Members

James Hetfield Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Lars Ulrich - Drums

Kirk Hammett Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Robert Trujillo Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Former Members

Ron McGovney Bass Guitar

Dave Mustaine Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Cliff Burton Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Jason Newsted - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an adverti t in a Los Angeles newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists. Currently, the spot is held by Robert Trujillo.
Metallica's early releases included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the big four of the thrash metal subgenre alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with the 1986 release Master of Puppets described as one of the most influential and heavy thrash metal albums. The band achieved substantial commercial success with Metallica (1991), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction resulting in an alb*m that appealed to a more mainstream audience.

In 2000, Metallica was among several artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without the band members' consent.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 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 process of St. Anger.
Metallica has released nine studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, twenty-two music videos, and forty-three singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards, and has had five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, making Metallica the only band ever to do so.The band's 1991 album, Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies in the United States, and 22 million copies worldwide, which makes it the 25th-highest-selling alb*m in the country. The band has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide as of the release of their latest alb*m Death Magnetic. As of September 2008, Metallica is the fourth highest-selling music artist since the SoundScan era began tracking sales on May 25, 1991, selling a total of 51,136,000 albums in the United States alone

Early days (19811983)

Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California, in early 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich placed an adverti t in a Los Angeles newspaperThe Recyclerwhich read Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden.[5] Guitarists James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner of Leather Charm answered the adverti t. Although he had not formed a band, Ulrich asked Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel if he could record a song for the label's upcoming compilation Metal Massacre. Slagel accepted, and Ulrich recruited Hetfield to sing and play rhythm guitar.[5]
Ulrich talked to his friend Ron Quintana, who was brainstorming names for a fanzine. Quintana had proposed the names Metal Mania and Metallica. Ulrich used Metallica for the name of his band. A second adverti t was placed in The Recycler for a position as lead guitarist. Dave Mustaine answered, and, after seeing his expensive guitar equipment, Ulrich and Hetfield recruited him. In early 1982, Metallica recorded its first original song Hit the Lights for the Metal Massacre I compilation. Hetfield played bass on the song and Lloyd Grant was credited with a guitar solo

Released on June 14, 1982, early pressings of Metal Massacre I listed the band incorrectly as Mettallica. Although angered by the error, Metallica managed to create enough buzz with the song and the band played its first live show on March 14, 1982, at Radio City in Anaheim, California with newly recruited bassist Ron McGovney.[6] Metallica recorded its first demo, Power Metal, a name inspired by Quintana's early business cards in early 1982. In the fall of 1982, Ulrich and Hetfield attended a show at the nightclub Whisky a Go Go which featured bassist Cliff Burton in a band called Trauma. The two were blown away by Burton's use of a wah-wah pedal and asked him to join Metallica. Hetfield and Mustaine wanted McGovney out as they thought that he didn't contribute anything, he just followed.[7] Although Burton initially declined the offer, by the end of the year he accepted on the condition the band move to San Francisco. Metallica's first live performance with Burton was at the nightclub The Stone in March 1983, and the first recording to feature Burton was the 1983 Megaforce demo

Metallica was ready to record its debut album, but when Metal Blade was unable to cover the additional cost, the band began looking for other options. Concert promoter Johnny Z Zazula, who had heard the 1982 No Life 'til Leather demo, offered to broker a record deal with Metallica and New York City-based record labels. After receiving no interest from various record labels, Zazula borrowed the money to cover the record's recording budget and signed Metallica to his own label, Megaforce Records.[8] Band members decided to kick Mustaine out of the band due to drug and alcohol abuse, and violent behavior.[9] Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett flew in to replace Mustaine the same afternoon. Metallica's first show with Hammett was on April 16, 1983, at the nightclub The Showplace in Dover, New Jersey.[7]
Mustaine, who went on to found Megadeth, has expressed his dislike for Hammett in interviews. He said Hammett stole my job, but at least I got to bang his girlfriend before he took my job how do I taste, Kirk?[10] Mustaine was off because he believes Hammett became popular by playing the guitar leads that Mustaine wrote.[11] In a 1985 interview with Metal Forces, Mustaine slammed Hammett saying, it's real funny how Kirk Hammett ripped off every lead break I'd played on that No Life 'til Leather tape and got voted No. 1 guitarist in your magazine.[12] On Megadeth's 1985 debut alb*m Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, Mustaine included the song Mechanix, which Metallica renamed as The Four Hor on Kill 'Em All. Mustaine said he did this to straighten Metallica up, as Metallica referred to Mustaine as a drunk and said he could not play guitar

Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning (19831984)
In 1983, Metallica traveled to Rochester, New York to record its first album, Metal up Your Ass, with production duties handled by Paul Curcio. Due to conflicts with the band's record label and the distributors' refusal to release an alb*m with that name, it was renamed Kill 'Em All. Released on Megaforce Records in the United States and Music for Nations in Europe, the alb*m peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 120,[13] and although the alb*m was not initially a financial success, it earned Metallica a growing fan base in the underground metal scene. The band embarked on the Kill 'Em All For One tour with Raven to support the release.[14] In February 1984, Metallica supported Venom on the Seven Dates of Hell tour, where they performed in front of 7,000 people at the Aardschok Festival in Zwolle, Netherlands.[15]
Metallica recorded its second studio album, Ride the Lightning, at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. Released in August 1984, the alb*m peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200.[13] A French printing press mistakenly printed green covers for the album, which are now considered collectors' items. Other songs on the alb*m include For Whom the Bell Tolls, Creeping Death (which tells the biblical story of the Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt, focusing on the various plagues that were visited on the Egyptians), and the instrumental The Call of Ktulu. Mustaine received a writing credit for Ride the Lightning and The Call of Ktulu

Master of Puppets (1984...1986)

Elektra Records A&R director Michael Alago, and co-founder of Q-Prime Management Cliff Burnstein, attended a September 1984 Metallica concert. Impressed with what they saw, they signed Metallica to Elektra Records and made the band a client of Q-Prime Management.[16] Metallica's burgeoning success was such that the band's British label Music for Nations issued a limited edition Creeping Death EP, which sold 40,000 copies as an import in the U.S. Two of the three songs on the record (cover versions of Diamond Head's Am I Evil?, and Blitzkrieg's Blitzkrieg) appeared on the 1989 Elektra reissue of Kill 'Em All.[17] Metallica embarked on its first major European tour with Tank to an average crowd of 1,300. Returning to the U.S. marked a tour co-headlining with W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint supporting. Metallica played its largest show at the Monsters of Rock festival on August 17, 1985, with Bon Jovi and Ratt at Donington Park in England, playing in front of 70,000 people. A show in Oakland, California, at the Day on the Green festival saw the band play in front of a crowd of 60,000.[16]
Metallica's third studio album, Master of Puppets was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios and was released in March 1986. The alb*m peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200, and spent 72 weeks on the chart.[18] The alb*m was the band's first to be certified gold on November 4, 1986, and was certified six times platinum in 2003.[3] Steve Huey of Allmusic considered the alb*m the band's greatest achievement.[19] Following the release of the album, Metallica supported Ozzy Osbourne for a United States tour.[16] Hetfield broke his wrist skateboarding down a hill and continued the tour performing vocals, with guitar technician John Marshall playing rhythm guitar.