Metallica say deciding to headline Glastonbury was a “no-brainer”.

A year ago it was all up in the air.

The Messiah of Stockholm

IN 1976 a truck pulled to a stop in the sleepy rural village of Kilnamartyra in West Cork. In the truck, which had travelled thousands of miles from Sweden, were newly-weds Lars and Gunilla Edman — and some mould-making machines.

Metallica's Lars Ulrich loves touring because it gets him "out of the house".

Swim Ireland have appointed Lars Humer as head coach at the High Performance Centre at the University Arena in Limerick.

Metallica have "846 riffs" ready for their next album.

Kirsten Dunst was scared to work with Lars Von Trier - and was shocked at first by the things he said to her when he directed her in 'Melancholia'.

Metallic are in the "very early stages of production" for a 3D concert film expected to be released in summer next year.

Stellan Skarsgard tricked Paul Bettany into appearing in 'Dogville'.

Lars von Trier's new film 'Melancholia' has premiered in London and is already causing an Oscar buzz.

Metallica have been voted the best rock group of the last 30 years.

CONTROVERSIAL director Lars Von Trier may not win the Palme d’Or at this, year’s Cannes Film Festival but he appears odds-on favourite to take the prize for the strangest press conference.

Metallica are planning to start writing a new album in 2011.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson admitted his gamble on the fitness of midfielder Owen Hargreaves ended in disaster after just five minutes of the 2-1 win over Wolves.

By Henning Mankell

A Danish movie about a gay love affair between two members of a neo-Nazi group won top honours at the Rome Film Festival, while Helen Mirren won the best actress award.

Everton right-back Lars Jacobsen will be assessed by the club’s medical staff after suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder last night.

Take one strange loner and a blow-up sex doll … and you have a surprisingly wonderful romantic comedy with lots of heart and insight and a palpable feel-good factor.

ONE of the minor joys of European or World Cup tournaments is the way they throw up the most unlikely alliances between different nations.

THREE weeks from now, a most unusual birthday will be celebrated in Berlin; Knut, the city’s polar bear cub, will be one year old.

AS Sally Corscadden led off the three-rider Irish eventing team at the European Championships in Rome yesterday, moves to achieve “positive change” were underway back home.

IRELAND’S eventing team competing in next week’s European Championships has been dealt a severe blow with the withdrawal of Lieutenant Geoff Curran following an injury to Balladeer Alfred.

A MOTHER photographed rushing towards a killer wave in a desperate bid to save her children has been found alive.

JESSICA KÜRTEN sat down to dinner last night in Kuala Lumpur and reflected on a superb performance that saw her place fourth in the first round of the World Cup.

JESSICA KÜRTEN jumped four flawless rounds yesterday to win the Dubai Masters at the Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge and give herself the perfect fillip ahead of today’s cash-rich grand prix.

Screen beauty Nicole Kidman will work with maverick director Lars Von Trier again for the final part of his cinematic trilogy - despite dubbing the making of his 2003 film Dogville her "craziest" movie

A mother photographed rushing towards a killer wave in a desperate bid to save her children has been found alive.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has split with his wife Skylar, following reports he's dating actress Connie Nielsen.

Lars - the von he added for vanity - Trier might try a little harder when it comes to bringing us decent films (his track record isn't the strongest).

Sweden coaches Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback still have work to do following the bust-up between Fredrik Ljungberg and Olaf Mellberg, according to former Sweden international Glenn Stromberg.

Sweden’s World Cup preparations exploded into open warfare today as Fredrik Ljungberg grabbed team-mate Olof Mellberg by the throat in an astonishing training ground bust-up.

Greg Rusedski continues to ride the crest of a wave in the Australian Open.