Coming Soon To A Theater Near You: The Big Four

American metalheads were green with envy when it was announced that thrash's original "Big Four", Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, would be playing together this summer at a couple European festivals. The above is a flyer for the show that is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria. Obviously Heaven & Hell will no longer be there because of Ronnie James Dio's passing, but can you imagine what that bill would have been like if he was alive and well?!?!? Anyway, it is still beyond spectacular considering the caliber of the other four bands. The good news is that if you can't afford a plane ticket to Europe this summer, then you can do the next best thing and watch the Bulgaria show in a movie theater. Metallica sent out an e-newsletter last night with the details. Check it out:

Can't make it to Europe this June for one of the seven Sonisphere "Big Four" shows featuring us along with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax? No problem... we've got the next best thing through the magic of satellite technology with a special HD simulcast from Sofia, Bulgaria on June 22!

Here's how it works: The live show will be transmitted via satellite to over 450 movie theaters in the U.S. and over 350 theaters across Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Within hours of all of us walking off the stage, depending on what time zone you live in, you'll be able to rock out to each set in the cozy confines of your local movie theater that same night.

Now the nitty gritty details: Tickets for the one night only event are available at the local theater box offices and online at thebigfourlive.com where you can see a complete list of presenting theaters. They will start to go on sale Friday, May 21 in the U.S and Friday, May 28 internationally. Please note that ticket on sale times and even days will vary by theatre, so check with your friendly neighborhood participating movie theatre for exact days and times tickets will be available and keep watching thebigfourlive.com for theatre additions/changes. For our friends in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, delayed screenings will be coming your way. Again, keep watching here and thebigfourlive.com for updates.

A few more tidbits you might find helpful: Ticket prices in the U.S. will be around $20 plus whatever service charges your local theater may add. No, unfortunately each band's entire set will not be shown, but trust us, you'll see most of the action.

If you're still with us here and want a little more info about the good people helping to make this happen, check out: byexperience.net. They've done some awesome events!

Pretty cool right? I'm putting together a posse to go see this because quite frankly I think it will be a good deal of fun. And in theory, this should be one of those rare times when someone else talking in the movie theater shouldn't bother me. More information about tickets and participating theaters can be found here.