Metallica Rocked Iowa Back in 1986. Did You Go To the Shows?

Memorial Day Weekend was a LOUD and PROUD one back in 1986. Metallica was rolling through the state on their "Damage Inc" tour just a few months after the release of Master of Puppets.

Impact/Influence

They had no idea the impact this record would have on them as a band or on the music industry as a whole.

Master would be the high mark of metal music for decades to come, being sighted as an influence on every guitarist who picked up a Flying V guitar or kicked on a distortion pedal.

Master of Puppets would go on to be entered into the Library of Congress as a piece of art that is "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".

It was also the tour that would see the death of their groundbreaking bassist, Cliff Burton who was 24.

Metallica's Tour Through Iowa

On May 26th, they played the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the Iowa Jam featuring Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and Dokken.

Setlist

Battery
Master of Puppets
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fade to Black
Seek and Destroy
Creeping Death
Am I Evil?
Damage, Inc.

Then a few days later on May 30th, they rocked Davenport at the Col Ballroom with Armored Saint.

SETLIST

Battery
Master of Puppets
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth
Damage, Inc.
Seek and Destroy
Creeping Death
Guitar Solo
Am I Evil?
Whiplash
The Four Horsemen
Motorbreath

I have friends that were at that show. They say how incredible the show was, but also how accessible they were. "Heavy Metal" Mark Detl said Cliff brought him up to this hotel room to meet Kirk.

I have a feeling that wouldn't happen in 2022.