The Band that revolutionized thrash metal was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1982. A young drummer named Lars Ulrich who grew up listening to the New wave of British heavy metal placed an ad in the recycler. James Hetfield the son of a truck driver answered that ad. Add to the mix bassist Ron McGovney and Guitarist Dave Mustaine. And you have the groundwork for the Icons of heavy metal Metallica. Bassist Cliff Burton formerly of the Bay Area band Trauma would soon replace Ron McGovney.
Metallica continued to rage up and down the West Coast for the next year before signing with Mega Force records in New York. With a combustible element as Dave Mustaine in the group James and Lars made the decision to replace him with Kirk Hammett of Exodus fame. The band then released their debut album Kill ‘Em All. Metallica continued to build momentum for the next three years playing worldwide. In this time frame they released Two more albums Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets and gaining a cult following all without the support of Radio or television.
Then in 1986 tragedy struck the band, while on a European tour in support of their Master of Puppets album a tour bus accident claimed the life of Bassist Cliff Burton. After a mourning period for their fallen comrade the band regrouped with Bassist Jason Newstead from Flotsam and Jetsam. The band released their fourth album ...And Justice For All. With that release came the bands first radio single One which they would later release their first video for. With the release of the single Metallica gained worldwide exposure.
Following the success of the justice album Metallica followed it up with their self titled album, which became known simply as the Black album. When released the black album debuted at No. 1 on the billboard charts and went on to become their highest grossing album of all. The black album also brought with it a 22 month 300 plus date whirlwind tour which spawned the live box set Live S**t- Binge and Purge.
After a decade of success Metallica took a three-year hiatus from the Music World. In 1996 Metallica resurfaced with their sixth studio album Load. A softer more melodic sound and the next year with their seventh album a sequel to Load titled Re-Load. The band continued to play to packed houses all over the world even as their critics complained the Metallica had sold out to corporate rock.
In 1998 Metallica paid homage to their roots when they released Garage Inc, A collection of cover tunes from the seventies and eighties. Their next effort was to be their biggest departure of their careers when they teamed up with the San Francisco sympathy to record S&M a collection of Metallica tunes played with the Orchestra a record album gain critical acclaim.
Over the next few years Metallica would suffered its worst set back to their careers when Bassist Jason Newstead abruptly quit Metallica to pursue outside interest. And co-founder James Hetfield entered into drug & Alcohol rehab. After his nine month stay in rehab James returned to the group and they began work on their eighth studio album St. Anger and would name Rob Trujillo of Suicidal Tendencies fame.
After twenty years of fame and misfortune Metallica has paid the ultimate price and triumph over adversity time an time again they can truly be called Icons and Pioneers in the ruff and tumble world of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. .
