Black Album-era Metallica are Now Funko Pop! Figures
How you picture “classic” Metallica look in your mind’s eye, I’d venture, largely comes down to when you got into the band. The Black Album was one of the first three CDs I ever owned, so for me it’s James Hetfield with the lion’s mane, biker stache and black wristbands, Gibson Explorer dangling below his waist. Newsted with his trademark haircut and toothy grimace, Kirk in a sleeveless t-shirt with the ESP guitar, and sweaty Lars with his flowing locks and aviators.
It’s this version of Metallica that will be immortalized in Funko Pop! figure form, yet another celebration of this year’s 30th anniversary of the Black Album. Funko and Walmart have teamed up for the effort, which features miniature figurines of all four band members (3.75″ tall) and the album cover art packaged together in a protective hardcase that can be hung on a wall. It’s available for pre-order at Walmart now for $50 and should ship in December. You can watch Hammett unbox the set in a video below.
The super-duper-extra-special-deluxe thirtieth anniversary reissue of the Black Album arrived on September 10. Metallica are also currently promoting The Metallica Blacklist, a new release which features 50+ covers of songs from Metallica’s Black Album, including contributions from Corey Taylor, Ghost, Miley Cyrus, Volbeat, Weezer, Biffy Clyro, Chris Stapleton, Royal Blood, the Hu, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Chad Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, and more. That comes out on October 1.
Metallica have been deep in “some pretty serious writing” for their next album since last November with the most recent update, indicating ten songs were partially written, coming this past May via frontman James Hetfield.
Upcoming Metallica live dates:
9/24/21 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center [tickets]
9/26/21 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center [tickets]
10/8/21 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock at Discovery Park [tickets]
10/10/21 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock at Discovery Park [tickets]
11/4/21 – Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino [tickets]
11/12/21 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville at the Daytona International Speedway [tickets]
11/14/21 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville at the Daytona International Speedway [tickets]
12/17/21 — San Francisco, CA — Chase Center [fan club only]
12/19/21 — San Francisco, CA — Chase Center [fan club only]
6/15/22 – Copenhell – Copenhagen, Denmark [tickets]
6/17/22 – Firenze Rocks – Florence, Italy [tickets]
6/19/22 – Prague Rocks – Prague, Czech Republic [tickets]
6/22/22 – Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium [tickets]
7/1/22 – Mad Cool – Madrid, Spain [tickets]
7/6/22 – NOS Alive – Lisbon, Portugal [tickets]