Metallica endured a 28-hour non-stop journey from Norway to Latvia in order to continue their European tour after planes were grounded.

The group were forced to travel by bus to the capital of Riga when airspace was shut due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Guitarist Kirk Hammett told reporters it was difficult to relax during the journey, which normally takes two hours by plane.

It was also bittersweet journey for Metallica, who have avoided buses since bassist Cliff Burton was killed when the band’s bus flipped in Sweden in 1986.

"When we boarded the bus again this week and had to travel overnight, I realised that those bad memories are still here,” Hammet told the Associated Press.

“I still haven't overcome the fear of buses. But the show must go on.”

After performing the second of two gigs in Vilnius, Lithuania tonight (April 21), the band are due to travel to Russia by train.

Hammett said it would take “a really great force” to stop the group completing the jaunt.

Airspace in Britain re-opened last night (April 20) almost a week after it was shut due to the ash cloud created by the volcano.

(by Jason Gregory)