Metallica meet fans @ hmv 363 Oxford Street
It has been eight long years since Metallica released their ninth studio album Death Magnetic, but today the band made a triumphant return with a brand new double album, Hardwired...To Self-Destruct, and to mark the occasion the band paid a visit to our store on London's Oxford Street at the stroke of midnight last night, appearing at their first ever album signing in the UK and meeting 200 lucky fans. Check out our rundown of the night and see our full gallery pics below.
By 9:00pm on Thursday evening fans were already starting to form a queue outside the Oxford Street store, eagerly anticipating the band's arrival...
The lucky winners are gathering..... @Metallica #HardwiredToSelfDestruct @hmv363OxStreet @hmvtweets #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/CeWEMCGXgP
— hmv363OxStreet (@hmv363OxStreet) 17 November 2016
Meanwhile, inside the store, our staff were just as excited, getting ready to re-open at midnight and filling the shelves with the new album...
It's here........... @Metallica #HardwiredToSelfDestruct @hmvtweets #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/P7qv4rha0X
— hmv363OxStreet (@hmv363OxStreet) 17 November 2016
Complete your @Metallica collection in store today in preparation for #HardwiredToSelfDestruct !!!! @hmvtweets #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/D20nyIZTTD
— hmv363OxStreet (@hmv363OxStreet) 17 November 2016
When the band finally arrived they headed down to the shop floor to get their first look at their new album on the shelves for the first time. It was all a bit emotional for drummer Lars Ulrich, but he and guitarist Kirk Hammett were soon in a tussle over a vinyl box set...
IT LIVES! Hardwired...To Self-Destruct is out now! #BlackenedFriday pic.twitter.com/eBktDDNauD
— Metallica (@Metallica) 18 November 2016
Soon the fans were let loose in the store too and rushed to collect their copies of the new album...
And the fun begins.......@Metallica #HardwiredToSelfDestruct @hmv363OxStreet @hmvtweets #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/hMwE6Tfsi1
— hmv363OxStreet (@hmv363OxStreet) 17 November 2016
With the new album safely in their hands, the fans headed upstairs to meet the band to get their LPs and CDs signed...
Yeah pic.twitter.com/u1S6OxNr32
— Metallica (@Metallica) 17 November 2016
...it's rolling and roaring here at HMV Oxford Street where HWTSD is OUT!!!! pic.twitter.com/gmWRQRUIoU
— Metallica (@Metallica) 18 November 2016
Cool moments happening here... pic.twitter.com/zzzrjjahhE
— Metallica (@Metallica) 18 November 2016
Some of the lucky 200! @Metallica signing @hmv363OxStreet @hmvtweets #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/HOb5vui5dp
— hmv363OxStreet (@hmv363OxStreet) 18 November 2016
Tired but happy, the fans eventually left with the signatures of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo on their new purchases...