Author’s note: All information cited in this article can be located on the band’s official website.
History
The creation of this notorious group goes back to fall of 1981, following drummer Lars Ulrich posting a wanted ad in his local newspaper. Singer and guitarist James Hetfield reached out to Ulrich’s request and the group was born on Oct. 28.
In need of other members, Hetfield had recruited his roommate, Ron McGovney, to join the group on bass. Additionally, they were able to convince Dave Mustaine to join as their lead guitarist. Following the conscription of more members, the name “Metallica” was given to the group.
However, shortly after their creation, McGovney left the group and was replaced by Cliff Burton. Despite this loss, they bounced back and moved to the Bay Area to continue their career.
This move worked in their favor after their shows were well-received in the new area. The group gained popularity swiftly and it was noted as being “driven by sheer work-rate, effort and rare musical chemistry.” Within two years, they had released an EP, were officially signed under a label and were moving to New York.
However, Mustaine’s career in Metallica did not survive the move, as he departed from the group and his place was filled by Kirk Hammett of Exodus. Once this was sorted, their management team and record label were eager to move forward quickly with them.
Touring and work resumed as they continued to play shows domestically and added ones internationally. Their stature continued to grow exponentially and by late 1985, they were playing supporting roles for Ozzy Osbourne and had an album on the top 30 charts.
Success can come with a price, though. While touring in Sweden, a tragic accident claimed the life of one of the band members–Cliff Burton. On Sept. 27, 1986, their tour bus slid on ice and lost control, resulting in its crash.
Despite this loss, group members banded together to continue forward. After holding over 40 auditions, they were finally able to replace the hole Burton left with Jason Newsted. With his addition, they were able to return to performing and creating music.
Fast-forwarding a few years to 1991—Metallica released their self-titled album, often referred to as “The Black Album” and their popularity skyrocketed. It immediately reached #1 on charts sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
Not only did it give them a rockstar status, this release created numerous opportunities for the band. It generated legitimate singles, various accolades from fellow industry members and both a Grammy and American Music Award. The group’s success following this release is noted to be “stratospheric, explosive and cacophonous.”
With their newfound success, Metallica spent the next few years focused on releasing music and performing accompanying shows. However, fame must have been enough for Newsted, as he was replaced temporarily by Bob Rock in January 2001. This switch-up was followed up a few months later by a hiatus that lasted until the spring of 2002. Shortly after they returned, Robert Trujillo permanently joined the band on bass.
These years were documented by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky in their documentary “Some Kind of Monster.” It covers Metallica’s experiences from 2001-2003 and was released in theaters in July 2004. Even though it originally began as a marketing piece, it became something that means something deeper to the members.
The band took a self-proclaimed “recharge year” from 2005-2006 to offer members a break and opportunities to reflect on their creative options. Once they came back together, they once again began producing and releasing work. All of it paid off as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2009.
Metallica is still a group today, over 40 years later, and they are still releasing music. Their most recent album, “72 Seasons,” was released in April 2023. They even played a special show in Mexico City, Mexico on Sept. 29 for the M72 Tour. The group is active on all of their social media platforms and can be found under their name, “Metallica.”
(Brief) Discography
“Kill ‘Em All” (1983); “Ride the Lightning” (1984); “Master of Puppets” (1985); “…And Justice for All” (1988); “Metallica” (1991); “Load” (1996); “Reload” (1997); “Garage, Inc.” (1998); “S&M” (1999)”; many more.
Personal Song Recommendations
“Tuesday’s Gone”; “Nothing Else Matters”; “Hit The Lights”; “One”; “Fade to Black.”