Billboard: Metallica, Eddie Trunk, Live Nation, More Celebrate Metal Blade Records' 30th Anniversary

In a serendipitous bit of timing, on the same day that Metallica announced the formation of their own label, Blackened, the group turned out to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the indie that first released their music. Metal Blade Records President Brian Slagel has come a long way since 1982, when he offered a spot on the first volume of the Metal Massacre compilation series to the fledgling young thrashers, who celebrated their own 30th anniversary last year. Metallica's James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo joined Slagel, longtime Metal Blade VP Mike Faley and VIP guests for a riff-heavy shindig that went well into Friday night.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of my report. *Photo: Stephanie Cabral