Metallica realise the internet is an opportunity

It's difficult to remember that there was a time when the music industry wasn't that bothered about the internet, and - had Metallica not thrown their weight around - it's possible the offices of the RIAA companies would still be happily ignoring the threat to their business.

Having kick-started a war on the web, it's amusing to see Metallica now happy to leech off the work done by others:

"We want to be as free a players as possible," they continue in the interview."We've been observing Radiohead and Trent Reznor and in twenty-seven years or however long it takes for the next record, we'll be looking forward to everything in terms of possibilities with the Internet."

So, having done so much to try and close down the possibilites of the internet, now they can sniff a few bob, Lars and the boys are changing their minds.