Blistered Earth.jpg

When Metallica tribute band Blistered Earth asked for help in finding gear stolen after a show in Portland, James Hetfield and crew offered to replace all of it.

(Photo courtesy of Blistered Earth)

One day after Metallica cover band Blistered Earth reported thousands of dollars in gear was stolen after a gig in Portland, James Hetfield and the rest of the legendary metal outfit offered to replace every bit of it.

Blistered Earth announced the donation on Facebook Wednesday, thanking KOIN and KATU for their reports of the theft at the Chestnut Tree Inn. The show, performed at Rock Hard PDX in Southeast Portland, was a Metallica/Ozzy Osbourne tribute featuring Crazy Train.

"It's pretty cool that (Metallica) decided to do that. It's a pretty nice gesture," drummer and band spokesman Shawn Murphy told The Oregonian/OregonLive over the phone Thursday.

But even though Blistered Earth's getting all of its stuff replaced by the very band it covers, Murphy says the real stars of the show are the Portland metal community.

"I just want to give a big thank you from everybody in the band to the people of Portland," he said. "Everybody was just unbelievably cool and supportive."

Blistered Earth's Facebook posts about the theft garnered hundreds of shares, which Murphy said acted as a signal boost that eventually attracted local media attention and, eventually, Metallica's.

"It was just awesome how everybody was standing out here and trying to help," he said. "It wasn't like, the thing of the day to chime in about on Facebook. People were legitimately trying to help."

Murphy said Blistered Earth didn't yet have a plan to replace what was stolen. After the initial requests for help, he might have set up a GoFundMe or other crowdfunding campaign, he said.

But a call from a Metallica representative changed that.

The legendary metal band asked Blistered Earth for a gear list. Murphy and his bandmates obliged, having kept track of their inventory as they toured.

"The average person wouldn't realize how common it is or how much of a target a band is when they're on the road," Murphy said. "You're a stranger in a strange land, basically. People know that and they can take advantage."

Blistered Earth has had gear stolen in the past, but the band hasn't experienced a loss of this level. Murphy said the group will invest in more security in the future.

"Boot on the van. GPS. It's going to have to be the whole deal," he said. "You're almost fighting yourself with it. It's like, 'God, does it have to come to this? Do I have to be that vigilant?'"

Still, the experience hasn't soured Blistered Earth's outlook or its love for Portland or the Pacific Northwest. (They're from Spokane.)

"Everybody was just unbelievably cool and supportive," Murphy said. "I don't think any of the guys in the band would think anything else."

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com