METALLICA have released the first eight officially confirmed dates for Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003, the upcoming monster trek featuring METALLICA, LIMP BIZKIT, LINKIN PARK, DEFTONES and MUDVAYNE. They are as follows:

Jul. 04 - Detroit, MI @ Pontiac Silverdome
Jul. 06 - Foxboro, MA @ Gillette Stadium
Jul. 13 - Orlando, FL @ Citrus Bowl
Jul. 19 - Columbus, OH @ Ohio Stadium
Jul. 25 - St. Louis, MO @ Edward Jones Dome
Jul. 27 - Minneapolis, MN @ Metrodome
Aug. 01 - Denver, CO @ Invesco Field
Aug. 03 - Irving TX @ Texas Stadium

The following cities are still to be confirmed with dates and venues: Philadelphia, New York, Montreal, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Washington/Baltimore, Chicago. As previously reported, all Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003 concerts will be held on weekends (Friday-Sunday), with the final show of the six-week trek set to take place on Sunday, Aug. 10 at an as-yet-undisclosed location.

Recording is currently wrapping up for the band's new CD, entitled "St. Anger" and is scheduled for a summer release.

Metal Reviews Note: After reading so much about how Metallica wants to get themselves "back on the map" as far as metal music goes, and their statements about trying to contribute to spreading the word about metal to the masses, this band goes and books a tour with nothing but nu-metal and rap-metal bands that get enough exposure already. What about the hundreds of other bands that could get much needed exposure via a tour with Metallica? This "Summer Sanitarium Tour" sounds like nothing more than a corporate sponsored cash grab and nothing more. It's shameful and does nothing for the integrity of the band. I think I'll pass on this concert! Any thoughts from the readers? - Marty.

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