Metallica reunited with former bassist Jason Newsted at the first of their 30th anniversary shows last night (05.12.11).

The rockers played an intimate gig at the Fillmore in San Francisco and the 1,200 fans who packed into the venue were thrilled with the special three-hour set, which included a number of the band’s lesser-known songs.

It was the first of four shows at the concert this week and a pass to see all the gigs was $19.81 – a figure that honours the year the band formed – while individual shows cost just $6.

Longtime fan George Good said: “I’m as happy as a clam. They could’ve charged me $800 and I would’ve bought it.”

The group – who’s current line up is James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo – opened the show with a blistering version of ‘The Call of Ktulu’, followed by ‘No Remorse’.

They also played ‘Hate Train’, a previously unheard track from the sessions for last album ‘Death Magnetic and covers of ‘It’s Electric’ by Diamond Head and ‘Please Don’t Judas Me’ by Nazareth.

Jason – who left the band in 2001 – joined the group to featured on ‘Harvester of Sorrow’, ‘Damage, Inc.’ and show closer ‘Seek and Destroy’.

Metallica at The Fillmore, San Francisco, full set list:

‘The Call of Ktulu’

‘No Remorse’ (Full Version)

‘The Shortest Straw’

‘Leper Messiah’

‘The Day That Never Comes’

‘Carpe Diem Baby’

‘Hate Train’

‘Please Don’t Judas Me’

‘Wherever I May Roam’ (with MetClubber John Dent)

‘Sad But True ‘(with John Marshall)

‘No Leaf Clover’ (with Apocalyptica)

‘One’ (with Apocalyptica)

‘Harvester of Sorrow’ (with Jason Newsted)

‘Damage, Inc.’ (with Jason Newsted)

‘Motorcycle Man’ (with Biff Byford)

‘The Prince’ (with Sean Harris & Brian Tatler)

‘It’s Electric’ (with Sean Harris & Brian Tatler)

‘Helpless’ (with Sean Harris & Brian Tatler)

‘Am I Evil?’ (with Sean Harris & Brian Tatler)

‘Seek and Destroy’ (with Jason Newsted, John Marshall, Sean Harris, Brian Tatler, Bif Byford, Apocalyptica, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band)