Metallica (Heavy Metal & Thrash Band)

Metallica is a thrash metal, hard rock band from California’s San Francisco Bay area. The groundbreaking band began in the early 1980’s with original, founding members James Hetfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums). Hetfield and Ulrich have also been the main songwriters for Metallica since its inception. Metallica has released ten studio albums. They also released the EP album Garage Days Re-Revisited, the collaborative album S&M with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and the compilation double album set Garage Inc..

Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney joined as guitar player and bass player, respectively. In less than 2 years, McGovney would be replaced with the talented bassist Cliff Burton, and Dave Mustaine would be fired for excessive drinking and partying, according to James and Lars. Kirk Hammett was brought on as Mustaine’s replacement. Dave Mustaine went on to form Megadeth.

The group retained this lineup until Metallica’s tour bus crashed in Sweden, killing bassist Cliff Burton in 1986. Heartbroken, but determined to move on, Metallica hired Jason Newsted to fill on bass. In 2002, Jason Newsted unceremoniously left the band after animosity and turmoil turned the bassist against Hetfield and Ulrich. Jason Newsted was replaced by Robert Trujillo, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies.

The Retro Artists

Studio Albums

Kill ‘Em All (Released in 1983)
Ride The Lightning (Released in 1984)
Master Of Puppets (Released in 1986)
…And Justice For All (Released in 1988)
Metallica (Self-Titled/aka The Black Album/Released in 1991)
Load (Released in 1996)
Reload (Released in 1997)
St. Anger (Released in 2003)
Death Magnetic (Released in 2008)
Hard-Wired… To Self-Destruct (Released in 2016)

Compilations & Other Albums

Garage Days Re-Revisited (Released in 1987)
also known as The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited & The $9.98 CD – Garage Days Re-Revisited
Garage Inc. (Released in 1998)
S&M (Released in 1999)
Lulu (Released in 2011)