Metallica commissions Metal Hammer special

The £9.99 special edition will be available in the UK from 14 May to commemorate 'Metal Hammer & So What? Presents Metallica The 30th Anniversary Event!'.

Metallica performed these free live shows for members of its fan club. The gigs took place between 5 and 10 December 2011 in the historic Filmore in San Francisco.

Metallica's quarterly Fan Club magazine, So What?, has produced the issue as well as an exclusive seven inch double "A" side single featuring "So What" and "Through the Never", recorded live from the shows, as well as a souvenir bag.

The magazine will also feature interviews with Metallica, exclusive photographs and a special guest interview with Rob Halford and Dave Mustaine.

Metal Hammer marked the return of the rock band Iron Maiden in a similar fashion two years ago when it ran a 3D front cover celebrating the bands first studio album in four years.

Chris Ingham, publisher of Metal Hammer, said: "Being in partnership with Metallica for this unique product will give Metal Hammer huge exposure.

"It will be distributed worldwide and demonstrates the diversity Future Publishing has with their music titles.

"The success of the Fanpack model has proven that unique products, like this, will always capture the imagination of the target audience."

Alexander Milas, editor of Metal Hammer, said the opportunity to team up with one of the world's best loved and respected fanzines was "simply too good to pass up."

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk