Welcome to the year of Metallica. Due to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in April, the subject of the latest installment of "Guitar Hero" in March, and with a brilliant new CD "Death Magnetic" already racking up rave reviews and double platinum sales in the US alone, 2009 will be the year Metallica re-establishes their dominance in the world of metal. Consider this; only Aerosmith, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin have outsold Metallica in the hard rock field and all three have been in existence a significantly longer time. Metallica has now sold more records here at home than (in descending order) Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Queen, The Doors, Boston, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Ozzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush, Nirvana, ZZ Top, Motley Crue, The Police, Jimi Hendrix, among others. Wow!

The best part? They'll be here tomorrow and Tuesday night at the Allstate Arena. Don't forget I'll be doing my show live from both concerts, bringing you the sights, sounds and bombast that is a Metallica performance. See you there!

(See Metallica's video for their new song "All Nightmare Long" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1GsZPLqA6M)

Geoff Tate of Queensryche checked in with me this past Thursday night to update me about their forthcoming CD "American Soldier" and their upcoming tour. Geoff said the band would be performing extended sets of music from their "Rage For Order", "Empire" and "American Soldier" discs. All this week on my show, your chance to win tickets to see the return of Queensryche May 7th and 8th at the House Of Blues.

As promised, here are the totals from the 3rd annual "Byrd For Birds" food drive. This year more than 10 tons of food and more than $15,000 in cash donations were donated by Loyal Loopers... enough to provide meals for some 70,000 Chicagoans in need! As you might imagine in these times of economic challenges, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is being called upon to provide meals for significantly more people than in past years. If you were unable to get by the Merchandise Mart with a donation, but would still like to contribute a frozen turkey, non-perishable food item or simply to donate some money to have these items purchased in your name, you can contact the Greater Chicago Food Depository directly at 773-247-FOOD or log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to the Loyal Loopers who took the time to share with others and my fellow Loop staffers who helped make it all possible again this year. You guys and gals are the best!

All this week on my show, your last chance to win tickets to see the Loop present Metallica next Monday and Tuesday nights at the Allstate Arena. Don't miss out! In addition to tickets every night this week between 7pm-12midnight, I will be broadcasting my show live from the concerts next Monday and Tuesday nights. If you are attending one (or both) of the shows, please stop by and say hello!

(See Metallica perform "Cyanide" live on TV here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8hTU9fLVgM)

(See Metallica's video for "All Nightmare Long" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bh_KF_ugRE)

(See Metallica's video for "The Day That Never Comes" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yErdJpg1ECg)

Coming up this week on the show, a conversation with Slash Thursday night at 9:30pm, the chance to win tickets to see Bret Michaels upcoming local stop on the "Rock Of Love Bus Tour" and Jimi Hendrix CD/DVD prize packs each night.

Welcome to 2009!

The brains behind the massively successful annual Trans Siberian Orchestra tours and multi-platinum discs, Paul O'Neill informed me during our on-air conversation several weeks ago that they had doubled the lights and pyro effects this year to up the ante... and he wasn't kidding. Seeing is believing.

(See Trans Siberian Orchestra perform "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo" live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9jXfA8BhCw)

(See more of Trans Siberian Orchestra live at the Allstate Arena here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpKitAGUDGg)

The attention to detail with the "Winter Classic" between the Blackhawks and Red Wings was also a sight to behold. Even though we ended up on the losing side in the actual game, the event was a runaway success for Chicago and the Hawks. The national TV audience was the biggest to date and amply demonstrated to the world (along with the Obama Grant Park celebration) that we sure know how to throw a spectacular party here. Let's hope those folks from the International Olympic Committee were paying attention.

This week on the show, win tickets to 3 Doors Down/Seether February 21st at the Venue and a conversation with Pat Travers Wednesday night at 9:30pm.