Legendary rock photographer and long time Metallica pal Ross Halfin revealed on his web site that he took pictures of Metallica in the Los Angeles area on Friday, October 12, presumably while the band was in the studio recording its new album. According to Halfin, "the highlight of the session was Kirk Hammett insisting I photograph '666' which he'd had tattooed on his bottom after drinking 'Jack' with David Lee Roth. Kirk told me his hero, Scott Ian of Anthrax, has got the same on his bottom. 'We did it together!' He was extremely proud of this...". Halfin has been Metallicas photographer since 1985.