Beijing Show Sold Out, But Metallica Fans Can Still Catch Them in Shanghai

Unlike Metallica's Beijing show on January 18, the American rock band's January 15 Shanghai concert failed to sell out after tickets went on sale yesterday, giving die-hard fans a reason to head south to catch the show.

The group played two sold-out nights in Shanghai during their first-ever stop in China in 2013, drawing numerous Beijing fans to make the trip south. Those same fans bought up all the tickets to the Jan 18 Beijing show at the Le Sports Center within hours. Metallica is currently scheduled for a third China show on January 20 in Hong Kong. 

"We’re very excited to return to Shanghai, the only city in China we were able to visit when we traveled to the country for the first time in 2013. We fell in love with the city and its people, so it was a must for this trip!" the band wrote on its blog when announcing the Shanghai show last week.

Unlike our friends in Metallica, we have no love for that city or its people, but we would have made the trip if it were our only option, as it was three years ago.

Tickets are still available at the RMB 1,380 and RMB 1,980 levels. That former category is slightly lower than comparable tickets for the Beijing gig. 

Metallica announced six Asia dates for the tour in support of their new album, Hardwired ... to Self Destruct. So far only five have been booked: three in China, along with Seoul, South Korea, and Singapore. Could a fourth China show be in the offing?

"There just might be room for one more while we’re in Asia ... keep watching ..." the group said, again via their blog. No Japan dates have been listed, a surprising omission for a such an obvious market.

Being Beijing homies, we're still holding out hope that they'll opt for a second gig in Beijing – their tour calendar leaves ample opportunity to do so, since Shanghai is on the 15th, Beijing is on the 18th and Hong Kong is on the 20th. How about the 17th, boys?

For fans perusing the Damai site, don't clutch your heart when you see the Guns N' Roses listing. Yes, tickets are for an actual Guns N' Roses show, featuring a reunited Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan from the group's original line-up.

However, that show is taking place in Bangkok, not in China. Still, tickets for that performance are sold out locally in Thailand, so China G N' R fans looking for a little tropical post-Spring Festival R N' R have a chance to get seats easily. Will we see the group here anytime soon? NFW, if you recall the title of the band's most recent album.

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Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
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Photo: Metallica