Here are some cool pictures I've been collecting. You can click to view them in large. You may also want to read MetallicA's Official Brief History and FAQ.
"Metallica: A Brief History of..."
1981 Lars Ulrich, a Dane abroad in Los Angeles and would-be tennis pro meets up with James Hetfield, a.k.a. "The Angriest Kid in the World." The pair form a band and call it Metallica (so old people wouldn't mistake them for an old-time jazz ensemble).
Other players include bass player Ron McGovney and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine.
1983 After two years of sticking out like a sore thumb on the scuzzy LA glam metal scene, Metallica relocates to San Francisco to hook up with a new band member, eccentric bass genius Cliff Burton.
The band then boots Mustaine and moves to New York with new guitarist Kirk Hammett in
tow to record their debut LP, appropriately entitled Kill 'Em All. Marked by speed, energy, and twisted innocence, Kill 'Em All blows the tired, brain-dead heavy metal genre all to hell.
1984 Metallica's much-awaited second album, Ride the Lightning, is released. The album--all rage and black fury--begins, shockingly, with acoustic guitar. (Afterward, 3,000 other bands steal this idea and follow suit.) Despite a solid wall of disinterest from commercial radio, Ride the Lightening goes gold and spends 50 weeks on Billboard's Top 200.
1986 The good news: Metallica's third release, Master of Puppets, redefines "thrash metal" (an unfortunate appellation) with its inexorable, intense, melodic sound. Without the dubious benefit of singles or videos--vanities Metallica remains uninterested in--Master of Puppets sells a million copies in the U.S. alone.
The bad news: While on their first headline tour of Europe, Metallica's tour bus skids off an
icy Swedish road. Cliff Burton is killed instantly. Despite the grief shared by remaining members of the band, there is no doubt that Metallica will carry on. "Cliff would have been the first one to be pissed off if we didn't," says Lars. Weeks later, a new bassist is found in Jason Newsted.
1987 Metallica returns from Europe to play the gigs postponed after Cliff's death. Back in San Francisco, the band converts Lars' garage into a rehearsal room, records a handful of favorite cover songs, and releases them on the $9.98 CD: Garage Days Revisited (a.k.a., The $5.98 EP). In the summer, Metallica plays the Donington Festival, warming up with a gig at London's 100 Club.
In the row is one John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin's bass player, who after the gig is seen shaking his head and muttering, "I didn't know that sort of thing was possible...."
1988 Metallica releases Cliff 'Em All, a long-form video complied largely from footage shot by fans during gigs, dedicated to their late friend. They then tour the States as part of the Monsters of Rock package, rendering the likes of Van Halen, The Scorpions, and Kingdom Come musically redundant. Metallica's fourth LP, ...And Justice for All--in all its sophisticated, mechanically violent glory--is released in September. Sales go through the roof, etc. Metallica embarks on a world tour, including 120 arena gigs in the U.S. alone. All this, without brown-nosing one MTV producer or a single DJ. Remarkable. For the first time, Metallica releases two singles--"Harvester of Sorrow" and "One"--as well as two different videos for "One."
1991 Metallica, the eponymous fifth album that comes to be known as "The Black Album," is redolent with bittersweet, heavyweight simplicity. The album was produced by Bob Rock, known for his work with Bon Jovi. The rock community behaves as if this were the single most important and telling event in Metallica's decade-long career. Needless to say, it's not.
"Human nature is strange," says Lars. "There's been this mass hysteria over nothing. It's
been fun to sit and watch it happen, though. ...And Justice for All now sounds like it was recorded in a matchbox. It was like, 'Look at us, we can play all this intricate sideways stuff.' Well, so what? Metallica is more emotional. When it's angry, it's more angry. When it's subtle, it's more subtle. For the first time, we've done what was best for the big picture."
"No rules but Metallica rules," says James, summing up the band's mood perfectly. "Here it is, black sleeve, black logo, fuck you."
The single, "Enter Sandman," is an international hit, and soon becomes a live favorite, as
does "Sad but True," "Nothing Else Matters," and "Wherever I May Roam." Metallica plays 300 shows around the world between August 1991 and July 1993. Their reputation as one of the planet's most exciting live acts is carved in stone--they are the band who took heavy into the mainstream. Then they all go on holiday for a year.
1995 Tagged "Escape from the Studio '95," Metallica set up a minor diversion at Castle Donington, playing to 60,000 people. Then they return home to complete recording the next LP, again with Bob Rock. Astonishing rumors abound that not only has Metallica kept to self-imposed deadlines, they've actually recorded two LPs' worth of material.
1996 The band announces their headlining status on this year's Lollapalooza festival tour. And with the release of Load, Metallica rewrites the rule book yet again....
MetallicA FAQ
How did the band start? How did Lars and James first meet?
Lars had taken out an ad in a newspaper called the Recycler, saying he was looking for
people to jam with. James answered the ad, and was unimpressed with Lars' playing--partly due to the fact that Lars' cymbals fell over every time he hit them. Shortly afterward, Lars went to England to follow his favorite band, Diamond Head on tour, and after returning to the States got a spot on Brian Slagel's Metal Massacre album. Using this as bait, he talked James into recording a song for the album. The rest is history.
Where did the name Metallica come from?
Lars stole it. Ron Quintana, "Mr. Metal" of San Francisco, was getting ready to launch a
metal fanzine and he had a few names. He asked his friend Lars for help. After hearing the name "Metallica," Lars quickly suggested a different name...and kept Metallica for himself!
Who are all the former and current members of the band?
James, Lars, Kirk, Jason are all current. Cliff Burton died September 27, 1986, in a bus
accident in Europe. Dave Mustaine once played lead guitar and Ron McGovney bass, but both were "removed." Damien Philips turned in one appearance in concert as a second guitarist. And Lloyd Grant was never really a member, but recorded some lead work to the first demo for "Hit The Lights."
When and where was the first Metallica show?
Featuring Ron McGovney on bass and Dave Mustaine on guitar, Metallica's first show was at Radio City in Anaheim, CA. The date is said to have been March 14, 1982.
Where did recorded Metallica first appear?
The very first Metallica song, called "Hit The Lights," appeared on Metal Massacre I. That
song featured James on vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass. Lars was on drums, Dave Mustaine on lead guitar, and Lloyd Grant added the 2nd guitar solo. Later releases of Metal Massacre included a different version of the song with McGovney on bass and without Grant.
Who designed the Metallica logo?
James is responsible for it.
Where is the "Snake" from?
The snake, seen heavily on the Black Album, is from the Culpepper Minute Men flag, from
which the motto "Don't Tread On Me" also originates.
When was Metallica's first tour?
July 27-September 3, 1983
Is it true Metallica has (or was supposed to) appeared on Saturday Night Live?
Yes, the band was to appear in 1987, but front-man James Hetfield injured himself in one of his many skateboard accidents causing a cancellation!
What's Megaforce Records?
Megaforce records signed Metallica in 1983, after the band traveled from their home in SF to Megaforce's offices in New Jersey. Megaforce released Kill 'em All (KEA) and Ride the
Lightening (RTL) in North America. Elektra Records came into the picture shortly after the
release of RTL, and subsequently re-released both albums on their label.
What is the Make-A-Wish foundation?
It is an organization that attempts to make the wishes of seriously ill youngsters come true. Metallica actively supports and assists Make-A-Wish as often as possible.
Primus/Faith No More/Metallica--What's the connection?
Kirk and Les Claypool from Primus grew up and went to the same school together in El
Sobrante, CA. Big Jim Martin (the old guitar player in FNM) and Cliff were best friends as kids and in several bands together. Cliff also knew Mike Bordin (the drummer in FNM and another friend of Kirkšs) and actually suggested Jim to Mike for the guitar duties in FNM.
Metallica moved from LA to SF, why?
Cliff lived in SF and refused to move to LA. In order to get Cliff as the bass player the band
had to relocate.
What happened to Cliff Burton, the former bass player?
Cliff was killed in the early morning hours of September 27, 1986, in a bus accident in Toftaholm, Sweden (118 miles north of Copenhagen).
What is Alcoholica?
A nickname for Metallica, given to them somewhere in Europe in 1985, because of their love of drinking, A fan was spotted wearing a T-shirt he had made of the cover of Kill 'Em All, only instead of a hammer and blood, the T-shirt showed a bottle spilling vodka. The band members liked it so much, they adopted it for their own use.
What happened to John Smith, the kid from the Year & a Half in the Life video?
John passed away several months after the video was released.
What is Spastic Children?
Spastic Children was a "joke band" created originally by James, Cliff, Fred Cotton, and
James (Flunky) McDaniel. SC never practiced and played rather ludicrous songs. Cliff played bass and James drummed. When Cliff died, Kirk took over the bass duties. According to Kirk: "Spastic Children was a good excuse to drink and be silly on stage." Spastic has not been seen around lately.
What is Voodoo Children?
A group that only made one performance to benefit the blues guitarist John Campbell in the summer of 1993. The lineup was: Kirk Hammett on guitar; Jason Newsted on bass; Tony Prinzivalli on guitar and vocals; Whitey Chrobak on keys; and Tim Lau on drums.
Who are Die Krupps?
Die Krupps is a German band that released a nine song tribute CD to Metallica. Their
interpretation of the songs is considerably different than that of the originals. There is some guitar, but mostly keyboards, electronic drums and a strong accent from the vocalist.
What is NWOBHM?
It stands for the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal--a form that Lars is especially quite fond of. NWOBHM acts like Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Angel Witch, Samson, Saxon had great influence on early Metallica. This movement is considered to have started mid
1979, and fizzled out by 1982. Rock historians say NWOBHM was hard rock's answer to
punk rock's street "vibe" and youthful energy.
What was the Snake Pit?
The "Snake Pit" was a large pit in the middle of Metallica's diamond shaped Wherever I May Roam stage, set aside for a few lucky fans to stand in the middle of the action on stage. It is also an on-line meeting place for Metallica fans on America Online.
Is it true that a group of Metallica roadies formed a band and played before Metallica?
Yes, at the 1987 AARDSHOK Festival in Zwolle, Holland, a group of Metallica roadies--under the name Scrap Metal--opened the nine hour festival that Metallica headlined playing a set of covers!
Who does Metallica's artwork?
Pushead (Brian Schroeder) and Mark DeVito do a majority of the artwork for T-shirts and merchandise, and James came up with the scary guy logo. But each album cover is a different and unique situation.
Back to Metallica.
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