Metallica Pump The Zone

CMU Daily is speculating that Metallica newly announced 2012 festival dates, following had on the heels of alive appearances over the last two years, are a result of fears of a Eurozone meltdown. CMU also point to what looks like a premature celebration of the band’s ‘The Black Album’ which is 21 in 2013, rather than 20 in 2012 (though U2 might disagree having just celebrated 20 years of Achtung Baby). It seems Metallica will prioritise Europe in 2012 with Asia and Latin America being targeted in the years following 2012. Manager Cliff Burnstein has admitted that Europe's faltering currency has impacted on the way he has scheduled Metallica's live plans for the coming years, telling the Wall Street Journal: "We're a US export the same way Coca-Cola is. We look for the best markets. And you have to ask yourself, what's the best time to be doing what, when and where".