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This is the page where i will pour out all i know about my favourite band....METALLICA.So If you dont like Metallica and you are an out and out emo kid then fuck off...this is not for u!
METALLICA are:
James Hetfield: Rythmn Guitar & Vocals
Kirk Hammet: Lead Guitar
Robert Trujillo: Bass Guitar
Lars Ulrich: Drums
Bob Rock: Producer
Briefly...In 1981 Lars Ulrich,a confused young drummer who had recently moved to the US from Denmark,placed an add in a local newspaper.James Hetfield would reply to that add.Within a short period of time James and Lars had a band.With Bassist Cliff Burton and guitarist Dave Mustaine (later to go and form Megadeath) making up the four-piece.Dave Mustaine would ultimately be replaced by Kirk Hammet.
In 1983,Metallica stepped into the studio to record their debut album to be named "Kill 'Em All".This album features such standouts as "Seek and Destroy","Motorbreath","No Remorse" and "Metal Militia".Also found on this album is the outstanding bass solo by Cliff Burton.This solo was the first time for any bassist to venture into the world of bass effects!
"Hit The Lights",the first ever Metallica song to be written is the first song on the album.
After the success of "Kill 'Em All" Metallica stepped back into the studio in 1984 to record the follow up.The next album was to be another classic.It was titled "Ride The Lightning".This album quickly sold half a million copes and set Metallica off on their road to rock stardom!
The standout tracks are "For Whom The Bell Tolls","Fade To Black" and "Creeping Death".
1986...A year that Metallica would remember forever.First of all their multi-million selling album "Master of Puppets" was released in March and saw Metallica say goodbye to thrash metal.The title track "Master Of Puppets" was to become a trademark in Metallica's live show and become one of their classic,unforgettable songs and a big fan favourite! The '86 release also includes such classics as "Battery","Damage Inc" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" which is now a frequent feature in the new Limp Bizkit set list.
Later that year in September their bass player, Cliff Burton would sadly pass away.As the band were on tour in Scandinavia,travelling during the night their tour bus tragically crashed,throwing Cliff out of the bus and the bus landed on him,crushing him and killing him instantly.This even surely meant the end for Metallica but Metallica were to move on and live the lives they had dreamed of.
Metallica were to recruit 23 year old Jason Newsted as Cliff's replacement in October 1986.Jason played his first ever Metallica show on January 8, 1987 and so forth Metallica were reborn!As a salute to the fans for the support given to the band through the rough spell after Cliff's death,Metallica even finished off the remainder of the "Master Of Puppets" Tour in 1987...nice guys eh?
In 1988,Metallica were put to the test.Were they going to be as good now that they have had a change of line-up? or....were they fucked all together?
1988 saw the release of Metallica's fourth album,"...And Justice For All".This album featured Metallica's most bizzare song.The title was "One" and this was to be the first ever Metallica track to have a music video recorded for it.Many fans called Metallica "sell outs" at this point.The video for "One" was a classic.Based on a story of a man who had been visciously injured and left with no arms and legs,the song and video were both distressing and disturbing!So were they any good in 1988? Looks like it! Holding such classics as "One" and "Blackened" and the crowd favourite "Harvester of Sorrow" the album lived up to the first 3 albums expectations!
1991,this year was to be the year of "The Black Album".Metallicas fifth album which was self titled but due to its cover it was to be proclaimed "The Black Album"."Metallica has given the green light to a legion of teenage males to paint their bedrooms black"-so said Kerrang in 1991!This album was to be Metallica's biggest seller.With 10 million copies under it's belt it has become a METAL CLASSIC and a true metalheads essential album!
The tracklistings includes the classics "Enter Sandman","Sad But True","Nothing Else Matters" and "Wherever I May Roam".The Black Album said goodbye to the 10 minute anthems and hello to the deeper more meaningful side of Metallica and James Hetfield.The ballads included "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters"."Nothing Else Matters" is clearly a romantic ballad which came from Hetfields past.Enough said about the album but the following 2 years would be spent touring the world as Metallica became the biggest stadium rock band in the world!
Now,after 1991 is where some people would say Metallica became "balls".It may be true as Metallicas style changed when the following album "Load" (released in 1996) would see sales and reviews go down but Metallica were still there.Again a year later,the follow up to "Load" was released in 1997,adiquately named "Reload" would see some bad reviews and low sales.Were Metallica losing it? Also a lack of touring saw fans turning their backs on Metallica and people asking,"Are Metallica past it?"."Reload" certainly had its good points."Fuel" is now a classic and a regular in the 2003 Metallica set list and also "The Memory Remains" saw Marianne Faithfull lend her vocal support to the album."Reload" also featured the "sequel" to "The Unforgiven" which was also critised.Metallica's grip on the world was slipping away!
In 1998 Metallica released an album called "Garage Inc." which would feature on full album of newly recorded covers from the likes of Bob Segar,The Misifts,Black Sabbath and Mercyful Fate.Also with this album was a second disc with the songs of the "Garage Days" albums.These covers featured songs from bands such as Motorhead and The Misfits also.The choice of covers is superb and the way in which Metallica handle the music is excellent.Standouts seem to be songs such as "Die,Die My Darling","Turn The Page","Whiskey In The Jar" and "So What"
In 1999 Metallica were to perform and record a memorable show with the San Fransisco Orchestra with Michael Camen Orchestratic them.This show was to be recorded and released on a double CD and titled "S&M" (Symphony & Metallica).This album is a classic and an essential to all Metallica fans or anyone who is interested in hearing Metallica at their best,this is the album to check out.It feeatures such songs as "Master of Puppets","One","Fuel","Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters" and also two new unreleased and unrecorded tracks, "No Leaf Clover" and "-Human".Simply put..."S&M" is awesome,amazing,excellent and an amazing way to bring the world of heavy rock and classical music together! A must have album!
Briefly,as many of you will know,Metallica (Lars Ulrich in such) went up against the internet phenomenon which allowed users to download music in mp3 format for free (Napster).Lars took 19 year old creator of the programme (Shawn Fanning) to court because he did not approve of the programme.I personally love Napster/Kazaa/WinMX whatever but Lars did not...he wasnt happy.Eventually the whole gay situation was resolved and everyone got one with theyre lives!End of Story!
January 2001,Bassist Jason Newsted was to leave Metallica!Jasons ongoing war with James Hetfield and different views of the future for Metallica saw him choose to go elsewhere and leave Metallica.After Jason's departue James Hetfield faced up to his alcohol problem and went into rehab for 6 weeks,this 6 weeks would turn into 6 months and put Metallicas future on hold.As Lars and Kirk patiently waited on news on what would happen about Metallica,their future hung in the balance.No singer.No bassist.No Future for Metallica.But in 2002,months after James had completed his rehabilitation,Metallica as a 3-piece stepped back into their studios in San Fransisco to work on the follow up to 1997's "Reload".As the band franticly wrote music for the next album people still thought Metallica were through.But Metallica DID record a new album.Still without a bassist,producer Bob Rocj filled in the bass duties on the album.Now into 2003,the band were scheduling to release the now titled "St.Anger" in June 2003.Earlier in the year,Metallica recruited former Ozzy Osbourne bass player Robert Trujillo as the new Metallica bassist!Things were looking up for Metallica.A new album,a new bass player and a bright future!
Thursday 5th June 2003 saw the release of "St.Anger".Metallicas first studio album in 6 years!The album features the two singles "St.Anger" and "Frantic" and includes a bonus DVD of Metallica performing the WHOLE album in the studio as rehersals!June 1st 2003 saw Metallica's first UK performance in a long time as they surprised crowds at the Download Festival (headlined by Iron Maiden). In June 2003 Metallica were the feature for MTV ICON,a salute to artists with outstanding careers and who have contributed hugely to the music scene.The event saw performances from artists such as Limp Bizkit,Staind,Korn,Avril Lavigne,Sum 41 and Snoop Dogg performing Metallica songs!
Throughout the summer of 2003 Metallica have been on the Summer Sanitarium Tour all over the US with Limp Bizkit,Linkin Park,Deftones and Mudvayne.This tour was a massive success.In August 2003 Metallica came back to the UK and headlined the Carling Weekend in Leeds and Reading.Both shows were a huge success and showed that Metallica are back and are here to stay!Metallica then scheduled to return to the UK at the end of the year for a show at Earls Court in London!
EARLS COURT....the venue for Metallica's first indoor British gigs since the arrival of new bassist Rob Trujillo.The original date was Saturday 20th December 2003 but they have added another date the night before (Friday 19th) just to keep us happy.Godsmack were the awesome supporting act for this leg of the "St.Anger tour" (check out the review in the reviews page believe it or not!).
Metallica are currently STILL touring and have announced to headline the Download Festival in both Donnington and Glasgow in June this year so be sure to get your ticket soon!!
METALLICA
JAMES HETFIELD
KIRK HAMMET
LARS ULRICH
CLIFF BURTON (1983-1986) R.I.P
JASON NEWSTED (1986-2001)
ROBERT TRUJILLO (New Blood)
1983-2003
Metallica Albums:
KILL 'EM ALL
RIDE THE LIGHTNING
MASTER OF PUPPETS
...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
METALLICA
LOAD
RELOAD
GARAGE INC.
S&M
ST.ANGER
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