Damage, Inc. Tour


The Damage, Inc. Tour was a concert tour by the American heavy metal band Metallica in support of the band's third studio album, Master of Puppets. The name of the tour is taken from the last song on the album. It began on March 27, 1986, and ended on February 13, 1987. This was Metallica's last tour with bassist Cliff Burton, who died in the middle of its European leg on September 27, 1986, and he would be replaced by Jason Newsted for the remainder of the tour.

Background

Metallica supported Ozzy Osbourne from March to August, headlined a string of U.S. dates between May 23 and June 7 with Armored Saint, and were the main act throughout the fall and winter with support from Anthrax and Metal Church. Roadie John Marshall, who later played guitar in Metal Church, filled in for James Hetfield on rhythm guitar between July 27 and September 25 following a mid-tour skateboarding accident resulting in a broken arm. Hetfield, Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett had discussed firing Lars Ulrich upon completion of the tour, but plans were set aside upon the death of Burton on September 27, 1986, in a tour bus accident near Ljungby, Sweden, while en route from Stockholm to Copenhagen, Denmark. Performances that were scheduled for October were postponed and the band hired a new bassist, Jason Newsted, to complete the rest of the tour on October 28, 1986. Metallica also became the first band of the Big Four to cross the Iron Curtain, with two concerts in Katowice, Poland, on February 10 and 11, 1987.

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
January 8, 1987CopenhagenDenmarkFalconer Theatre
January 9, 1987HolstebroDenmarkHolstebro Hall
January 10, 1987GothenburgSwedenLisebergshallen
January 12, 1987OsnabrückWest GermanyGartlage Hall
January 14, 1987LyonFranceLabor Exchange Theatre
January 16, 1987BordeauxFranceBordeaux Celebration Hall
January 17, 1987BarcelonaSpainPalau dels Esports de Barcelona
January 18, 1987MadridSpainRaimundo Saporta Pavilion
January 20, 1987NiceFranceThéâtre de verdure de Nice
January 21, 1987MilanItalyPalatrussardi
January 23, 1987MunichWest GermanyDeutsches Museum
January 24, 1987BöblingenWest GermanySporthalle
January 25, 1987EssenWest GermanyGrugahalle
January 27, 1987HamburgWest GermanyMarkthalle Hamburg
January 28, 1987HamburgWest GermanyMarkthalle Hamburg
January 29, 1987OffenbachWest GermanyStadthalle Offenbach
January 30, 1987LudwigshafenWest GermanyFriedrich-Ebert-Halle
January 31, 1987NeunkirchenWest GermanyHemmerleinhalle
February 1, 1987GreifenseeSwitzerlandGreifensee Sports Centrum
February 3, 1987StrasbourgFranceTivoli Hall
February 4, 1987Clermont-FerrandFranceMaison du Peuple
February 5, 1987ParisFranceLe Zénith
February 7, 1987BrusselsBelgiumForest National Arena
February 8, 1987ZwolleNetherlandsIJsselhallen
February 10, 1987KatowicePolandSpodek
February 11, 1987KatowicePolandSpodek
February 13, 1987GothenburgSwedenFrölundaborg

Personnel

March – September 1986:
  • James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Lars Ulrich – drums
  • Cliff Burton – bass, backing vocals
  • Kirk Hammett – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • John Marshall – rhythm guitar
October 1986 – February 1987:
  • James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Lars Ulrich – drums
  • Kirk Hammett – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jason Newsted – bass, backing vocals