Metallica: the first band to play on all seven continents.

When thinking about Metallica , the first thing that usually comes to mind is their legacy as pioneers of thrash metal and one of the genre's famous "big four." They stand alongside Anthrax , Megadeth , and Slayer James Hetfield 's unmistakable and often raspy voice

Another important aspect of Metallica that most people forget is that they hold the Guinness World Record. In 2013, the band became the first musical act to perform a show on all seven continents of the planet, which is an impressive feat. 

The band played to a small crowd of 120 people, a mix of scientists and fans. In this case, the fans were some who had won a competition to see their heroes perform amidst the stunning views of Earth's southernmost landmass.

The metal icons played in a transparent dome at Carlini Station, and it goes without saying that the crowd loved it. That year, the band was busy, managing to perform on all seven continents, which is a gigantic feat even for a group with all the support of a major record label. The Antarctic show was called “Freeze 'Em All” and Metallica played ten classics, including “Master of Puppets”, “One” and “Enter Sandman”.

What was interesting about this unique Metallica show was the way it was set up. The band played without the traditional PA system, known as a public address system , and amplification. This was because it would disturb the fragile, already unstable environment of the venue. Surprisingly, the band's amplifiers were housed in isolated cabinets, with the sound directed to the audience through headphones. In many ways, it was the same format as a silent disco, but without the silence.

Metallica teamed up with Coca-Cola, which organized a competition for fans in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico to win the trip of a lifetime. The winners also went on a week-long cruise to Antarctica, which stopped for the show.

Another incredible thing about the show is that Carlini Station is notoriously difficult to reach. Located on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, it's only accessible by air or sea via Marambio Base. This gave the show an even more unique feel, delivered in one of the most remote locations on Earth.

However, Metallica wasn't the first band to play in Antarctica. In 2007, Nunatak , the home band from Rothera Research Station, participated in the Live Earth . They were the only band to play at the Antarctic show of the global event and performed to a packed crowd of 17 people, the entire population of the Station.