Last night (June 9) Metallica headlined night two of the massive stage at the Download Festival at Castle Donington in Leicestershire, U.K. but according to Download Festival booker Andy Copping, the dream show almost never happened.

Copping told Classic Rock that even after Metallica’s manger told him they wouldn’t be touring the U.K. and Europe in 2012 he held out hope and offered up a genius idea.

Copping, who wanted to find a special way to celebrate the festival’s 10th anniversary, recounts the conversation, “I said, ‘I want them to do the Black Album.’ He [Metallica's manager] said, ‘It’s a good idea – but they’re still not touring.’”

According to Copping, a mere two weeks later, Metallica signed on to play and the rest was history.

Last night the metal giants powered through their eponymous album released in 1991. They played the entire disc in reverse, in addition to a handful of other ‘Tallica classics including ‘The Four Horseman.’

In the two minute clip fans can watch here, Metallica stop during ‘Enter Sandman’ for some crowd participation served up Hetfield style, just a small taste of their monster two hour set.

Metallica have posted a slew of photos from the evening on their Facebook page as well, check them out here.

Metallica’s Set List From June 9 Download Festival –  Castle Donington in Leicestershire, U.K.

‘Hit The Lights’

‘Master Of Puppets’

‘The Four Horsemen’

‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’

‘Hell And Back’

‘The Struggle Within’

‘My Friend Of Misery’

‘The God That Failed’

‘Of Wolf & Man’

‘Nothing Else Matters’

‘Through The Never’

‘Don’t Tread On Me’

‘Wherever I May Roam’

‘The Unforgiven’

‘Holier Than Thou’

‘Sad But True’

‘Enter Sandman’

Encore:

‘Battery’

‘One’

‘Seek And Destroy’

More From KLAQ El Paso