Metallica @ RPI Field House, March 1989

The date was March 15th, 1989. Hordes of heavy metal fans descended on Troy, New York to see Metallica at the RPI Field House. The band was rampaging across America on their “Damaged Justice” tour in support of their latest studio album “…and Justice for All,” and the Collar City stop would become a something of a noteworthy show from that era in the band’s history.

By the time Metallica landed in Troy that year, they had already established themselves as one of the fastest, most aggressive bands on the planet. They were also fresh off a televised live performance at the Grammy’s just three weeks earlier, including that now-infamous loss to Jerhro Tull for best hard rock/heavy metal award. The Troy gig would be Metallica’s first and only concert in the Collar City before they exploded into mega stardom with the release of their self-titled LP, also known as the Black Album, in 1991.

The concert showcased the ferocity of not just the band who tear through tracks off their first four albums—Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and the aforementioned …And Justice for All—but also the fans who packed the RPI Field House to the rafters, pumping fists in the air, screaming along to every word of every song, and generally losing their fucking minds. 

The entire concert is on YouTube, thanks to a dedicated fan who managed to sneak in a video camera to capture the show from start to finish. Take a look at the beginning of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and you’ll see the faithful metal masses going absolutely ballistic. 

Did you see Metallica at the RPI Field House in 1989? We would love to hear from you for a special episode we’re working on.

What do you remember about the concert? How far did you travel from? How old were you at the time? Who did you come to the show with? Do you have a special memory from that night? Did you meet the bands, either Metallica or Queensrÿche? Do you have any photos, posters, or ticket stubs from the concert? 

Help us revisit and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime show for a special upcoming episode of Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City. Call (518) 285-0831‬ and leave us a voicemail with your story. We just might use it in the show! You can also email us your memories from the show at mail@troystorypod.com or by visiting troystorypod.com/metallica