I’ve been fortunate to have many unforgettable, life-affirming photography experiences over the years, but by and large, this one will sit at the very top of the list for a long time: an evening in the Hamptons with the mighty
@metallica .
I’ve loved Metallica for decades — easily one of my all-time favorite bands. They are, without hyperbole, one of the most important bands in music history and an undeniable cornerstone of metal. They were the spark that ignited my passion for the genre–a journey I’m still exploring to this day.
That sentiment was shared by so many of the lucky fans in attendance for Metallica’s intimate performance at The Stephen Talkhouse. Diehard fans, young and old, lined the sidewalks outside the historic Amagansett venue, proudly wearing their favorite Metallica shirts and swapping stories of past shows. Hearing firsthand how deeply this band has shaped people’s lives was incredibly heartwarming.
Equally inspiring was legendary
@siriusxm host Jose Mangin’s sit-down interview with James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo. They reflected on the meaning and significance of the performance, celebrating the launch of the band’s own channel, Maximum Metallica, on SiriusXM. They also spoke about the impact of the late icon Ozzy Osbourne and the joy of taking part in the Back to the Beginning farewell concert.
The experience of shooting portraits of Hetfield and Trujillo after the interview was a core memory unfolding in real time. Watching — and shooting — Metallica’s phenomenal, hit-after-hit performance was another. I found myself on the verge of happy tears more than once.
I’m deeply grateful to SiriusXM, and especially to
@marohagopian , for making this incredible experience possible.
🤘🤘🤘🤘