ReLaunch Party

Metallica's ReLaunch party was held at HQ, San Rafael, California, July 6, 2002. The event, which had been postponed since 2001, celebrated the launch of the Metallica.com website. "Bass player auditions" were held where winners could audition for their chance to join Metallica for a few numbers of their nine-song set. One hundred and ten winners were drawn at random to attend the party, ten of whom also won a trip to San Francisco and a guided tour and dinner with the band.

The ReLaunch party allowed the band to reconnect with fans after time away recording St. Anger and James' recovery hiatus. James reflected, "I definitely had a great time. I was a little nervous about the whole thing, reintroducing to the fans face to face...but it felt good...I got a lot of cool stories from people about how their lives had been affected by our music, and it felt really bonding. I had a blast playing - the bass player thing was killer."

IMAGES:

ReLaunch party laminate pass, 2002. From the Collection of James Hetfield

T-shirt commemorating Metallica's ReLaunch party at HQ, San Rafael, California, July 6, 2002. From the Collection of James Hetfield

ReLaunch party itinerary, 2002. From the Collection of Lars Ulrich