Metallica

Biography

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, who met after Ulrich placed an advertisement in a local newspaper. The band's current lineup also includes longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Former members include bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted, as well as guitarist Dave Mustaine, who went on to form Megadeth.

Formation and Early Years (1981–1985)

In late 1981, drummer Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a Los Angeles newspaper, The Recycler, seeking other metal musicians to jam with. James Hetfield and guitarist Hugh Tanner of the band Leather Charm answered the ad. Though not yet a full band, Ulrich secured a spot on the upcoming "Metal Massacre" compilation album from Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel. With Hetfield on vocals and rhythm guitar, they officially formed in October 1981. The name "Metallica" was suggested by a friend, Ron Quintana. They soon recruited guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney. In 1982, the band recorded their first demo, "Power Metal". Their first live performance was on March 14, 1982, in Anaheim, California. The band gained notoriety in the underground tape-trading community with their "No Life 'Til Leather" demo. This led to a record deal with Jon Zazula's Megaforce Records. In early 1983, the band relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and Cliff Burton replaced McGovney on bass. Shortly after, Dave Mustaine was fired and replaced by Kirk Hammett from Exodus. Their debut album, "Kill 'Em All," was released in 1983, featuring a raw, aggressive sound that blended punk and heavy metal. Their second album, "Ride the Lightning" (1984), showed increased musical maturity with more complex songwriting and lyrical themes.

Mainstream Success and Tragedy (1986–1994)

Metallica's third album, "Master of Puppets" (1986), is considered a landmark of the thrash metal genre and was their first to be certified gold. It brought them critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. While touring in support of the album in Sweden on September 27, 1986, the band's tour bus crashed, tragically killing bassist Cliff Burton. The band, with the encouragement of Burton's family, decided to continue and recruited Jason Newsted from Flotsam and Jetsam as their new bassist. Their next album, "...And Justice for All" (1988), was a commercial success, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. It earned them their first Grammy nomination. The 1991 self-titled album, commonly known as "The Black Album," marked a shift in their sound towards a more mainstream, hard rock style. Produced by Bob Rock, it became their most commercially successful album, debuting at number one in several countries and selling over 16 million copies in the U.S. alone. Hits like "Enter Sandman," "The Unforgiven," and "Nothing Else Matters" propelled the band to global stardom.

Later Years and Continued Evolution (1995–Present)

In the mid-90s, Metallica explored different sounds with the albums "Load" (1996) and "Reload" (1997), which incorporated elements of hard rock and blues rock. In 2001, Jason Newsted left the band due to internal conflicts. The tumultuous period that followed, which included James Hetfield entering rehab, was documented in the 2004 film "Some Kind of Monster." In 2003, Robert Trujillo, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne's band, became Metallica's new bassist. Their first album with Trujillo was "St. Anger" (2003), which featured a raw and aggressive sound. They returned to their thrash metal roots with "Death Magnetic" (2008), which received positive reviews. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Subsequent albums include "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct" (2016) and "72 Seasons" (2023). Metallica continues to be a major force in music, known for their powerful live performances and philanthropic work through their All Within My Hands Foundation.