Not a cool idea to avoid paying a musician when he deserves it.
Original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell revealed the situation and explained how Metallica wanted him to play with them and was supposed to get paid.
Here’s the statement:
“It was about half three in the morning. The transport was all lined up, and there was a car to take me home.
“I was quietly expecting about two grand, which wouldn’t have meant a thing to them.
“But I got handed over a big ball of Metallica t-shirts, keyrings and hats. I got paid f*ck all. Then they all f*cked off.
“It wasn’t until I was sitting in my car on the way home I realized they hadn’t paid me. I thought I’d get something in the post but not a d*ckie bird.
“Later somebody tried to get in touch with Metallica to get me something but they found it impossible and they gave up.
“They are a pack of b*stards. I couldn’t believe what they did, especially as they are so well off. I should have been paid £2,000 but got f*ck all”
“It’s pure ignorance really. I should have been paid £2,000 at least but I got f*ck all from them.”
This story was shared by The Irish Sun.
The gig happened in July of 1999. He was invited to play Thin Lizzy hit “Whiskey In The Jar” with Metallica and their Dublin show. Metallica offered to fly him out on their private jet from the UK to Dublin. Bell claims he had never heard the Metallica cover, nor even knew what they looked like, but still agreed to do it.