Metallica

Artist Image: Metallica
Attribution
Image Credit: Kreepin Deth (Own work), CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. Metallica was formed in 1981 when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer Lars Ulrich in a local newspaper. The band's current line-up comprises founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted are former members of the band. Metallica collaborated over a long period with producer Bob Rock, who produced all of the band's albums from 1990 to 2003 and served as a temporary bassist between the departure of Newsted and the hiring of Trujillo. The band's fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding "big four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community and won critical acclaim with its first four albums; their third album Master of Puppets (1986) was described as one of the most influential and heaviest of thrash metal albums. Metallica achieved substantial commercial success with its eponymous fifth album Metallica (1991), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction, resulting in an album that appealed to a more mainstream audience. In 2000, Metallica was among a number of artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without consent from any band member. A settlement was reached and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite reaching number one on the Billboard 200, the release of St. Anger (2003) alienated many fans with the exclusion of guitar solos and the "steel-sounding" snare drum. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording of St. Anger and the tensions within the band during that time. In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Metallica has released nine studio albums, four live albums, five extended plays, 26 music videos, and 37 singles. The band has won eight Grammy Awards and five of its albums have consecutively debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The band's eponymous 1991 album has sold over 16 million copies in the United States, making it the best-selling album of the SoundScan era. Metallica ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, having sold over 110 million records worldwide. Metallica has been listed as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone, which ranked them 61st on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. As of December 2012, Metallica is the third best-selling music artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, selling a total of 54.26 million albums in the U.S. In 2012, Metallica formed the independent record label Blackened Recordings and took full ownership of its albums and videos. As of 2016, the band is in production of its tenth studio album, which is expected to be released later in the year.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1981
Number of Albums 50
Record Label Blackened
Website
Wikipedia Metallica on Wikipedia
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Trivia

What year did Metallica form?

1981

...Metallica (formed 1981 ) Metallica is a Los Angelesbased heavy metal band. The band is one of the most successful heavy rock bands of all time and rose...
When was Master of Puppets released?

1986

...essful heavy rock bands of all time and rose to fame with the release of 1986 's Master of Puppets. Formation: In 1981, Lars Ulrich placed an advert in...
Who placed an ad in The Recycler looking for musicians to join him on drums?

Lars Ulrich

...ame with the release of 1986's Master of Puppets. Formation: In 1981, Lars Ulrich placed an advert in The Recycler, an LA newspaper, looking for music...
Who were two guitarists who responded to the advertisement?

James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner

...gers of Pan Am, Iron Maiden and Diamond Head as influences. James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner , two guitarists, responded to the ad. A second ad found Dav...
What was Dave Mustaine on?

lead guitar

... guitarists, responded to the ad. A second ad found Dave Mustaine, on lead guitar , who was recruited on account of his extensive and expensive range o...
Who was recruited because of his extensive and expensive range of guitars and equipment?

Dave Mustaine

... Hugh Tanner, two guitarists, responded to the ad. A second ad found Dave Mustaine , on lead guitar, who was recruited on account of his extensive and ...
For what compilation did the band record Hit the Lights?

Metal Massacre I

...ield on bass on vocals, the band recorded 'Hit the Lights' for the Metal Massacre I compilation. Ron McGovney had been recruited to play bass by this ...
Who was the promoter of the debut album of Trauma at the WhiskeyAGoGo?

Johnny Zazula

... their members. The band's debut album was made possible by promoter Johnny Zazula , who borrowed money to set up his own label, Megaforce Recordings. ...
Johnny Zazula borrowed money to set up what label?

Megaforce Recordings

...moter Johnny Zazula, who borrowed money to set up his own label, Megaforce Recordings . Mustaine was forced out of the band for drug misuse and Kirk Ha...
Who was forced out of the band for drug misuse?

Mustaine

...ula, who borrowed money to set up his own label, Megaforce Recordings. Mustaine was forced out of the band for drug misuse and Kirk Hamnett was swiftl...
What type of music did Metallica combine with the speedy tempos of Discharge?

hardcore punk

...In their earliest iteration, Metallica combined the speedy tempos of hardcore punk acts like Discharge with the influence of more obscure acts from th...
What was the name of Metallica's first album?

Kill 'Em All

...thrashfocused label Megaforce Records, Metallica's debut longplayer, Kill 'Em All , marked the beginning of the legitimization of heavy metal's undergr...
What was the name of the band's second album?

Ride the Lightning

..., bringing new complexity and depth to thrash metal. Second album Ride the Lightning followed quickly in 1984, deepening the band's sound with the inc...
When did Metallica release Ride the Lightning?

1984

...pth to thrash metal. Second album Ride the Lightning followed quickly in 1984 , deepening the band's sound with the inclusion of classically themed gui...
What was the name of Metallica's third album?

Master of Puppets

...rds. They worked with the label towards the release of third album Master of Puppets , which came out in March 1986. Master of Puppets would prove to b...
What label did Metallica sign with after the release of Ride the Lightning?

Elektra Records

...release of Ride the Lightning, Metallica signed on with major label Elektra Records . They worked with the label towards the release of third album Mas...
Who formed Metallica?

James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich

... was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalistguitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich , and has been based in San Francisco for most of its ca...
Where has Metallica been based most of its career?

San Francisco

...tarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and a...
What made Metallica one of the founding big bands?

fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship

...an Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding big four bands of...
How many copies of the album have been sold in the US?

16 million

...m audience, achieving substantial commercial success and selling over 16 million copies in the United States to date; making it the bestselling album ...
What was Metallica's ninth album called?

Death Magnetic

...rned to its thrash metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Death Magnetic (2008), which drew similar praise to that of the band's earlier alb...
Death Magnetic was released in what year?

2008

... thrash metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Death Magnetic ( 2008 ), which drew similar praise to that of the band's earlier albums. The ba...
What was the name of Metallica's most recent album?

Hardwired... to SelfDestruct

...f the band's earlier albums. The band's most recent album is Hardwired... to SelfDestruct (2016). In 2000, Metallica led the case against the peertope...
What did the band and other artists file lawsuits against?

Napster

...000, Metallica led the case against the peertopeer file sharing service Napster , in which the band and several other artists filed lawsuits against th...
Who was helping Ron Quintana to pick out a name for a new magazine to promote metal and NWOBHM bands?

Lars

...Both of them got the name Metallica when Lars was helping San Franciscoarea metal promoter Ron Quintana to pick out a name for a new magazine to promo...
Who was brought in to do the lead guitar solos on the track?

Lloyd Grant

... first Metal Massacre compilation. In the sake of the work, guitarist Lloyd Grant was brought in to do the lead guitar solos on the track but was neve...
What band did Dave Mustaine belong to?

Panic

... local newspapers and here came Dave Mustaine, a guitarist from the band Panic who seemed interested and upon arrival started a sound check. Surprisin...
What was the name of the full demo that Metallica recorded?

No Life Till Leather

...nths after Dave joining Metallica, the band recorded a full demo No Life Till Leather which quickly drew attention on the underground tape trading cir...
Where did the other members of Metallica relocate to?

San Francisco area

... in exchange for the other members of Metallica relocating to the San Francisco area . Approvingly, both San Fransisco and New York gave Metallica thei...
Who was on the lead vocals and rhythm guitar on Kill 'Em All?

James Hetfield

...fter the sign, Metallica released their 1st album titled Kill 'Em All that prominently featuring the heavy vocals and rhythm guitar of James Hetfield ....
Who formed Metallica in 1981?

guitarist Hetfield and drummer Ulrich

...ubgenre speed metal in the early and mid1980s. Formed by guitarist Hetfield and drummer Ulrich in 1981, Metallica drew upon punk and early 1980s Briti...
What was Metallica's first album?

Kill Em All

...upon punk and early 1980s British metal styles for their first album, Kill Em All (1983). The band followed with Ride the Lightning (1984), an album t...
When was Kill Em All released?

1983

...and early 1980s British metal styles for their first album, Kill Em All ( 1983 ). The band followed with Ride the Lightning (1984), an album that shatte...
What two songs defined thrash metal for an entire generation of fans?

Battery and Damage, Inc.

...heavy metals most recognizable guitar riffs, and songs such as Battery and Damage, Inc. defined thrash metal for an entire generation of fans. Metalli...
What bassist replaced Burton?

Jason Newsted

... returned home to San Francisco and hired Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted to replace Burton. The new lineup debuted on And Justice for All (1...
When was And Justice for All released?

1988

...ewsted to replace Burton. The new lineup debuted on And Justice for All ( 1988 ), an album that included One, the groups first Top 40 single. Metallica ...
Who sang the backing vocals to The Memory Remains?

Marianne Faithfull

...d The Memory Remains, a song featuring haunting backing vocals by Marianne Faithfull , demonstrated that Hetfield retained his knack for aggressive and...
What was the name of the song that featured Marianne Faithfull?

The Memory Remains

... seen as more commercially accessible than previous releases, and The Memory Remains , a song featuring haunting backing vocals by Marianne Faithfull, ...
What was their first ever demo?

No Life Til Leather

...supported the likes of Saxon) they recorded their first ever demo No Life Til Leather . The tapetrading circuit went crazy for it, and after repeatedly...
Who did Metallica convince to leave his band Trauma and replace McGovney?

Cliff Burton

...Metallica found themselves relocating there after convincing bassist Cliff Burton to leave his band Trauma and replace McGovney. East Coast metal merc...
Who pitched the band on an album deal with his indie label Megaforce Records?

Jon Zazula

...leave his band Trauma and replace McGovney. East Coast metal merchant Jon Zazula pitched the band on an album deal with his indie label Megaforce Reco...
Where did the boys travel to in 1983 to record their first album?

New York

...ith his indie label Megaforce Records and 1983 found them traveling to New York in a stolen UHaul to record their first album. Shortly after arriving ...
Kill Em All featured what kind of metal riffery?

crunchy

...All, exploded onto the scene later that year brandishing punkencrusted, crunchy metal riffery, the likes of The Four Horsemen, Whiplash and Seek and D...
Where was Ride The Lightning recorded?

Copenhagen at Sweet Silence Studios

...m Ride The Lightning with producer Flemming Rassmussen in Copenhagen at Sweet Silence Studios during the summer of 1984. In late 1985, the RassmussenS...
What was the name of the band's third album?

Master Of Puppets

... RassmussenSweet Silence combination provided the underpinning for Master Of Puppets , the bands third album, which was mixed in LA with Michael Wagene...
In what city was the album mixed?

LA

...rpinning for Master Of Puppets, the bands third album, which was mixed in LA with Michael Wagener and released in March 1986. Battery, the title track...
Master of Puppets hit the top 30 album charts and expanded their fan base beyond what?

comprehension

... and having secured a support slot with Ozzy Osbourne, Master of Puppets hit the top 30 album charts and expanded their fan base beyond comprehension ....
How many albums has Metallica released in the last 20 years?

eleven

...Sidelights After more than 20 years, eleven albums, and six Grammy Awards, Metallica has more than proven its staying power as rock's preeminent metal...
How many Grammy Awards have Metallica won?

six

...Sidelights After more than 20 years, eleven albums, and six Grammy Awards, Metallica has more than proven its staying power as rock's preeminent metal...
What did Metallica's release address?

nuclear holocaust, mental illness, suicide, and the dangers of drug addiction

...ressed the decidedly adult topics of nuclear holocaust, mental illness, suicide, and the dangers of drug addiction . Yet despite these grim themes, Met...
What is the name of the subject that Metallica addressed in their release?

nuclear holocaust

...t Metallica's 1991 release addressed the decidedly adult topics of nuclear holocaust , mental illness, suicide, and the dangers of drug addiction. Yet ...
Who replaced Mustaine as guitarist in 1983?

Kirk Hammett

...ken over for early collaborator Lloyd Grant, was replaced in 1983 by Kirk Hammett . Their first album, Kill 'Em All, attracted droves of headbanging fa...
How many Soviet metal fans attended a free concert in Moscow?

500,000

...fellow metalheads on the enormous Monsters of Rock Tour. That outing featured a free concert in Moscow that was attended by 500,000 Soviet metal fans....
Who is brainstorming names for a fanzine?

Ron Quintana

...you know which name they went with. Fun Fact: Lars chats with friend Ron Quintana , who is brainstorming names for a fanzine. Among Quintanas proposed ...
What did the band say he had too often?

violent outbursts of rage

...they just couldnt do it anymore. According to the band, he had violent outbursts of rage too often, so they bought him a bus ticket and dropped him of...
Who was a member of Exodus?

Kirk

... of rage too often, so they bought him a bus ticket and dropped him off. Kirk , formerly a member of Exodus, was recruited to handle lead guitar duties...
What band was Kirk formerly a member of?

Exodus

...bought him a bus ticket and dropped him off. Kirk, formerly a member of Exodus , was recruited to handle lead guitar duties. This album, though young a...