Metallica: the story on HearLore

Metallica

A Danish teenager named Lars Ulrich placed a simple newspaper advertisement in Los Angeles in late 1981 that would change the course of heavy metal history. The ad read, "Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden." It was a modest plea from a young man who had moved to the United States from Denmark, but it sparked a chain reaction that led to the formation of Metallica. James Hetfield, a local guitarist, answered the call, and the two met to begin what would become a decades-long partnership. The band officially formed on the 28th of October 1981, five months after their first meeting, with a lineup that included Hetfield, Ulrich, and a bassist named Ron McGovney. They played their first gig in March 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, with Hetfield handling vocals and McGovney on bass. The early days were chaotic, with multiple guitarists auditioning and leaving, until Dave Mustaine joined the group. Mustaine brought expensive equipment and a technical skill that impressed the founders, but his volatile personality would soon become a defining element of the band's turbulent history. The name Metallica itself came from a fanzine idea by Ulrich's friend Ron Quintana, who was considering names like MetalMania. Ulrich claimed the name for his band, leaving Quintana with the other option. This small decision set the stage for a band that would eventually sell over 163 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the most commercially successful acts in music history.

The Tragedy On The Road

The band's third album, Master of Puppets, released on the 3rd of March 1986, is often cited as one of the greatest metal albums of all time, but its creation was shadowed by a tragedy that nearly ended the group. On the 27th of September 1986, during the European leg of the Damage, Inc. Tour, the band's tour bus skidded and overturned near Dörarp, Sweden. The driver lost control, causing the bus to flip multiple times. While Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett sustained no serious injuries, bassist Cliff Burton was pinned under the bus and died. Hetfield later recalled the horror of the moment, stating, "I saw the bus lying right on him. I saw his legs sticking out. I freaked." The incident left the remaining members with a choice: disband or continue. They decided to carry on, honoring Burton's memory with the blessing of his family. Roughly 40 people auditioned to replace him, including Les Claypool of Primus and Jason Newsted, who eventually won the spot. Newsted learned the entire setlist and joined the band, but the loss of Burton cast a long shadow over their future. The band released a video titled Cliff 'Em All in 1987 to commemorate his three years with Metallica, featuring bass solos and home videos. The tragedy also influenced the band's next album, ...And Justice for All, which was released in 1988. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard 200, but it was marred by production issues. Critics noted that Ulrich's drums sounded like clicking rather than thudding, and the guitars buzzed thinly. The lack of audible bass in the album drew widespread criticism, a direct consequence of the band's decision to record without a bassist, as Newsted was still learning the material and the band wanted to focus on the other instruments.

When did Metallica officially form and who were the original members?

Metallica officially formed on the 28th of October 1981 with James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and bassist Ron McGovney as the original lineup. The band began after Ulrich placed a newspaper advertisement in Los Angeles in late 1981 to find other metal musicians.

Who was the original bassist for Metallica and when did he die?

Cliff Burton was the original bassist for Metallica until he died on the 27th of September 1986 during a bus accident in Sweden. Jason Newsted eventually replaced Burton after 40 people auditioned for the position.

What year did Metallica release The Black Album and how many copies did it sell in the first week?

Metallica released The Black Album in 1991 and sold 650,000 units during its first week in the U.S. The album has since been certified 16 times Platinum and is the 25th-best-selling album in the country.

Why did Metallica sue Napster and when did Jason Newsted leave the band?

Metallica sued Napster in 2000 because the peer-to-peer network distributed their entire catalogue without permission. Jason Newsted left the band on the 17th of January 2001 citing private and personal reasons.

When did Metallica play their first concert in Antarctica and what was the event called?

Metallica played their first concert in Antarctica on the 8th of December 2013 at an event called Freeze 'Em All. The performance was filmed and released as a live album the same month.

Which four bands performed together for the Big Four concerts and when were they inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax performed together for the Big Four concerts starting in 2010. Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the 4th of April 2009.

The Black Album And Mainstream Success

In 1991, Metallica released their self-titled fifth album, known simply as The Black Album, which marked a radical shift in their musical style and brought them to the forefront of mainstream rock. The album cost US$1 million to produce and was remixed three times, a process that ended the marriages of both Hammett and Ulrich. The album debuted at number one in 10 countries, selling 650,000 units in the U.S. during its first week. It has since been certified 16 times Platinum in the U.S., making it the 25th-best-selling album in the country. The change in direction was significant; the band abandoned the fast tempos and aggressive thrash metal sound of their earlier work for a more traditional heavy metal style that appealed to a broader audience. This shift was not without controversy. Fans who had followed the band since the early days were polarized by the new sound, but the commercial success was undeniable. The album's success was followed by a 14-month tour called the Wherever We May Roam Tour, which included dates in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K. In September 1991, 1.6 million rock music fans converged in Moscow for the first open-air rock concert to be held in the Soviet Union, a part of the Monsters of Rock series. The band also appeared at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in April 1992, performing a three-song set. However, the tour was not without its own dangers. On the 8th of August 1992, during the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Hetfield suffered second and third-degree burns to his arms, face, hands, and legs. The burns were caused by a confusion with the new pyrotechnics setup, which resulted in Hetfield walking into a flame during the song "Fade to Black." Newsted described Hetfield's skin as "bubbling like on The Toxic Avenger." The band returned to the stage seventeen days later, with guitar technician John Marshall replacing Hetfield on guitar for the remainder of the tour, although Hetfield was able to sing.

The Napster War And Internal Strife

The year 2000 marked a turning point in Metallica's relationship with the music industry and the public. The band discovered that a demo of its song "I Disappear" was receiving radio airplay, and tracing the source of the leak led them to the Napster peer-to-peer file-sharing network. They found their entire catalogue freely available on the platform. Metallica filed a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, alleging that Napster violated three areas of the law: copyright infringement, unlawful use of digital audio interface device, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Federal Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ordered the site to place a filter on the program within 72 hours or be shut down. The band's leader, Lars Ulrich, provided a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding copyright infringement on the 11th of July 2000. The lawsuit was a bold move that drew criticism from fans and the media, but it also highlighted the changing landscape of the music industry. The case eventually reached a settlement when German media conglomerate Bertelsmann BMG showed interest in purchasing the rights to Napster for $94 million. Under the terms of the settlement, Napster agreed to block users who shared music by artists who do not want their music shared. The conflict was so intense that Ulrich appeared with host Marlon Wayans in a skit at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, criticizing the idea of using Napster to share music. Wayans played a college student listening to Metallica's "I Disappear," and Ulrich walked in to demand an explanation. He called in the Metallica road crew, who proceeded to confiscate all Wayans' belongings, leaving him almost naked in an empty room. The controversy also led to the departure of bassist Jason Newsted, who left the band on the 17th of January 2001, citing private and personal reasons. Newsted said he wanted to release an album with his side project, Echobrain, but Hetfield was opposed to the idea, stating that a side project was "like cheating on your wife in a way." The band's internal struggles were further documented in the 2004 film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, which followed the recording of their eighth album, St. Anger.

The Modern Era And Future Plans

In 2013, Metallica starred in a 3D concert film titled Metallica: Through the Never, which was directed by Antal Nimród and released in IMAX theaters on September 27. The film was a unique blend of concert footage and a fictional thriller storyline, with the band performing live against a backdrop of a narrative involving actor Dane DeHaan. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it showcased the band's ability to innovate and push the boundaries of their art. The band also celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing four shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco in December 2011, which were exclusive to Met Club members. The shows featured guest appearances by artists who had either helped or had influenced Metallica, including Lloyd Grant, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Glenn Danzig, Ozzy Osbourne, Jerry Cantrell, Apocalyptica, members of Diamond Head, and King Diamond. The band's influence continued to grow, with Metallica becoming the first band to play on all seven continents, a feat achieved when they played a show called "Freeze 'Em All" in Antarctica on the 8th of December 2013. The performance was filmed and released as a live album the same month. In 2016, the band released their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album was released via their independent label, Blackened Recordings, and it marked a return to the thrash metal sound that had defined their early years. The band continued to tour and release new music, with their eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons, released on the 14th of April 2023. The album was promoted with a three-and-a-half-year-long tour, titled the M72 World Tour, which began on the 27th of April 2023, in Amsterdam and is set to conclude on the 5th of July 2026, in London. The band's future plans include the release of a follow-up to 72 Seasons, with Lars Ulrich stating that there are some ideas they could start with. The band's commitment to their craft and their fans remains unwavering, as they continue to push the boundaries of heavy metal and create new music that resonates with audiences around the world.