On its second of four dates in Mexico City, Metallica surprised fans once more on Sunday (Sept. 22) by performing a cover of “La Negra Tomasa,” a reinterpretation by the band Caifanes of a song written by Cuban Guillermino Rodríguez that redefined the rock scene in Mexico during the 1980s
Two days after firing up the crowd with the Norteño classic “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, bassist Robert Trujillo — who is of Mexican descent — and guitarist Kirk Hammett once again delivered a powerful performance of a Latin song to a cheering audience of 65,000 people who packed the Estadio GNP Seguros, according to figures from promoter Ocesa. Trujillo took on the vocals for the Caifanes hit, originally performed by band leader Saúl Hernández and included in the Mexican band’s self-titled album of 1988.
On Sept. 20, Trujillo, accompanied by Hammett, paid tribute to his Mexican roots by performing the famous northern music song “La Chona,” a performance that was celebrated by the crowd that gathered at the stadium, where Metallica is offering four shows as part of its M72 World Tour. It’s the band’s first visit to the country after a seven-year absence.
Metallica’s gesture was reciprocated by Los Tucanes de Tijuana with a message on their social media.
“Wow! What an honor, what great pride, and what a great gesture from the great group @metallica for having sung #LaChona live. Greetings, masters, we send you a big hug and a very special grouping to each and every one of you for making us feel even more proud of our Chona!” Los Tucanes wrote on Instagram. “We admire you very much and we loved that you sang La Chona at your show! Hopefully, we will soon have the honor and pleasure of meeting you personally!”
Metallica’s next shows at the Estadio GNP Seguros are scheduled for next Friday and Sunday (Sept. 27 and 29).
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of its Black Album (1991), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where it recorded the live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today Estadio GNP Seguros) in June 2009.
Watch Metallica playing Caifanes’ “La Negra Tomasa” below.
