Metallica, the #86 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"One of the best rock bands ever."

"Immortal"

"Legendary"

"...Headbanging so hard I get whiplash."

"Metallica will forever live."

"The Masters of Metal."

"Metallica is good for my soul.  It does for me what no other band can do."

I'm proud to say Metallica is my favorite band."

"Their music still gives me goose bumps after all these years."

"Long live Metallica."

"I love you, Metallica.  Thank you for your amazing music that has brought life into my soul."

In 1981, Danish drummer Lars Ulrich purchased an advertisement in a Los Angeles newspaper.  Vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield responded, and Metallica was born.  Ulrich took out another ad for a lead guitarist, and Dave Mustaine answered.  The three recorded the song "Hit The Lights" for the Metal Massacre I compilation, and, after adding bassist Ron McGovney, performed live for the first time March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California.

Later in the year, Ulrich and Hetfield went to see the group Trauma at the famous club Whisky a Go Go.  After seeing bassist Cliff Burton, the two Metallica members asked Cliff to be in their group.  Burton accepted only on the condition that the band move to El Cerrito near San Francisco.

Metallica had enough original material to record an album, so promoter Johny Zazula shopped the demo to record companies in New York City.  When the company executives who couldn't recognize talent if it bit them in the nose showed no interest, Zazula borrowed enough money to record the band himself and signed Metallica to his own label, Megaforce Records.

In 1983, Metallica began recording its debut album in Rochester, New York.  Just before the sessions began, the group fired Mustaine due to drug and alcohol abuse and violent behavior.  Kirk Hammett, formerly with the group Exodus, replaced Mustaine that afternoon.  Hammett's first appearance with the group was on April 16, 1983 at The Showplace in Dover, New Jersey.

Metallica released the album Kill 'Em All in 1983 when their members were just 19 years old.  The album did not sell well initially, but the group gained a following and Kill 'Em All has now topped three million in sales.  "Hit The Lights", filled with riffs and great guitar solos is a Top Track* from the album.  

Hetfield's rhythm guitar drives the album "Seek And Destroy" is another fan favorite and one of The Top Tracks of the Rock Era*.

 

The band traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark to record their follow-up, Ride the Lightning, which was released in 1984.  Thanks to great songs like "For Whom The Bell Tolls", the album has now cleared six million in sales.

 

 The driving guitar makes "Creeping Death" another fan favorite.

 

"Fade To Black", which contains some of Hetfield's best lyrics and an amazing G-string in the intro that gives chills, hit a chord with metalheads worldwide.

Meanwhile, Michael Alago, A&R director for Elektra Records, and Cliff Burnstein, co-founder of Q-Prime Management , saw Metallica perform in September.  They were hooked--Burnstein signed a management deal with the group and Alago hooked Metallica up with a major recording contract.

Metallica toured the United States and Europe, playing before 70,000 at the Monsters of Rock Festival at Donington Park, England and in front of 60,000 at the Day of the Green festival in Oakland, California.

 

The band released the album Master of Puppets in 1986.  Beautiful and brutal at the same time, "Damage, Inc." is arguably Metallica's best song.

 

The album reached #29 and remained a best-seller for 72 weeks.  It went Gold that year and has now sold over six million.  The title song is another which instantaneously won over fans.

 

"The Thing That Should Not Be" features haunting lyrics, that great opening, and pounding riffs.

 

The guitar solo transforms into the vocal melody, like an orbiting echo.  This is "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)".  

Burton shines again on this great track:  "Orion".

On September 27, the band was riding in their tour bus in Sweden while on the European leg of their tour.  The bus driver lost control at around sunrise and the bus overturned several times.  Burton was pinned under the bus and died.  The three other members escaped injury.

After the tragedy, Hammett, Hetfield and Ulrich met to decide the group's future.  With the Burton family's blessings to continue, Metallica listened to 40 bassists before deciding on Jason Newsted.  The band also relocated to San Rafael, north of San Francisco, during this time.

 

The new lineup recorded the album ...And Justice for All, released in 1988.  The single "One" rose to #3 in Sweden and the Netherlands, #4 in Norway and #5 in Australia and sold over one million copies.  It also earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Heavy Metal Video.

 

The album became the first Top 10 for the group, and was quickly certified Platinum.  Metallica accepted the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for "One" and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, Vocal or Instrument for the album.  ...And Justice for All has now topped eight million units sold around the world.  With its exceptional intro, enjoy "Blackened".

"Harvester Of Sorrow" is a Top Track* on the album.

Join us for Part Two below!