Metallica Tour Raises USD 28,000 For Canadian Charities

Heavy metal rockers METALLICA have turned their Canadian tour into a charity mission - the band has donated over USD 28,000 (GBP 17,500) to good causes across the country.

The Enter Sandman hitmakers donated a portion of the proceeds from Tuesday night's (03Nov09) sold-out concert in Ontario to help fill the shelves of Ottawa Food Bank - delivering a cheque for USD 8,200 (GBP 5,125) to the agency.

According to The Montreal Gazette, members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo also donated USD 20,185 (GBP 12,615) from sales of two sold-out shows in Montreal, Quebec on 19 and 20 September (09) to Sun Youth, a local community services organisation.

However, Sun Youth co-founder Sid Stevens admits the band asked to keep their donation under wraps until the group had left Montreal in order to avoid critics putting a negative spin on their gifts.

He says, "It's a beautiful gift. People sometimes look at groups of this nature in a derogatory or negative manner. But it's very interesting to see them donate in every city they visit."

--IANS-WENN