This has been the year of using social media to fool people into thinking their favorite bands are performing at strange locations, and now it's time for Metallica fans to play victim. Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA (via Blabbermouth) reports that a number of the group's local fans were fooled by a Facebook event page claiming Metallica would be performing at Joe's Crab Shack on Aug. 7-9.

"Metallica & Joe's Crab Shack are combining forces to bring you the most Metal show and Buffet to ever exist in the Old West," reads the page (typos included). "Metallica will be playing all their albums in entirety. From Kill Em All to the upcoming new untitled album. But wait it's gets even better . There will be an unlimited buffet of Crab legs for all concert goers !!"

The page goes on to add that the event includes a "golden ticket" contest, in which VIP passes will be hidden in burritos sold by another local restaurant.

As Blabbermouth's report notes, there's something of a sad undertone to the prank: Joe's Crab Shack shut down earlier this month, closing so suddenly that some employees told reporters they only learned they were out of a job during a conference call. The event page claimed that Metallica's shows would also serve as the "grand re-opening" of the restaurant.

The Metallica hoax is just the latest in a series of fake concert announcements in recent weeks, most of which have targeted acts past their commercial prime: Smash Mouth were said to be playing in front of a dumpster behind a Los Angeles supermarket, while Sugar Ray were listed as performing at a Ross Dress for Less in Atlanta. Limp Bizkit, meanwhile, inadvertently drew more than 100 fans to a gas station in Ohio.

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