| The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| |
| Released | 2nd November 2010 |
| Recorded | 22nd June 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Length | 302:01 |
| Number of tracks | 52 |
| Label | Universal Warner Bros. (USA) Vertigo (Europe) |
| Chronology | |
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The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria features live concert performances by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, collectively known as "The Big Four" of thrash metal. The event took place on June 22, 2010, at the Sonisphere Festival at Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria. Before its DVD release, it was shown at 450 movie theaters in the United States and over 350 movie theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America on June 22, 2010. The DVD peaked at number one on the United States, United Kingdom, Austrian, and Canadian charts, and also charted on three other charts. It was certified gold in Germany and provided Slayer with its first platinum certification.
Background and release[]
On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at the Sonisphere Festival at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland, the "big four"- Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax performed together for the first time. The members of the four bands (except for Slayer's Jeff Hanneman) were first photographed together on the previous day. Their live concert, on June 22, was for one night only. Directed by Nick Wickham, the event was filmed and transmitted via satellite to over 450 movie theaters in the United States and over 350 movie theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Tickets were made available for around $20 at TheBigFourLive.com, which also listed the theaters where the concert was being screened. Delayed screenings took place in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. The film's contents and artwork were revealed on August 25, 2010. A limited-edition guitar pick was unveiled a day after the artwork was revealed. The European release was initially scheduled for October 11, but Metallica later announced on their official site that the European release would be pushed back to October 15, with an International release on October 18, and a North American release on October 19, 2010. On September 15, it was announced that a "super deluxe" limited edition box set would be released on the same date as the regular edition, and a 36-second video preview of the box set was released on September 17. In mid-September, publication was postponed further to a European release on October 29, an International release on November 1, and a North American release on November 2, 2010. Four teaser clips from the video were released on October 12, and nine days later, Metallica's performance of "Sad But True", taken from the film, was released. A three-and-a-half-minute trailer was released on September 21, 2010.
Tracklisting[]
Live 22.06.2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria
DVD 1[]
| No. | Artist | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anthrax | - | Caught in a Mosh | 6:07 |
| 2. | Anthrax | - | Got the Time (Joe Jackson Cover) | 3:41 |
| 3. | Anthrax | - | Madhouse | 4:39 |
| 4. | Anthrax | - | Be All, End All | 7:44 |
| 5. | Anthrax | - | Antisocial (Trust Cover) | 6:55 |
| 6. | Anthrax | - | Medley: 1. Indians 2. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath Cover) |
9:48 |
| 7. | Anthrax | - | Medusa | 5:54 |
| 8. | Anthrax | - | Only | 6:44 |
| 9. | Anthrax | - | Metal Thrashing Mad | 2:44 |
| 10. | Anthrax | - | I Am the Law | 7:13 |
| 11. | Megadeth | - | Holy Wars... The Punishment Due | 5:49 |
| 12. | Megadeth | - | Hangar 18 | 5:39 |
| 13. | Megadeth | - | Wake Up Dead | 3:39 |
| 14. | Megadeth | - | Head Crusher | 3:49 |
| 15. | Megadeth | - | In My Darkest Hour | 4:59 |
| 16. | Megadeth | - | Skin of My Teeth | 3:14 |
| 17. | Megadeth | - | À Tout le Monde | 4:24 |
| 18. | Megadeth | - | Hook in Mouth | 4:39 |
| 19. | Megadeth | - | Trust | 5:09 |
| 20. | Megadeth | - | Sweating Bullets | 4:59 |
| 21. | Megadeth | - | Symphony of Destruction | 4:09 |
| 22. | Megadeth | - | Medley: 1. Peace Sells 2. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due |
9:40 |
| 23. | Slayer | - | World Painted Blood | 6:27 |
| 24. | Slayer | - | Jihad | 4:29 |
| 25. | Slayer | - | War Ensemble | 5:11 |
| 26. | Slayer | - | Hate Worldwide | 3:09 |
| 27. | Slayer | - | Seasons in the Abyss | 6:24 |
| 28. | Slayer | - | Angel of Death | 5:29 |
| 29. | Slayer | - | Beauty Through Order | 5:14 |
| 30. | Slayer | - | Disciple | 5:04 |
| 31. | Slayer | - | Mandatory Suicide | 4:24 |
| 32. | Slayer | - | Chemical Warfare | 5:39 |
| 33. | Slayer | - | South of Heaven | 4:19 |
| 34. | Slayer | - | Raining Blood | 5:00 |
Total length: |
182:27 | |||
DVD 2[]
| No. | Artist | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Metallica | - | Creeping Death | 6:24 |
| 2. | Metallica | - | For Whom the Bell Tolls | 4:29 |
| 3. | Metallica | - | Fuel | 4:19 |
| 4. | Metallica | - | Harvester of Sorrow | 6:44 |
| 5. | Metallica | - | Fade to Black | 7:39 |
| 6. | Metallica | - | That Was Just Your Life | 6:46 |
| 7. | Metallica | - | Cyanide | 6:27 |
| 8. | Metallica | - | Sad But True | 7:44 |
| 9. | Metallica | - | Welcome Home (Sanitarium) | 6:04 |
| 10. | Metallica | - | All Nightmare Long | 9:04 |
| 11. | Metallica | - | One | 7:04 |
| 12. | Metallica | - | Master of Puppets | 8:37 |
| 13. | Metallica | - | Blackened | 7:57 |
| 14. | Metallica | - | Nothing Else Matters | 5:24 |
| 15. | Metallica | - | Enter Sandman | 6:33 |
| 16. | Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Dave Lombardo | - | Am I Evil? (Diamond Head Cover) | 7:07 |
| 17. | Metallica | - | Hit the Lights | 3:28 |
| 18. | Metallica | - | Seek & Destroy | 7:44 |
Total length: |
119:34 | |||
Personnel[]
Anthrax
- Joey Belladonna – Lead Vocals
- Rob Caggiano – Lead Guitar
- Scott Ian – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Frank Bello – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Charlie Benante – Drums
Megadeth
- Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Chris Broderick – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
- David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Shawn Drover – Drums
Slayer
- Tom Araya – Lead Vocals, Bass
- Jeff Hanneman – Guitar
- Kerry King – Guitar
- Dave Lombardo – Drums
Metallica
- James Hetfield – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Kirk Hammett – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Robert Trujillo – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Lars Ulrich – Drums
Production and assistance
- Warren Lee – Bass technician, Guitar technician
- Michael Pearce, Philip Richardson – editing
- John Brandon – engineer, production manager, tour manager
- David May – executive producer
- Mark Workman – lighting director
- Russ Russell, Andy Sneap – mixing
- Ross Halfin – photography
- Jim Parsons – producer
- Chris Blair, Michael McGuire – pyrotechnics
- Mike Osman – sound technician
- Alan Doyle – stage manager
- Chris David – video technician