wherever We May Roam (mentioned by band members in interviews as Wherever I May Roam ) was a concert tour by the American heavy metal band Metallica in support of their eponymous fifth studio album (commonly known as The Black Album ). It began in autumn of 1991. The North American legs ran through summer 1992, followed by the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour , the Wherever We May Roam European leg, and finally the Nowhere Else to Roam tour of smaller markets in North America, Mexico, Asia, Australia, South America, Europe and Israel, ending in the summer of 1993.
Wherever We May Roam Associated album Metallica Start date August 1, 1991 End date December 18, 1992 No. of shows224
These initial North American shows took place in arenas, with multiple dates in largely populated areas not uncommon. The band was at a commercial peak, following the release of their fifth and most commercially successful album Metallica and its breakthrough hit "Enter Sandman ". The leg of the tour overlapped with the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert , at which Metallica performed a short set.
The 1991 European leg was part of the Monsters of Rock festival. The last concert of that leg, held on September 28, 1991, at Tushino Airfield in Moscow, was described as "the first free outdoor Western rock concert in Soviet history" and had a crowd estimated between 150,000 and 500,000 people,[ 1] [ 2] with some unofficial estimates as high as 1,600,000.[ 3] On the North American leg, the January 13 and 14, 1992, shows in San Diego were later released in the box set Live Shit: Binge & Purge ,[ 4] while the tour and the album were later documented in A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica .[ 5]
During the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour , Hetfield suffered second and third degree burns to his arms, face, hands, and legs during a live performance of the introduction of "Fade to Black ".[ 4]
First typical setlist
Second typical setlist
The show
The band dispensed with supporting acts on the tour, billing it on tickets as "An Evening with Metallica / No Opening Act". Instead, a video presentation was shown before the concerts actually started which lasted about 20 or 25 minutes. Included might be clips of local sights near the venue, Metallica shopping in local stores, roadies prepping the arena, Lars Ulrich walking around backstage giving introductions and reciting band history, or other band members engaging in various hijinks. The video would conclude with a montage of "Enter Sandman" with film clips of Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .
Setlists consisted of a mixture of Metallica (The Black Album) material with fan-favorite songs from their first four albums. Shows were typically three hours long.
The stage itself was a diamond form, with a number of singing and playing positions that would allow band members to rotate around. Two drum kits were typically setup on opposite sides of the stage, with the ability to lower the kits down below the stage or raise it to the stage itself, as well as move the kits around to different positions on the stage. Some selected fans were located in a pit inside the stage area dubbed the "Snakepit" by the band.
At different points in the show, individual solo slots were offered up, typically a bass solo, a guitar solo, then later a drum solo. The drum slot was often the most popular, with James Hetfield often taking a seat behind the second kit, dueling with Ulrich. Drum parts from other bands such as Slayer might be quoted, or Kirk Hammett might appear to play a bit of "Smoke on the Water " along with the drums. The bass solos often included segments with the guitars.
Tour dates
List of 1991 concerts
Date
City
Country
Venue
August 1, 1991
Petaluma, California
United States
Phoenix Theater
August 2, 1991
August 10, 1991
Copenhagen
Denmark
Gentofte Stadion
August 13, 1991
Chorzów
Poland
Silesian Stadium
August 17, 1991
Castle Donington
England
Donington Park
August 22, 1991
Budapest
Hungary
Nepstadion
August 24, 1991
Munich
Germany
Galopprennbahn Riem
August 25, 1991
Basel
Switzerland
St. Jakob Stadium
August 27, 1991
Berlin
Germany
Waldbühne
August 28, 1991
August 30, 1991
Hasselt
Belgium
Domein Kiewit
August 31, 1991
Hanover
Germany
Niedersachsenstadion
September 1, 1991
Nijmegen
Netherlands
Stadion de Goffert
September 7, 1991
Mainz
Germany
Finthen Airfield
September 8, 1991
Oldenburg
Weser-Ems-Halle
September 11, 1991
Graz
Austria
Liebenauer Stadium
September 14, 1991
Modena
Italy
Festa de l'Unità
September 17, 1991
Dortmund
Germany
Westfalenhallen
September 18, 1991
September 21, 1991
Paris
France
Hippodrome de Vincennes
September 24, 1991
Barcelona
Spain
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
September 28, 1991
Moscow
Soviet Union
Tushino Airfield
October 12, 1991
Oakland, California
United States
Oakland Stadium
October 29, 1991
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria Civic Center
October 30, 1991
Madison, Wisconsin
Dane County Coliseum
November 1, 1991
Muskegon, Michigan
L. C. Walker Arena
November 2, 1991
Auburn Hills, Michigan
The Palace of Auburn Hills
November 3, 1991
November 5, 1991
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bradley Center
November 6, 1991
Des Moines, Iowa
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
November 8, 1991
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Target Center
November 9, 1991
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth Arena Auditorium
November 10, 1991
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Five Seasons Center
November 12, 1991
Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena
November 14, 1991
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Maple Leaf Gardens
November 15, 1991
November 17, 1991
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal Forum
November 18, 1991
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa Civic Centre
November 19, 1991
Quebec City, Quebec
Colisée de Québec
November 21, 1991
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
November 22, 1991
Indianapolis, Indiana
Market Square Arena
November 24, 1991
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis Arena
November 25, 1991
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
November 27, 1991
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha Civic Auditorium
November 28, 1991
Kansas City, Missouri
Kemper Arena
November 30, 1991
Richfield, Ohio
Richfield Coliseum
December 1, 1991
December 3, 1991
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
December 5, 1991
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont Horizon
December 6, 1991
December 7, 1991
December 18, 1991
Uniondale, New York
Nassau Coliseum
December 19, 1991
December 20, 1991
December 22, 1991
Worcester, Massachusetts
The Centrum
December 23, 1991
December 31, 1991
Tokyo
Japan
Tokyo Dome
List of 1992 concerts
Date
City
Country
Venue
January 4, 1992
Paradise, Nevada
United States
Thomas & Mack Center
January 6, 1992
Inglewood, California
The Forum
January 7, 1992
January 8, 1992
January 10, 1992
Sacramento, California
ARCO Arena
January 11, 1992
January 13, 1992
San Diego, California
San Diego Sports Arena
January 14, 1992
January 17, 1992
Houston, Texas
The Summit
January 18, 1992
New Orleans, Louisiana
Lakefront Arena
January 20, 1992
Little Rock, Arkansas
Barton Coliseum
January 21, 1992
Dallas, Texas
Reunion Arena
January 22, 1992
San Antonio, Texas
Convention Center Arena
January 24, 1992
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Myriad Arena
January 25, 1992
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Expo Square Pavilion
January 27, 1992
Austin, Texas
Frank Erwin Center
January 28, 1992
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
January 29, 1992
Memphis, Tennessee
Pyramid Arena
January 31, 1992
El Paso, Texas
UTEP Special Events Center
February 2, 1992
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Tingley Coliseum
February 3, 1992
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock Municipal Coliseum
February 4, 1992
Odessa, Texas
Ector County Coliseum
February 6, 1992
Denver, Colorado
McNichols Sports Arena
February 7, 1992
February 8, 1992
February 10, 1992
Salt Lake City, Utah
Delta Center
February 12, 1992
Inglewood, California
The Forum
February 13, 1992
February 15, 1992
Fresno, California
Selland Arena
February 16, 1992
Reno, Nevada
Lawlor Events Center
February 27, 1992
Portland, Maine
Cumberland County Civic Center
February 28, 1992
Albany, New York
Knickerbocker Arena
February 29, 1992
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence Civic Center
March 2, 1992
Cincinnati, Ohio
Riverfront Coliseum
March 4, 1992
Carbondale, Illinois
SIU Arena
March 5, 1992
Champaign, Illinois
Assembly Hall
March 7, 1992
Knoxville, Tennessee
Thompson–Boling Arena
March 8, 1992
Evansville, Indiana
Roberts Municipal Stadium
March 9, 1992
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
March 11, 1992
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke Civic Center
March 12, 1992
Chattanooga, Tennessee
UTC Arena
March 14, 1992
Miami, Florida
Miami Arena
March 15, 1992
Jacksonville, Florida
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
March 16, 1992
Orlando, Florida
Orlando Arena
March 18, 1992
Huntsville, Alabama
Von Braun Center
March 19, 1992
Louisville, Kentucky
Freedom Hall
March 21, 1992
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Coliseum
March 22, 1992
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston Civic Center
March 24, 1992
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola Civic Center
March 25, 1992
Birmingham, Alabama
Jefferson Civic Coliseum
March 26, 1992
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro Coliseum
March 28, 1992
Atlanta, Georgia
The Omni
March 29, 1992
March 31, 1992
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond Coliseum
April 1, 1992
Landover, Maryland
Capital Centre
April 2, 1992
April 4, 1992
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Meadowlands Arena
April 6, 1992
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spectrum
April 7, 1992
April 8, 1992
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Meadowlands Arena
April 10, 1992
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton Coliseum
April 12, 1992
Binghamton, New York
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 13, 1992
Rochester, New York
Rochester Community War Memorial
April 14, 1992
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
Copps Coliseum
April 16, 1992
Hartford, Connecticut
United States
Hartford Civic Center
April 20, 1992
London
England
Wembley Stadium
May 6, 1992
Pullman, Washington
United States
Beasley Coliseum
May 7, 1992
Boise, Idaho
BSU Pavilion
May 9, 1992
Daly City, California
Cow Palace
May 10, 1992
May 13, 1992
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
May 14, 1992
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls Arena
May 15, 1992
Fargo, North Dakota
Bison Sports Arena
May 17, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
Winnipeg Arena
May 18, 1992
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Place
May 19, 1992
Edmonton, Alberta
Northlands Coliseum
May 21, 1992
Calgary, Alberta
Olympic Saddledome
May 23, 1992
Vancouver, British Columbia
PNE Coliseum
May 24, 1992
May 27, 1992
Seattle, Washington
United States
Seattle Center Coliseum
May 28, 1992
May 30, 1992
Anchorage, Alaska
Sullivan Arena
June 1, 1992
Portland, Oregon
Memorial Coliseum
June 2, 1992
June 4, 1992
Salt Lake City, Utah
Delta Center
June 5, 1992
Casper, Wyoming
Casper Events Center
June 6, 1992
Billings, Montana
Metrapark Arena
June 9, 1992
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson Convention Center
June 10, 1992
Phoenix, Arizona
America West Arena
June 11, 1992
June 14, 1992
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile Civic Center
June 15, 1992
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
LSU Assembly Center
June 16, 1992
Jackson, Mississippi
Mississippi Coliseum
June 19, 1992
Nashville, Tennessee
Starwood Amphitheatre
June 20, 1992
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Riverport Amphitheatre
June 21, 1992
Bonner Springs, Kansas
Sandstone Amphitheater
June 23, 1992
Cincinnati, Ohio
Riverbend Music Center
June 25, 1992
Raleigh, North Carolina
Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
June 27, 1992
Charlevoix, Michigan
Castle Farms Music Theater
June 28, 1992
Thornville, Ohio
Buckeye Lake Music Center
June 30, 1992
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Marcus Amphitheater
July 1, 1992
Tinley Park, Illinois
World Music Theater
July 3, 1992
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Blossom Music Center
July 4, 1992
Weedsport, New York
Cayuga County Fair Speedway
July 5, 1992
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Great Allentown Fair
October 22, 1992
Ghent
Belgium
Flanders Expo
October 24, 1992
London
England
Wembley Arena
October 25, 1992
October 27, 1992
Glasgow
Scotland
SECC Arena
October 28, 1992
Newcastle
England
Whitley Bay Ice Rink
October 30, 1992
Dublin
Ireland
Point Theatre
November 1, 1992
Sheffield
England
Sheffield Arena
November 3, 1992
Manchester
Manchester Central Convention Complex
November 4, 1992
Birmingham
NEC Arena
November 5, 1992
November 7, 1992
Rotterdam
Netherlands
Rotterdam Ahoy
November 8, 1992
November 10, 1992
Paris
France
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
November 12, 1992
Barcelona
Spain
Palau Sant Jordi
November 13, 1992
San Sebastián
Velódromo de Anoeta
November 16, 1992
Rome
Italy
Palamarino
November 17, 1992
Milan
Palatrussardi
November 18, 1992
Zürich
Switzerland
Hallenstadion
November 20, 1992
Vienna
Austria
Wiener Stadthalle
November 22, 1992
Munich
Germany
Olympiahalle
November 23, 1992
Stuttgart
Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
November 24, 1992
Dortmund
Westfalenhalle
November 26, 1992
Frankfurt
Festhalle Frankfurt
November 27, 1992
Nuremberg
Frankenhalle
November 29, 1992
November 30, 1992
Mannheim
Maimarkthalle
December 1, 1992
Stuttgart
Schleyerhalle
December 3, 1992
Kiel
Ostseehalle
December 5, 1992
Berlin
Deutschlandhalle
December 7, 1992
's-Hertogenbosch
Netherlands
Brabanthallen
December 9, 1992
Copenhagen
Denmark
Forum Copenhagen
December 10, 1992
December 12, 1992
Gothenburg
Sweden
Scandinavium
December 14, 1992
Oslo
Norway
Oslo Spektrum
December 16, 1992
Helsinki
Finland
Helsinki Ice Hall
December 18, 1992
Stockholm
Sweden
Stockholm Globe Arena
Personnel
References
^ Schmidt, William E. (September 29, 1991). "Heavy-Metal Groups Shake Moscow" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 15, 2010 .
^ "Monsters of Rock hit Moscow" . The Eugene Register-Guard . Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press . September 29, 1991. p. 5A. Retrieved January 17, 2010 .
^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (January 26, 2009). "Sneak Peek: 'Guitar Hero: Metallica" . Spin . Retrieved January 29, 2010 .
^ a b Metallica (James Hetfield , Lars Ulrich , Kirk Hammett , Jason Newsted ) (1992). A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica : Part 2 (VHS). Elektra Entertainment .
^ "Metallica timeline February, 1990 – August 13, 1991" . MTV.com . Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007 .