HISTORY OF METALLICA

2. Back In The Day
On October 28th, 1981, drummer Lars Ulrich posted an
ad on the local newspaper searching for a guitarist. To
that ad responded rhythm guitarist James Hetfield,
bassist Ron McGovney, and later recruited lead guitarist
David Scott Mustaine. They called the band Metallica,
that name came when Lars Ulrich talked to a friend of
him that was doing a metal ‘zine at the time and he
wanted to choose between two names for the magazine,
which where Metal Mania and Metallica, Lars convinced
him to use Metal Mania so that he could use Metallica for
his band. Guitarist Dave Mustaine was always bothering
Ron McGovney. One time he put beer in his bass guitar.
He got so mad he left the band. After that James and
Lars went to a club to see a band named Trauma. They
heard what they though was a guitar, and when they
observed closely and counted the strings, they saw that it
was a bass…

3. Cliff Burton and Conflicts With
Dave Mustaine
Cliff Burton was the name of the bassist they saw. After the
show they asked him to join the band and to go with them to
South California. Cliff would only accept the offer if the band
moved to San Francisco, and so they did. After that they
started to realize that Dave Mustaine was a violent alcoholic.
They received a call from Jon Zazula saying that he heard their
demo No Life Til‟ Leather and wanted to record an album with
them before anyone else. He sent them money to go to New
York to record the album which they called Kill „em All.
Before the recording they decided to kick Dave Mustaine out of
the band because of his alcohol and drug abuse. After he got
kicked out he formed a rival band called MEGADETH. When
they kicked him out they had already spoken with lead guitarist
of Exodus Kirk Hammett. They recorded…

4. Kill „em All(1983)
This was Metallica‟s first studio
album. This album consisted of
10 songs(8 of them written with
Dave Mustaine) which were: Hit
the ligths,The Four Horsemen
Motorbreath, Jump in the fire,
(Anesthesia) Pulling teeth,
Whiplash, Phantom Lord, No
Remorse, Seek & Destroy and
MetaMilitia. That made them
known in Europe and the USA.

5. Ride The Lightning(1984)
'Ride The Lightning' proved that Metallica were not
some thrash-in-the-pan one trick pony, the writing and
sound illustrating a growth, maturity and intensity which
saw them immediately targeted by major management in
QPrime, and a major label in Elektra. This Album made
them know Worldwide.

6. Master of Puppets(1986)
Returning to the same studios in 1985, the group recorded
'Master Of Puppets', mixing in LA with Michael Wagner
and releasing in early 1986. They quickly secured a tour
with Ozzy Osbourne, and that stint (plus a top 30 album
chart position) saw their fan base and name take a quantum
leap. What had seemed so unlikely was nearer than ever to
coming true; world domination.
This Album went Gold with over 500,000 sales that year.
To this time it has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

7. Death of Cliff… 
• On September 26th, 1986, that dream was given
the most shattering of blows. Somewhere in
Sweden on an overnight drive, the bands' tour bus
skidded out of control and flipped, killing Cliff
Burton. His influence on the musical growth of
the band was enormous. Burton combined the
DIY philosophies of jamming and experimenting
with an acute knowledge of musical theory, and
Hetfield in particular found a lot in his playing
and personality. It was impossible to imagine
Metallica without him. Yet Cliff would equally
not have cared for people throwing in the towel
because he wasn't around. And so it was that after
a brief yet intense mourning period, Lars, James
and Kirk decided to fight on. Jason Newsted was
chosen from over 40 auditions to be the new
bassist.

8. …And Justice for All(1988)
• With Jason fully established, the band went back to
record their fourth full-length album, ...And Justice
For All, released in August 1988. The explosion that
had been threatening for sometime finally happened. It
reached #6 on the US charts, received a Grammy
nomination for Best Metal/Hard Rock album, the band
blew headliners Van Halen off-stage during the
Monsters Of Rock tour and subsequently embarked
upon an enormous worldwide tour. It was even the
moment they finally delved into video territory,
although the footage for 'One' was most certainly the
most 'anti' video of it's era.

9. Metallica (The Black Album)
1991
• In 1991 Metallica released the self-titled 'Black' album, and saw their
popularity soar to stratospheric heights. With new producer Bob Rock,
this album was a subtle departure from the previous album with shorter
songs, a fuller sound and simpler arrangements. It went straight to
number one all over the world, stayed there for several weeks and
ended up selling in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, spawned
several legitimate singles as well as earning a Grammy and MTV/
American Music Awards. The band toured for close to three years,
playing a solo arena tour in 'An Evening With Metallica', with Guns N'
Roses on the duos' joint-headline stadium tour, and as headliner at
many festivals. It meant that by the time the fall of 1993 rolled around,
the four members were shattered both physically and mentally. Save
for some Summer Shed action, there was little major activity as the
band allowed their real lives to catch up with their rock lives.

10. Load and Reload
Nearly four years would pass before the next Metallica album saw the
light. Called Load, and recorded at The Plant in Sausalito California, it
was the longest Metallica album to date with 14 songs, and signaled
some significant changes for the band. Produced by Bob Rock, the
material was loose, powerful and eclectic, the sound thick and punchy
and the image one which screamed out change and freedom from
enslavement to the Black album era. So many songs came from the
sessions, that a second album titled ReLoad, followed in 1997. The
Load tour was spectacular, encompassing cutting-edge technology,
stuntmen, two-stages and an epic two-plus hours of performance. What
ever doubts people might have had were swiftly blown away, and
whilst Load could never match the heights of the Black album sales
wise, it became a phenomenally successful album in it's own right.

11. S & M(1999)
In 1999, when with conductor/composer and
maestro Michael Kamen, Metallica embarked upon
collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony
to bring new dimension to classic material. Any
potential skepticism of the project was blown
away by two nights in April at the Berkeley
Community Theater. Far from their material being
compromised, the arrangements of songs such as
'Master Of Puppets' gave symphonic instruments
the chance to explode into the spaces and fill
them with greater, heavier power than ever before.
Having recorded and filmed the shows on the off-
chance it might turn out alright on the night,
Metallica released the S&M double-disc and DVD
in late '99, marking yet another significant chapter
in a Hall Of Fame like history.

12. Another Bassist
Gone…
Jason Newsted argued with
James Hetfield about his doing
in the band. He wanted to have
a side project called
“Echobrain” in the bands
vacations. Hetfield said that he
could only be in Metallica, if
he wasent satisfied with
Metallica that he would have
to leave. And so he did.

13. St. Anger(2003)
• It was in the Fall of 2002 that the band decided it was time to search for a new
bassist, and after some closed auditions with personal invitees over a few
months, ex-Suicidal Tendencies/Ozzy Osbourne bass player Robert Trujillo
was chosen to be the new member of Metallica. Note, member. Not bassist or
hired gun or replacement. But a band member. His whole demeanor, happy,
relaxed, warm, enthusiastic blended with over 15 years of experience and a
ferocious finger-picking style made Robert the only natural choice.
Rob came in Metallica recorded St. Anger and the second day
after that Mtv Icon inducted Metallica to their list of ICONS.

14. Death
Magnetic
The groundwork had been laid with St.Anger and the fruit was
abundant with Death Magnetic, cuts such as "The Day That
Never Comes", "Broken, Beat & Scarred" and "All Nightmare
Long" becoming instant fan favorites. Aside from the Death
Magnetic album, on March 29, 2009 the band also saw Guitar
Hero: Metallica released in North America, with international
releases coming in the following couple of months.

15. Hall of Fame
Inductees.