Metallica reveal S&M2 box set - and it'll be out later this year

Metallica's Lars Ulrich with the S&M2 box set
Metallica's Lars Ulrich with the S&M2 box set (Image credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube)

Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has revealed the band will release an S&M2 box set later this year.

The performances were captured during two shows with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra at the city’s Chase Centre in September 2019 – two nights which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the original S&M album.

Ulrich announced the news on last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live while surprising Long Island ICU nurse and Metallica fan Tracey Bednar, who’s been looking after kids suffering from coronavirus.

Personally inviting Bednar to one of Metallica’s shows next time they’re in the area, Ulrich picked up the box set and said: “Between the three of us, this is our next release called S&M2 which is coming out in August. You’ll have the first signed copy of this special box set from me and the fellas. It’s coming your way shortly.”

Tickets for the first 20th anniversary show, which took place on September 6 2019, were quickly scooped up, with Metallica quickly adding a second night two days later. Footage from both nights was then screened at 3000 cinemas worldwide for one night only in October last year.

Announcing the cinema release, Metallica said: “Recorded live on September 6 and 8, S&M2 will see us joining forces once again with the San Francisco Symphony, led in part by legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas as he kicks off his final season. 

“We'll be performing several tracks from the original 1999 S&M release as well as symphonic versions of new songs released since then.”

Later tonight at 7pm ET (Midnight BST), Metallica’s headline set from the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, from May 2017 will be broadcast through new Danny Wimmer Presents online series Offstage With DWP.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.