Kirk Hammet

Master Of Puppets

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. Metallica has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades, and are considered one of the “Big Four” pioneers of thrash metal, along with Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth. The band has sold more than 90 million records worldwide including 57 million albums in the United States alone.

Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California, October 28, 1981 by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, after both had placed classified advertisements in the publication The Recycler about forming a band. The early incarnation of the band went through a number of members, including Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Metallica got its name when San Francisco-area metal promoter Ron Quintana asked Lars to help pick out a name for his new magazine promoting U.S. and British metal bands. Quintana came up with a list that included the name “Metallica,” while Lars suggested “Metal Mania” and “Hesse”; Lars decided to use “Metallica” for the band’s name.Metallica’s music was inspired by bands such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, Motörhead, Saxon, Thin Lizzy, Queen, Mercyful Fate, Venom and other, mainly British, metal bands. They also took inspiration from punk bands like the Misfits, Zeroption, and The Ramones and UK hardcore bands such as Discharge.

In early 1982, Ulrich convinced Metal Blade’s Brian Slagel to include the song “Hit the Lights” on the first Metal Massacre compilation. Desperate for a full time lead guitarist, Ulrich posted an ad in a local newspaper. Dave Mustaine from Huntington Beach, California, who at the time was playing in the band Panic responded and met for an audition. Ulrich and Hetfield were so impressed with Mustaine’s warm-up and equipment, they asked him to join before the audition even began.

In March and April of 1982, several demos were recorded with this lineup including Hit The Lights, Ron’s Garage (which was recorded in McGovney’s garage) and the Power Metal demo. A few months later the band recorded a full demo, No Life ‘Til Leather, which quickly drew attention on the underground tape trading circuit. They then went on to release a live demo titled Metal Up Your Ass.

Later that year, Ron McGovney left the band and Metallica asked Trauma bassist Cliff Burton to join. Burton agreed if the band would relocate to his hometown in Castro Valley, CA. With Burton the band recorded the Megaforce Demo. After establishing themselves in the Bay Area thrash metal scene, Metallica traveled to the New York Tri-State Region in 1983 at the urging of promoters Jon and Marsha Zazula. After a few gigs the band signed with the Zazulas’ new label, Megaforce Records which may not have happened if it were not for Joey DeMaio urging Zazula to sign them. Shortly after being signed, Ulrich and Hetfield decided Mustaine’s aggressive and disruptive behavior (related to alcohol and drug use) was becoming too much to handle. Kirk Hammett was brought in from the band Exodus to replace Mustaine, who went on to create the thrash band Megadeth.

(SOURCE WIKIPEDIA)

NOTHING ELSE

my favorite song by METALLICA.