I’m about to head back out and wait in line for the first of two Metallica shows in Minneapolis this weekend. This trip is special to me—not just because I love Metallica—but because I get to share this experience with my oldest son, Keegan, who truly loves Metallica even more than I do.
On the flight over, a lot of thoughts were running through my head. I tried to capture the five most meaningful ones:
- Patience and hard work pay off: Keegan saved his gift money from birthdays, Christmas, etc. (thanks, fam!) and hustled as a camp counselor over spring break and summer. Now, he’s seeing the rewards firsthand by paying for half this trip—covering two nights of tickets, airfare, and hotel. We spent time planning, pricing out the best options, and even negotiating with each other a bit (thanks, Minneapolis!). It was tough resisting the urge to pay for everything, but I’m glad we did it this way.
- Seeing your child embrace something you love—on an even deeper level—is priceless: Last year, Keegan surprised me with tickets (thanks, Mory!) for Father’s Day to see Metallica in LA. That experience fired him up so much that it sparked an even bigger passion. Now, it’s all the albums on vinyl, a James Hetfield Gibson Explorer guitar (yep, he bought that too), t-shirts, guitar picks, and more. His passion reignited my own love for the greatest band of all time.
- They grow up fast: Watching Keegan navigate this trip—finding fan experiences, scoring tickets, predicting opening songs, managing work schedules—gives me hope that he’s caught the music and adventure bug. I love seeing him eager to explore music and the world.
- Aging well is a gift: I’ve been reflecting on the fact that I’m now sharing this experience with my son at a similar age I was when I first saw Metallica with my brother, who’s no longer with us. I vividly remember us standing at the barrier, just a few people apart, and him yelling at James to play “Damage, Inc.” I’ll need to channel that same energy and show Keegan how to get us to the front like Todd did for me. We didn’t quite pull it off at the last show.
- Shared experiences create lifelong bonds. Keegan and I will cherish this for the rest of our lives. The first show in LA is still fresh in my memory, and I can’t wait to see what stories we’ll come back with after this weekend—ones we’ll only need to nod at each other to remember.
Have a great weekend and wish me luck! ???? Message me if you happen to be at the show.
Enjoy the shows!