Metallica Biography

Written by The Rock Radio staff, May 2005 © The Rock Radio

Classic 80's Era
The first ever heavy metal band to enjoy worldwide mainstream success began life in 1981 when drummer Lars Urlich and vocalist James Hetfield met in Los Angles, California. After settling with Dave Mustaine on guitar and Cliff Burton on bass guitar, the band moved to San Francisco in 1982 where they built a local fan base with their live performances. The following year they moved to New York signing to Megaforce Records under whom they released their first two alums. Although talented guitarist Dave Mustaine made significant contributions to both of these albums he was fired due to alcoholism problems and replaced with Kirk Hammett. Mustaine subsequently formed the successful speed metal band Megadeth.

Metallica's debut album "Kill 'Em All" (1983) featured powerful vocals and electrifying guitar playing that set the standards for the thrash metal scene of the 80's. Their second album "Ride The Lightning" (1984) included the classics "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "Fade To Black". The former was a slow burning song that captured the thoughts of someone contemplating suicide.

After signing a new deal with Electra Records in 1984 Metallica went on to produce what is now widely regarded as their best album; "Master of Puppets" released in 1986. However, tragedy struck the band when their tour bus crashed while traveling in Sweden, killing Burton. The band decided to move on with new recruit Jason Newsted with whom they recorded a covers mini-album "Garage Days Re-Revisited" in 1987.

The new lineup's first studio album came in 1988 with "…And Justice For All". This is probably Metallica's most sophisticated album, exploring the theme of personal control and independence. The obvious standout track is the classic "One" which describes the agony of an armless, legless and blind soldier who has stepped on a landmine during a battle. Many hardcore metal fans believe that "...And Justice For All" was Metallica's last classic album before turning themselves into a more commercially broad product.

90's Mainstream Success
Teaming up with producer Bob Rock who previously worked with "hair" metal bands such as Bon Jovi and Motley Crue resulted in 1991's self-titled album "Metallica", also known as "The Black Album". The album became a global mainstream success helped by its slower, often softer sounds. Metal ballads "Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" enjoyed worldwide radio play, however, for the first time the band was accused of "selling" themselves. Following nearly three years of consecutive touring "Metallica" cemented themselves as a massive music force selling millions of albums all over the world.

In 1995 the band went back to the studio to record "Load" (1996) and "Reload" (1997). These albums musically distanced themselves from "Metallica" as "Metallica" did from "…And Justice For All". With a string of radio hits including "Fuel", "Until It Sleeps" and "The Memory Remains" the band expanded their mainstream audience but eroded even more their hardcore fanbase to whom everything was further proof that Metallica had "sold" themselves.

In 1998 Metallica compiled a double CD called "Garage Inc." which included 1987's "Garage Days Re-Revisited" as well as a series of new covers ranging from Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath and Queen to Nick Cave and Bob Seger. In 1999 they recorded two performances with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Carmen with whom they previously worked on "Nothing Else Matters". The result was a double CD, VHS and DVD that included a collection of songs dating back to "Ride The Lightning" as well as a couple of new songs.

"Angry" Decline

For most of 2000 Metallica was deeply involved in a controversial legal case against Napster for allowing its users to freely share the band's back catalogue of songs. In an out-of-court settlement Napster agreed to expel 300,000 of its members which severely damaged the band's public image for being out of touch with their own fans. 2001 was another year to forget for the band as Newsted announced his departure and Hetfield entered a rehab facility to fight his alcoholism and drug problems.

Recordings for a new studio album started in 2002 with producer Bob Rock acting as a temporary bass player. The result was Metallica's eighth studio album "St. Anger" being released in 2003. Although the album deputed at number 1, it received harsh criticism both from hardcore and new fans for its "raw" feel and total lack of guitar solos. The album's making was recorded and released in 2004 on DVD with "Some Kind Of Monster". Newsted's replacement came in early 2003 with Rob Trujillo.

The Future
Metallica is rightly considered to be the most popular heavy metal band of all time. They are currently ranked as 16th highest selling artist of all time in the US. Despite their recent drop in popularity, they still are one the most sought after live acts the world over and it remains to be seen whether they will rise again to the mighty force they once used to be.

"Now that the war is through with me, I'm waking up I cannot see, That there is not much left of me, Nothing is real but pain now..."
Metallica - 1988