LINE-UPS
James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar)
Lloyd Grant (guitar)
Ron McGoveney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Ron McGoveney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
Sammy Dijon
(vocals)
James Hetfield (guitar)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Ron McGovney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Ron McGovney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
James Hetfield
(vocals)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Damien C. Phillips (guitar)
Ron McGovney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
Jeff Warner
(vocals)
James Hetfield (guitar)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Ron McGovney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar)
Dave Mustaine (guitar)
Ron McGovney (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums) |
|
Essentially
the brainchild of Danish émigré Lars Ulrich (born December
26, 1965), a self-confessed New Wave Of British Heavy
Metal fan. Ulrich gave up a potential career as tennis
pro in order to beat the living daylights out of the drums,
METALLICA have unarguably been the leading lights of the
Thrash Metal scene since their inception in the early
80's. Although considered to be a San Francisco based
group, the darlings of the Bay Area scene, METALLICA were
actually formed by Ulrich in Los Angeles.
However, whilst Ulrich gets much of the credit for the
rise of METALLICA, the band's roots essentially began
the day one Ron McGoveney and the AEROSMITH obsessed James
Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) had first met at Los Angeles
East Middle School in 1977.
Hetfield's first act in 1979 was titled OBSESSION and
covered classic Rock acts such as UFO (hence the band
title), BLACK SABBATH and LED ZEPPELIN. OBSESSION comprised
of Hetfield on vocals and guitar, Jim Arnold on lead guitar,
bassist Ron Valoz and drummer Rick Valoz. Hetfield's class
mate Ron McGoveney roadied for the band. By 1980 Hetfield
and Arnold had teamed up with Jim's brother Chris on drums
to form the RUSH covers band SYRINX. This trio soon folded
and downtime was filled by Hetfield and McGoveney jamming
with drummer Dave Marrs.
The duo's next attempt was a more serious venture titled
PHANTOM LORD with guitarist Hugh Tanner. This act evolved
into LEATHER CHARM comprising of Hetfield on vocals, Troy
James on guitar, McGoveney on bass and drummer Jim Mulligan.
LEATHER CHARM began writing their own material and 'Hit
The Lights' was borne out of these sessions. However,
the band were still playing covers including the favourite
'Hollywood Teaze' by GIRL and IRON MAIDEN tracks.
Two other LEATHER CHARM songs 'Let's Go Rock n' Roll'
and 'Handsome Ransom' would later be fused to become 'No
Remorse'.
With the band's music beginning to adopt a far heavier
stance a parting of the ways with Jim Mulligan occurred
and, responding to an add placed in the Los Angeles paper
'Recycler', LEATHER CHARM invited would-be drummer Lars
Ulrich, previously a member of HELLCASTLE, down to meet
them. However, they quickly sent him away with a flea
in his ear, unimpressed with this big-mouthed little Danish
kid with an obsession for the New Wave Of British Heavy
Metal.
With his tail firmly between his legs, Ulrich returned
to Europe where he would spend a few months following
the likes of DIAMOND HEAD and MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy around
before flying back to Los Angeles intent on finally putting
the band of his dreams together.
Having been somehow promised a spot on fanzine writer
Brian Slagel's forthcoming compilation album 'Metal Massacre'
on the newly formed Metal Blade Records (even though Ulrich
didn't have a band at the time!), Ulrich used this to
his advantage in gaining favour with LEATHER CHARM.
Despite not being a particularly good drummer at the time,
Ulrich convinced Hetfield & McGoveney to recruit him to
join him in this endeavour, eventually leading to the
formation of METALLICA. This band title winning out over
REDVETTE and BLITZER! Guitarist Lloyd Grant was drafted
after replying to an advert.
It was this incarnation that featured on the first 'Metal
Massacre' compilation album, eventually released on June
14 1982. Unfortunately, the group was credited as METTALICA
on the first pressing. Both McGovney and Grant's names
were also misspelled as 'Mcgouney' and 'Llyod' respectively.
However, the album put together a whole host of names
that would become greater forces in the future such as
RATT, STEELER, BITCH, MALICE, AVATAR (SAVATAGE) and CIRITH
UNGOL.
Grant's tenure with the group was cut short because, according
to the man who replaced him, ex-PANIC guitarist Dave Mustaine,
Lars Ulrich allegedly did not want a black musician in
the group. This being one of the reasons as to why 'Hit
The Lights' was re-recorded for the second pressing of
the 'Metal Massacre' compilation album with Mustaine in
the band. This version not only saw Grant's name missing
from the band line-up but featured the correct spelling
of the band name. Needless to say, Mustaine's version
of events would later be vigorously denied.
Grant was, however, to reappear in the mid 80's with a
new act titled DEF CON contributing the track 'Red Light'
to a 1986 compilation album.
Hetfield was still wary of his vocal talents so the band
pulled in RUTHLESS vocalist Sammy Dijon although the union
was brief and no gigs were performed with this line up.
METALLICA then got to work recording their first ever
demo which featured the LEATHER CHARM track 'Hit The Lights',
'Killing Time' (originally by Irish band SWEET SAVAGE)
and 'Let It Loose' by premier British band SAVAGE.
The band then gained the valuable support slot to SAXON
in San Francisco. The Barnsley big teasers were playing
two shows back to back and originally MÖTLEY CRÜE were
scheduled to play. However, MÖTLEY CRÜE's status had exceeded
the support position and they suggested METALLICA fill
the slot instead with RATT opening up the other night.
Unfortunately METALLICA did not get to meet their heroes
SAXON as their dressing room was closed to visitors harbouring
as it did an inconsolable OZZY OSBOURNE still reeling
from the death of Randy Rhoads.
With Hetfield also assuming guitar duties, METALLICA cut
the four track 'Power Metal' demo (comprised of 'Hit The
Lights', 'Mechanix', 'Jump In The Fire' and 'Motorbreath')
before the decided to secure the services of a lead vocalist
who could do a better job of fronting the group than Hetfield.
METALLICA performed as a five piece with vocalist Jeff
Warner. The gig was apparently such a disaster the singer
was immediately sacked. METALLICA also enlisted another
guitarist Damien C. Phillips (real name Brad Parker) for
a gig at the Concert Factory in Costa Mesa. The experience
was so bad he was fired on the spot. Undaunted Parker
created ODIN.
The band at first thought about the possibilities of requesting
the services of ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG vocalist Jess Cox,
but by the time they had seen the singer's new look they
rapidly changed their minds! To compound their frustration,
the one vocalist actually asked to fill the post, John
Bush of ARMORED SAINT (and later ANTHRAX), turned the
request down.
Summer months of 1982 gave METALLICA another taste of
recording, as Rocshire Records persuaded the band to go
into the studio to record a proposed EP. However the label
were shocked to discover the finished tapes were Metal
and not Punk and shelved the deal. The resulting tapes
were soon to surface on the underground tape trading scene
as the 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo.
The demo comprised of several tracks that would become
legendary in 'Hit The Lights', 'The Mechanix', 'Motorbreath',
'Seek & Destroy', 'Metal Militia', 'Jump In The Fire'
and 'Phantom Lord'.
By now, METALLICA, not wishing to be associated with the
rising Los Angeles scene awash with bands like MÖTLEY
CRÜE, relocated to San Francisco. The group had been garnering
the most favour in 'Frisco, not least because of the support
offered on a thriving underground level by the influential
'Metal Militia' fanzine run by Quintana. METALLICA's first
gig in the city was on the same billing as BITCH filling
in for a non appearance by CIRITH UNGOL.
However, before long McGovney departed. McGoverny resurfaced
in 1986 as part of PHANTASM, the act assembled by ex-HIRAX
frontman Katon DePena.
