Metallica meets with Fla. cancer survivor

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- An 85-year-old cancer survivor says the heavy metal group Metallica met with her before a show in Tampa, Fla.

Margaret Priebe of Largo, Fla., told The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times that Metallica singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett all visited with her before taking the stage Saturday at Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum.

"They were just like what I'd thought they'd be -- very nice," Priebe said of Saturday's visit.

Preibe's tale of how she listened to Metallica's heavy hits while undergoing chemotherapy in 2008 as part of her fight against cancer was featured in a St. Petersburg Times piece on Thursday.

The newspaper story soon became in Internet sensation and Metallica decided to take time to meet the woman whom Ulrich called "The No. 1 Metallica fan!"

The Times said Metallica also gave Priebe a roadie T-shirt and a signed copy of the band's newest album, "Death Magnetic."