Metallica is celebrating 30 years together and including their fans in the hoopla.  

Metallica is celebrating all week long with shows at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the shows are for fan club members only, and they're all sold out plus they're not going to be streaming online like I hoped they would be.

Singer James Hetfield told Headbanger's Ball (yes, it's still around and no, it's not as cool as it was) that they're making each of the four shows unique and are hoping to include some musicians from their past in the celebration. Rumor has it Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy from Motorhead have been invited. No word, though if Dave Mustaine will be able to make it.

James and Lars Ulrich started the band back in 1981 with Dave Mustaine and Cliff Burton. Mustaine was booted in 1983 and Kirk Hammet was brought on as a replacement. Cliff Burton was killed in a tour bus accident in 1986 and Jason Newstead filled bass duties. He left the group in 2003 and Rob Trujillo has since filled his shoes.

Through all the lineup changes, Metallica remains one of my favorite bands of all time and Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets remain on my "Stranded on a Desert Island" album list.

In other Metallica news, the group says they will tour again behind their Black Album next year.

More From 103.7 The Loon