METALLICA: Ottawa Show Rescheduled

METALLICA's web site has been updated with the following message:

"For all of our friends with tickets to the sold-out show in Ottawa [Ontario, Canada] on October 29, we hope that date is on your calendar in pencil! We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but that show has changed dates and we will now be at Scotiabank Place five days later on November 3. Of course, your tickets will be good then, and if you cannot join us on the new date, you may return your tickets to the place you purchased them for a full refund. And for your trouble, everyone who attends the show on November 3 will receive a voucher for a free mp3 of this show that can be redeemed at LiveMetallica.com.

"We're happy to report that it has nothing to do with oysters, but can only tell you right now that the date change is due to a scheduling conflict with a very cool event coming up around that time. We wanted to let you know about the new date in Ottawa [as soon as possible], but we've been sworn to secrecy on all other fronts, so check back here... more details in mid-to-late July."

As previously reported, METALLICA will play a benefit concert for the Marin County Museum in San Rafael, California this September, according to the Contra Costa Times. The announcement was made by frontman James Hetfield in a video screened at a museum gala last week for the "Marin Rocks" exhibition, where attendees paid $200 a ticket to raise funds for the project. The museum pulled the project from its original intended location in a downtown space owned by the local Masonic Lodge, citing concerns over the cost of renovating the space, its size, and the length of the lease that the Lodge was offering.

The museum is now looking for a new and larger space for the exhibition, which will tentatively open next spring and showcase Marin Country's rich rock history.

Also appearing in the video with Hetfield was JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro. Hetfield and METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich both live in Marin and send their children to local schools.

The METALLICA show will be the first in the county by the group, who are likely to play at the 2,000-seat Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Museum executive director Merry Alberigi said, "METALLICA very much supports the 'Marin Rocks' project, and especially the educational programs to be offered for our youth. They have kids in school here in Marin County and they want to give back."

METALLICA is currently touring in Europe but will launch a North American trek in September.