metallica

Metallica is widely considered to be the most popular and influential heavy metal band of the past two decades. During the 1980s the group sold millions of albums through relentless touring and positive word of mouth, despite virtually no radio play or publicity. During the 1990s their sound became more complex and the group embraced radio and MTV to further expand their enormous fan base. Metallica was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist / rhythm guitarist James Hetfield, Danish-American tennis pro- turned-drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Dave Mustaine, and roommate-turned-bassist Ron McGovney. The quartet recorded four songs for a 1982 compilation titled Metal Massacre 1 and four more for a widely circulated demo tape called "No Life 'Til Leather." They soon gained a small underground following. By 1983 the group had relocated to San Francisco, signed to the indie label Megaforce Records and brought in local bassist Cliff Burton and former Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammet to replace McGovney and Mustaine, respectively. That May the revised quartet recorded their full-length debut album, Kill 'Em All (originally titled Metal Up Your Ass), a powerful punk-infused metal album that galvanized the metal underground. After a tour of Europe with Venom, Metallica returned with 1984's Ride the Lightning, a more complex work that continued to attract new fans. Signing to Elektra Records, Metallica made their major- label debut with 1986's Master of Puppets, a critically acclaimed metal opus supported by a U.S. tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Later that year the group toured Europe, where tragedy struck. While traveling to Stockholm on September 27, 1986 bassist Burton accidentally fell out of a window of the group's moving tour bus and was killed instantly. The group returned to the U.S. and recruited Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted, then entered the studio to record a limited-edition all-covers EP, titled Garage Days Re-Revisited, as a warm-up for future work. Metallica roared back in 1988 with ...And Justice For All, which entered the Top 10 despite receiving virtually no radio play and only limited MTV play of the group's sole video, "One." Electing to embrace the mainstream, Metallica returned with an eponymous 1991 release whose all-black cover has led to it being referred to as the Black Album. More radio friendly and melodic than earlier works, Metallica entered the charts at No. 1 and went on to sell more than seven million copies, spawning the radio/MTV hits "Enter Sandman," "Wherever I May Roam," "The Unforgiven," and "Nothing Else Matters." While the group toured the world for several years, Elektra released the acclaimed box set Live Shit: Binge and Purge in 1993. Metallica recorded two albums worth of material for their next release, but ended up releasing some of the material as 1996's Load and the rest as 1997's Reload, both of which debuted at No. 1 on the album charts. Their most recent effort, the double CD Garage Inc., includes the Garage Days Re-Revisted EP as well as rare B- sides and newly recorded covers.The Recently (November 27th '99)released album S&M has also created waves in the "Rock World" with an experimentation of some of their old songs mixed with the tunes of Symphony Orchestra San- Fransisico. As the man just said, Garage Inc., Metallica's most unique album in their 16 year career is both an enthusiastic tribute and a passionate directory of the group's wide- ranging musical taste and influences. Recorded between September 20th and October 15th, and produced/mixed by Bob Rock and Randy Staub, this two disc set comprises every cover song the group have ever recorded, plus eleven new songs originally written by artists ranging from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to Discharge. "It all started coming together some 3 or 4 months ago," says drummer Ulrich. "Even though we didn't start playing anything until we were at Kirk's house in September, the bonding process started on the Summer tour sitting around and showing each other different songs, comparing favorites, directions...there were some great moments in late night hotel rooms around the country." To get the project completed for it's November 24th release date, Metallica didn't have the time usually allotted to analyze 'tones', 'bits' or 'fills'. Garage Inc. a needed one/two take spirit, a light-hearted 'gung-ho' attitude and everything recorded, produced and mixed in less than a month. Not only were Metallica up TO the challenge, they were up FOR the challenge. "We had about three days to rehearse and sometimes I was singing tracks for the first time ever off the floor," says vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield. "But I think this one is sounding a lot more exciting, more fresh and there's some really good sounds going on." "This was definitely more of a fun happy-to-be-alive kind of project," says bassist Jason Newsted. "The stress involved in writing a Metallica album isn't like that, whereas that's exactly what Garage Inc." ended up being all about. Subsequently, Garage Inc. not only shows that Metallica never forgot its roots, but could also prove the beginning of a new phase for them. The crackles, fizzes and unpolished finish, which makes Garage Inc. one for diehards and new fans alike, proves that for Metallica studios don't have to become mental health institutions. "I would love to see things move quicker in the future," says Hetfield. "I think it comes down to having the time to properly rehearse in the future before going into the studio." "I feel that guitar-wise, I'm edging much more towards vibe and feeling than perfection," says guitarist Kirk Hammett. "For me, some of the most exciting stuff on Garage Inc. was when we just recorded off the floor at 3am, and that stuff tended to feel great regardless of whether it could or couldn't be technically better." The band will also shortly be releasing a ground-breaking DVD, titled Cunning Stunts, directed by Wayne Isham and featuring over 140 minutes of live concert footage shot in Fort Worth, Texas during the 1997 'Load' tour. Aside from backstage interviews, a unique photo gallery that documents every day of the tour and a look into how the unique "Load" show came together, viewers will be able to watch three of the songs from various angles thanks to a multiple camera angle option. It represents the first time in rock history that a concert has been specifically filmed for the DVD format. The concert portion of Cunning Stunts will also be available in the VHS video format. "It's pretty exciting stuff because you're not restricted to watching from the director's view," says Hammett. "You can choose who you'd like to watch. Plus with DVD, there's more physical room on the disc to put stuff on, so we've been able to put that huge photo library and some other cool stuff on there too." Always looking for new things to do and never content to settle back, and rest easily, one thing remains a certainty for Metallica: the future looks exciting. "I felt there was an incredible sharp turn after the '...And Justice For all' record." says Ulrich. "It changed direction, we made the "Black" album, then the "Load" records and I feel Garage Inc. is bringing what we started on the "Black" album to a close. When we sit down and start writing new material next Summer, and hopefully head into the studio in the Spring of 2000 to make Metallica's 8th studio album, I feel that we're going to somehow end up taking another drastic turn." Call them heavy, call them rock, call them selfish, call them metal, call them different, call them stubborn, call them anything you like because as ever, Metallica don't care. Just remember not to call them predictable members: james hetfield - vocals, guitars kirk hammet - guitars lars ulrich - drums robert trujillo - bass, background vocals