*METALLICA*

Band's name origins

Ron Quintana, Ulrich's friend, suggested two names for the band: Metal Mania and Metallica. Obviously, Ulrich chose Metallica.



The beginning of a legend


Looking for musicians

Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981, when Lars Ulrich, son of a professional tennis player, place an advertisement on a journal looking for metal musicians to play Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden songs. James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner, both guitarist, answered the advertisement.
Then, Ulrich asked Brian Slagel, a Metal Blade Records founder, for record a song for the upcoming Metal Massacrethe label's compilation. Slagel accepted and Hetfield became then the singer and rhythm guitar of the incomplete band.


A second advertisement was placed for a lead guitarist. Dave Mustaine answered, and, after seeing his expensive guitar equipment, Ulrich and Hetfield recruited him. Metallica recorded "Hit the Lights", its first original song, In 1982 for the Metal Massacre I compilation. Hetfield played bass on the song and Lloyd Grant was credited with a guitar solo.

In 1982 they played at Radio City in Anaheim, California with a new bassist, Ron McGovney, who early was replaced by Cliff Burton, who join Metallica with one condition: move the band to San Francisco.
In 1983, Metallica make the demo “Megaforce”.


New promoter

Metal Blade was unable to cover the additional cost for a debut album that Metallica wanted to develop and they began looking for other options.

Johnny "Z" Zazula, a Concert promoter, offered to broker a record deal with Metallica and New York City-based record labels. Zazula borrowed the money to cover the record's recording budget and signed Metallica to his own label, Megaforce Records.


Bye bye Mustaine, hi Hammett

Band members decided to kick Mustaine out of the band due to drug and alcohol abuse, and violent behavior. 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.



Start of a star. Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning

In 1983, Metallica traveled to Rochester, New York to record its first album Kill 'Em All. Released on Megaforce Records in the United States and Music for Nations in Europe, the album peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 120.

Metallica recorded its second studio album, Ride the Lightning, at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. Released in August 1984, the album peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200.


The master arrives

Metallica's third studio album, Master of Puppets was released in March 1986. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200, and spent 72 weeks on the chart. The album was the band's first to be certified gold on November 4, 1986, and was certified six times platinum in 2003. Following the release of the album, Metallica supported Ozzy Osbourne for a tour aaround the United States.


The bass death

On September 27, 1986, during the European leg of Metallica's Damage Inc. tour, Cliff Burton Dies on a accident. The bus in which they was traveling flip and lay right on him, causing his death.
Jason Newsted, from Flotsam and Jetsam, replaced him.
The members took it on themselves to "initiate" Newsted by tricking him into eating a ball of wasabi

A video titled Cliff 'Em All was released in 1987 commemorating Burton's three years in Metallica. Footage included bass solos, home videos, and pictures.

There's a little part of Cliff 'Em All