Metallica Reunites Original Lineup at Final 30th Anniversary Show

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After three nights of special guests, song premieres, special covers and nuggets from deep in their vaults, Metallica came into last night's (Dec. 10) show at the Fillmore in San Francisco with the challenge of somehow topping themselves.

Luckily, the thrash lifers proved up to the task, enlisting original members -- Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney -- and metal gods -- Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath -- to help celebrate their fourth and final 30th anniversary gig.

Mustaine, who was famously fired by 'Tallica in '83, played on the final five tunes, Rolling Stone reports, and when McGoveny, the original bassist, came on for 'Hit the Lights,' it marked the first time the founding lineup had performed together since 1982. Also on hand was Lloyd Grant, who lent guitar to the recorded version.

All three stayed on for the night's closer, 'Seek & Destroy,' which also featured bassist Jason Newsted, who joined in 1987, following the death of McGovney's replacement, Cliff Burton. Newsted quit in 2001 but turned up at all four Fillmore gigs, rocking alongside his replacement, Robert Trujillo.

On the nights leading up to Saturday's finale, Metallica jammed with such high-profile guests as producer Bob Rock, metal crooner and former Misfits singer Glenn Danzig, Kid Rock, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and Lou Reed, who stopped by Wednesday for a pair of 'Lulu' tracks, neither of which, miraculously, caused a riot.

At each of the shows, Metallica premiered a previously unheard cut from the sessions for 2008's 'Death Magnetic.' The band later released the tracks to fan club members via email, giving early holiday presents to those not lucky enough to land tickets for the monumental birthday concerts.

Watch Metallica's Original Lineup Perform 'Hit the Lights'