Metallica Super Fans Gear Up for Epic Reunion in Denver

Heavy metal enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement as Metallica rolls into Denver for their M72 World Tour, featuring back-to-back shows at Empower Field at Mile High this Friday and Sunday.

On Thursday morning, a pop-up shop at Sports Castle drew massive crowds, with fans lining up around the building and down the street, eager to grab exclusive merchandise ahead of the concerts.

In the stadium parking lot, super fans David Rowe and Brian Zappanti expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming performances. "Nothing like getting off work after a hard day and cranking up some 'Master of Puppets' on the way home," Zappanti remarked, his excitement palpable.

"And Lars [Ulrich] beating up the drums nonstop and relentless," Rowe chimed in, both men radiating joy as they prepared for the weekend.

Clutching a homemade banner that they consider a piece of Metallica history, Rowe shared, "I almost feel like it's a piece of Metallica history." The banner, a testament to their long-standing devotion, tells a story that began in 1988.

"I acquired a bedsheet and some markers and put it on the basement wall at my parents' house, and we worked on it slowly over a couple of months. We used a lot of markers," Zappanti recalled with a laugh. "That's what was cool about the late '80s though. People were just super into music."

When Zappanti and Rowe made the journey from Trinidad, Colorado to see Metallica perform, they brought their cherished banner along. Their first encounter with the band took place at what was then known as "Mile High Stadium."

They vividly remember that night. "We watched the Metallica set. I looked over at Brian at the end, and I said, 'Let's go.' And he said, 'What? What are you talking about?' And I said, 'Let's go get the banner.' We left the stadium knowing we weren't going to get back in," Rowe recounted. "We went out to the car, walked around to the back, and they happened to be taking pictures with their tour photographer. We raise the banner, and we're screaming, and they motion us down. They sent down a roadie; he took (the banner) with a camera and got some pictures. At that point, we are happy as can be."

Then came an unexpected twist. "The next morning, we go to the Embassy Suites to try to officially meet Metallica and say we were the guys with the banner. Slowly one by one, they started coming down. We were able to get some pictures with them."

Those treasured photos are so valuable that Zappanti keeps them in a safe. Now, standing in the same spot at Mile High where they once posed with their banner, the super fans reflect on how surreal it feels.

"I had a lot of hair," Rowe said with a smile, nostalgia evident in his voice.

As they anticipate their reunion with Metallica, Zappanti expressed hope: "It's a little emotional being back. It's something that we dreamt about and hoped for."