The year was 1989, and the air in Seattle wasn't just damp; it was electric. Inside the Coliseum, a sea of denim and leather waited for the first crushing chord of "Blackened." Among them was
, a local taper known for his obsessive ear and a heavy, modified field recorder tucked under his jacket. While the crowd roared, Choscar stood like a statue, his eyes fixed on the VU meters, capturing every shred of James Hetfield’s gravelly roar and Lars’s relentless kit. He wasn't just recording a show; he was capturing lightning in a bottle.
Decades later, that master tape—legendary for its clarity and raw power—found its way onto the digital frontier. Choscar meticulously digitized the reels, scrubbing away the hiss of time while preserving the "Live Shit" fury. When he finally hit "Upload," tagged with his signature -320 Kbps-
seal of quality, he wasn't just sharing a file; he was teleporting a new generation back to the front row of the greatest thrash metal show in history. Should I help you find the original tracklist from that night or are you looking for more technical specs on 1980s bootleg recordings?
This iconic live recording captures Metallica at the peak of their thrash metal dominance during the Damaged Justice Tour. Recorded on August 29 and 30, 1989, at the Seattle Center Coliseum, this performance is widely considered by fans and critics to be the greatest live show in the band's history. Performance Highlights
Prime Era: Features the classic lineup—James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Jason Newsted—delivering high-speed, aggressive performances of tracks from their first four albums.
Iconic Stage Design: Part of a production designed to look like a "damaged" stage, reflecting the themes of the ...And Justice for All album.
Legendary Energy: Known for its relentless pace, including a defining version of "Master of Puppets" and a raw, heavy rendition of "One". Official Setlist (Seattle '89)
Originally released as part of the Live Shit: Binge & Purge box set, the standard Seattle setlist includes: Track Title Original Album Blackened ...And Justice for All For Whom the Bell Tolls Ride the Lightning Welcome Home (Sanitarium) Master of Puppets Harvester of Sorrow ...And Justice for All The Four Horsemen Kill 'Em All The Thing That Should Not Be Master of Puppets Bass Solo (inc. "To Live Is to Die" jam) Master of Puppets Master of Puppets Fade to Black Ride the Lightning Seek & Destroy Kill 'Em All ...And Justice for All ...And Justice for All One ...And Justice for All Creeping Death Ride the Lightning Guitar Solo (inc. "Little Wing" jam) Battery Master of Puppets Last Caress (Misfits cover) The 5.98 E.P. Am I Evil? (Diamond Head cover) Garage Inc. Whiplash Kill 'Em All Breadfan (Budgie cover) Garage Inc. Metallica Live Shit Seattle -1989- -320 Kbps- Choscar
Metallica - Live Shit: Binge & Purge - Seattle 1989 - Spotify
The Infamous Metallica Live Shit: A Look Back at the Seattle 1989 Concert
For fans of the iconic heavy metal band Metallica, the name "Live Shit: Banned in L.A." is synonymous with one of the most notorious concerts in rock history. However, before the band embarked on that fateful tour, they performed a series of shows that would lay the groundwork for the chaos that was to come. One such concert took place on August 29, 1989, in Seattle, Washington, and it's this show that we'll be revisiting today.
The Rise of Metallica in the Late 1980s
By the late 1980s, Metallica had already established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the metal scene. With their 1986 album "...And Justice for All" receiving critical acclaim and commercial success, the band was on an upward trajectory. They had also undergone significant changes in their lineup, with the tragic loss of lead guitarist Cliff Burton in 1986, and the subsequent addition of Jason Newsted on bass.
The Seattle 1989 Concert: A Night to Remember
The August 29, 1989, show at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle was part of Metallica's "Damaged Goods" tour, which supported their upcoming album "...And Justice for All". The band, consisting of James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Jason Newsted (bass), and Lars Ulrich (drums), took the stage in front of a packed crowd of enthusiastic fans.
The Setlist: A Mix of Old and New
The setlist for the Seattle show featured a mix of tracks from their earlier albums, such as "Kill 'Em All" and "Ride the Lightning", as well as newer material from "...And Justice for All". Some of the notable tracks performed that night included:
The Recording: A Bootlegged Classic
The Seattle 1989 concert was recorded by a fan and circulated among metalheads in various formats, including cassette tapes and CDs. The recording that's been making the rounds online is a 320 kbps MP3, often referred to as "Metallica Live Shit Seattle -1989- -320 Kbps- Choscar". This bootleg has become a cherished possession among fans, offering a raw and unbridled look at Metallica's live performance during this period.
The Live Shit: Banned in L.A. Legacy
Fast-forward to 1990, and Metallica embarked on the ill-fated "Live Shit: Banned in L.A." tour, which would become infamous for its destructive and chaotic nature. The band's antics, which included rampant partying, hotel room trashing, and on-stage shenanigans, would go down in history as some of the most outrageous in rock 'n' roll.
The Impact of Metallica's Live Shows
Metallica's live performances have always been a cornerstone of their success. Their ability to deliver high-energy shows, complete with intricate musicianship and a commanding stage presence, has earned them a reputation as one of the greatest live acts in metal. The Seattle 1989 concert, in particular, showcases the band's growth and maturity during this period, with a setlist that highlights their expanding musical range.
Conclusion
The "Metallica Live Shit Seattle -1989- -320 Kbps- Choscar" recording offers a fascinating glimpse into the band's live performance during a pivotal moment in their career. While the "Live Shit: Banned in L.A." tour would ultimately overshadow this period, the Seattle show remains an essential piece of Metallica's history. For fans and collectors, this bootleg recording is a treasured artifact that captures the raw energy and excitement of Metallica's live shows during the late 1980s.
Key Takeaways
Recommended Listening
For fans interested in exploring more of Metallica's live performances, we recommend checking out:
About Metallica
Metallica is a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1981. The band consists of James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), and Robert Trujillo (bass). With over 100 million records sold worldwide, Metallica is one of the most successful metal bands of all time, known for their aggressive sound, intense live performances, and enduring influence on the metal genre.
Most circulating versions of the Seattle ’89 Choscar are in lossy 128kbps or 192kbps MP3s, ripped from old cassette trees. They sound "good for a bootleg." But a 320kbps CBR (Constant Bitrate) transfer changes the game.
In 2023, Metallica re-released Live Shit digitally. While clean, many fans argue the remaster is "too clean." It used noise reduction that softened the room ambience—the sound of the crowd roaring, the echo off the Seattle Coliseum walls. The year was 1989, and the air in
The "Choscar 320" transfer retains the "room sound." You hear the hall reverb on Hetfield’s voice when he yells, "Seattle! Are you alive?!" That rawness is the essence of thrash metal. The official remaster sanitizes it; Choscar preserves the violence.
This Seattle show is often called Metallica’s peak live document — right before the Black Album changed their sound. The band is hungry, lean, and dangerously tight. The 320 kbps Choscar rip is the closest you’ll get to being on the floor of the Seattle Coliseum in ’89 without a time machine.