From Bald Knob to Russellville: Revisiting Metallica’s 1983 tour stops in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Before the pyro, giant screens, and oceans of people, Metallica’s early touring adventures brought the future heavy metal legends to a cow pasture in White County rather than the bright lights of the capital city.

While the band would go on to be the first musical act to perform a concert on every continent, their first foray into the Natural State was a more humble affair. Here is a look back at the band’s journey through Arkansas on their way to paving heavy metal history.

Bald Knob Open-Air Amphitheatre: Aug. 16, 1983

When Metallica kicked off their first major tour on July 27, 1983, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the band had just released their debut album, “Kill ‘Em All.” They were joining British band Raven for a tour sponsored by their record label, Megaforce Records.

The tour’s lineup featured new lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, who had joined in April after Dave Mustaine was kicked out. The band also featured James Hetfield on guitar and vocals, Lars Ulrich on drums and Cliff Burton on bass.

Though the show’s poster said it was at Bald Knob Open-Air Amphitheatre, Hetfield later said in an interview with Rolling Stone that it happened “on a slab of cement in the middle of a field filled with insects.” A ticket stub from the event revealed that the concert, which also featured a band called Hammer, was $8.

The band’s setlist for their first show in the Natural State began with the album opener “Hit the Lights.” It featured every song from “Kill ‘Em All” except for “Motorbreath,” with “Metal Militia” as their closer.

Pine Bluff Convention Center: Aug. 17, 1983

The next night in the Natural State, the band traveled an hour and a half south to Pine Bluff for a show at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The 8,500-seat arena, built in 1976, was no stranger to noise, having hosted acts like Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, The Beach Boys, The Jacksons and Prince.

While the convention center had previously featured concerts from bands like Rainbow and Ozzy Osbourne, the “Kill ‘Em All for One” tour was much heavier than its usual slate of concerts. It also marked one of the band’s first-ever arena shows and was a significant improvement to their conditions the day before.

Tucker Coliseum: Aug. 19, 1983

After making a brief trip into Texas with a show at Texarkana College on Aug. 18, the tour rolled back through Arkansas with a stop at Tucker Coliseum. Also built in 1976, Tucker Coliseum sits on the campus of Arkansas Tech University and has a seating capacity of 3,500.

Prior to the 1983 show, the arena had hosted acts like Styx and Johnny Cash. In the years since Metallica shook its walls, Tucker Coliseum has hosted bands like Nickelback, Default, Vertical Horizon and 3 Doors Down.

From modest roots to paving history

The “Kill ‘Em All for One” tour would eventually conclude on Sept. 3 in San Francisco after 32 cross-country dates. The tour’s unique stops were not lost on their British touring partners. Raven bassist John Gallagher later recalled their journey in an interview with Guitar World as “quite an experience.”

“Other than the major markets, we played some nutty places on that tour, like Bald Knob, Arkansas, and some really weird gigs. The whole thing was quite an experience.”

Metallica’s next Arkansas show was in 1989 at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock on the “Damaged Justice” tour, with a return in 1992. They eventually returned to central Arkansas, playing the venue now known as Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock in 2004, 2008, and 2019. From a cow pasture to packed arenas, their performances in Arkansas will never be forgotten by those in attendance.