METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett celebrated his 46th birthday by performing with the band on November 18, 2008 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Official Metallica.com footage of the onstage festivities can be viewed below.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich was recently interviewed by Linda Mariano of Australia's Triple J. The interview was subsequently rebroadcast on Triple J's "Full Metal Racket" (hosted by Andrew Haug). Listen to the "Full Metal Racket" show containing the Ulrich interview in streaming audio at the Triple J web site: Windows Media, Real Media (NOTE: The first part of the Lars Ulrich interview begins around the 38-minute mark). Check out the program's entire playlist at this location.

METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic", was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just six weeks after its release on September 12 by Warner Bros. Records.

"Death Magnetic" debuted atop The Billboard 200 chart, METALLICA's fifth consecutive album to do so, making them the only band in chart history to have five albums debut at No. 1. It breaks the band's tie with THE BEATLES, U2, and the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, all of whom have four No. 1 album debuts. "Death Magnetic" remained at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks.

In addition to debuting at Number 1 atop Billboard's Rock, Alternative, Hard, and Internet album charts in the U.S., the album racked up No. 1 chart positions in 31 foreign countries, including the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and Top 3 chart slots in seven more, including Japan.