METALLICA

The condensed version

Los Angeles, spring of 1981, James Hetfield answered an ad Lars Ulrich had placed in The Recycler. The reason: to form a band. James wasn't too impressed with Lars (his cymbals kept falling over). He must have seen something promissing (or maybe it was the promise of being on vinyl. Lars had a place secured on a Heavy Metal album. All he needed was a band) 'cause he gave Lars a second chance in October of 1981.

The line up that started it all:
    James Hetfield (guitar and vocals), Ron McGovney (bass guitar), Lars Ulrich (precussion), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar)

"Metal Massacre"
1982

This had a bunch of different metal bands. Metallica had one song on this, "Hit the Lights". This wasn't the best version. It was just Lars and James. Lars of course played the drums. James did everything else (guitar, bass and vocals). James's voice was raw from a sore throat. Llyod Grant did a quick solo on this. He was never in the band.

"Power Metal"
1982

Track list: "Hit the Lights", "The Mechanix" (later to be redone and renamed "The Four Horsemen"), "Motorbreath", and "Jump in the Fire"

"No Life 'Til Leather"
1982

Track list: "Hit The Lights" (re-recorded version), "The Mechanix", "Metal Militia", "Phantom Lord", "Seek and Destroy", "Motorbreath, and "Jump in the Fire"

James toyed with the idea of just being a singer. They also thought of bringing in another guy to sing so James could focus on guitar. They had John Bush of Armored Saint (now he's with Anthrax) in mind. Neither panned out. James continued the dual role. They did have to get a bass player (easily put; Ron McGovney was no longer with them). They found him in Cliff Burton. He happened to be playing in another band at the time (it was called Trauma. I think they had a song recorded, but I'm not sure). After several months, Lars talked Cliff into joining Metallica. Cliff did have one condition; the band had to move to San Francisco. And so, Metallica moved to San Francisco.

The Bay Area line up:
    Cliff Burton (bass guitar), Lars Ulrich (precussion), James Hetfield (guitar and vocals), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar)

By 1983 the guyz had had about all they could take of Dave. He had been kicked out of the band before, but this time was for good. They booted him out just before the recording of "Kill 'Em All" in New York. Turns out Dave was, as James said, "That way" ("A Year and A Half in The Life of..." video). (For the rumour go here.) From what I've read, he was a mean alcoholic. Now the band is without a lead guitarist. This is where Kirk Hammett steps in. He'd been playing with the band Exodus (he had recorded a couple of demos with them) at the time he got the call from Metallica. The two bands had played some shows in the Bay Area together. They offered him the job and the chance at recording with MegaForce Records. He hopped on a plane for New York.

The line up at the beginning of greatness:
     Cliff Burton (bass guitar), Lars Ulrich (precussion), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar),   James Hetfield (guitar and vocals)

"Kill 'Em All"
1983 (Megaforce Records) re-released 1985 (Elektra)

Track list: "Hit the Lights", "Four Horsemen", "Motorbreath", "Jump in the Fire", "Anethesia (Pulling Teeth)", "Whiplash", "Blitzkrieg"--Blitzkrieg (only included on the first re-release from Elektra, not available on subsequent releases), "Phantom Lord", "No Remorse", "Seek and Destroy", "Metal Militia", "Am I Evil?"--Diamondhead (only included on the first re-release from Elektra, not available on subsequent releases).

"Ride The Lightning"
1984 (Megaforce Records) re-released 1985 (Elektra)

Track list: "Fight Fire With Fire", "Ride The Lightning", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Fade To Black", "Trapped Under Ice", "Escape", "Creeping Death", "Call of Ktulu".

"Master of Puppets"
1986

Track list: "Battery", "Master of Puppets", "The Thing That Should Not Be", "(Welcome Home) Sanitarium", "Disposable Heroes", "Leper Mesiah", "Orion", "Damage, Inc."

This was to be Cliff's last go 'round. He was killed in a terrible accident involving the band's tour bus (1986 touring with Ozzy).

Instead of splitting up after Cliff's untimely death, they decided to push on. Now they needed a new bass player. After some consideration they asked Jason Newsted (he was playing in the band Flotsam and Jetsam at the time.) to join their ranks. He was very enthusiastic about the whole idea (to say the least). Now Metallica had a new beginning.

The line up as it is today:
      Lars Ulrich (precussion), Jason Newsted (bass guitar), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), James Hetfield (guitar and vocals)

"Cliff 'Em All"
1987

A tribute to the Late Cliff Burton. It's a compilation of professional footage and bootleged vidoes. They even threw in some interviews from way back. It's a nice package all in all.

"Garage Days Re-revisited($5.98 EP)"
1987

Track list: "Helpless"--Diamondhead, "The Small Hours"--Blitzkrieg, "The Wait"--Killing Joke, "Crash Course In Brain Surgery"--Budgie, "Last Caress/Green Hell"--Misfits.
*Small note* This is not "Garage Days Revisited". It is "Garage Days Re-revisited". The first revisit of Garage Days was the B-side of "Creeping Death" 12" single and picture disk both released on Music For Nations label (UK 1984). It had cover tunes "Blitzkrieg" and "Am I evil". Got it now? B-side is "Garage Days Revisited" and the EP release is "Garage Days Re-Revisited"

"...And Justice For All"
1988

Track list: "Blackened", "...And Justice For All", "Eye Of The Beholder", "One", "Shortest Straw", "Harvester Of Sorrow", "Frayed Ends Of Sanity", "To Live Is To Die", "Dyers Eve".

"The Good, the Bad, and the Live"
1989

All of Metallica's European singles and EPs. Pretty darn cool. These include rare and previously unreleased material.

"Metallica"(a.k.a. The Black Album)
1991

Track list: "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", "Holier Than Thou", "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam", "Don't Tread On Me", "Through The Never", "Nothing Else Matters", "Of Wolf And Man", "The God That Failed", "My Friend Of Misery", "The Struggle Within".

"A Year and A Half in the Life of..."
1992

A two video tape deal in which you can watch the lives of Metallica. It's pretty interesting. The first video is the making of the Black Album. That in and of itself was cool. The second video is the touring involved afterwards. It's a neat look at the record making biz.

"Live Shit: Binge & Purge"
1993

Metallica release a live album (something they said they'd never do unless they were breaking up. Then again, they said they'd never do a video for MTV either.) It also came with 3 video cassettes of concerts. Seems this was their way of saying "we need a break, so choke on this for a while 'til we get back". They also threw in a program of sorts. It has all kinds of memos plus tons of pictures. It's well worth the money.

"Load"
1996

Track list: "Ain't My Bitch", "2x4", "The House That Jack Built", "Until It Sleeps", "King Nothing", "Hero Of The Day", "Bleeding Me", "Cure", "Poor Twisted Me", "Wasting My Hate", "Mama Said", "Thorn Within", "Ronnie", "Outlaw Torn".

"ReLoad"
1997

Track list: "Fuel", "The Memory Remains", "Devil's Dance", "The Unforgiven II", "Better Than You", "Slither", "Carpe Diem Baby", "Bad Seed", "Where The Wild Things Are", "Prince Charming", "Low Man's Lyric", "Attitude", "Fixxxer".

"Garage Inc."
1998

Track list: Disk I--"Free Speech For The Dumb"--Discharge, "It's Electric"--Diamondhead, "Sabbra Cadabra"--Black Sabbath, "Turn The Page"--Bob Seger, "Die, Die My Darling"--Misfits, "Loverman"--Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, "Satan's Fall"/"Curse Of The Pharaohs"/"A Corpse Without A Soul"/"Into The Coven"/"Evil"--Mercyful Fate, "Astronomy"--Blue Oyster Cult, "Whiskey In The Jar"--Thin Lizzy, "Tuesday's Gone"--Lynyrd Skynyrd, "The More I See"--Discharge.
Track list: Disk II--"Helpless"--Diamondhead, "The Small Hours"--Blitzkrieg, "The Wait"--Killing Joke, "Crash Course In Brain Surgery"--Budgie, "Last Caress/Green Hell"--Misfits, "Am I Evil"--Diamondhead, "Blitzkrieg"--Blitzkrieg, "Breadfan"--Budgie, "The Prince"--Diamondhead, "Stone Cold Crazy"--Queen, "So What?!?"--Anti-Nowhere League, "Killing Time"--Sweet Savage, "Overkill"/"Damage Case"/"Stone Dead Forever"/"Too Late Too Late"--Motorhead