Metallica bags coveted award

AMERICAN heavy metal band Metallica was awarded Sweden’s Polar Music Prize yesterday, drawing a delighted response from the group which has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, publisher and manager of the Swedish band Abba, the Polar Music Prize has become a coveted accolade in both classical and popular music.

“Receiving the Polar Music Prize is an incredible thing,” Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich said on the band’s website.

“It puts us in very distinguished company. It’s a great validation of everything Metallica has done over the last 35 years.”