James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar) Kirk Hammett (guitar)
Cliff Burton (bass) Lars
Ulrich (drums)
In
January 1984 Music For Nations issued 'Jump In The Fire'
as a 12" single, backing it with supposedly live versions
of 'Seek And Destroy' and 'Phantom Lord'. Both these tracks
were actually re-recorded in the studio, MFN dubbing on
applause from a London Marquee Club performance by Prog
Rock band TWELFTH NIGHT. The group set out on tour to
support the 'Kill 'Em All' album, eventually making it
over to Britain.
Originally the group had been booked to play through Europe
between March 21 to April 3 on a three band bill with
Canadian power trio EXCITER and fellow American outfit
THE RODS. Unfortunately, ticket sales were mysteriously
poor and the tour scrapped. Nevertheless, the group arrived
in London and put in two headlining stints at the Marquee
Club during late March as well as an earlier appearance
at the 'Aardschok Festival' in Holland for good measure
whilst on a tour of the continent with VENOM. Following
these shows, METALLICA moved up to Ulrich's native Denmark
to begin work on their second album with producer Flemming
Rasmussen, a man who had engineered on RAINBOW's 'Difficult
To Cure' album in 1983. The band had specifically wanted
to record in Europe and had apparently been impressed
with Rasmussen's work on the RAINBOW album.
A brand new METALLICA album, entitled 'Ride The Lightning',
was recorded in a month and a half at Sweet Silence Studios
in Copenhagen. Rasmussen recalled in a later magazine
interview that the band were earnestly shopping for a
major deal whilst in the throes of recording. At one point
it looked highly likely that Bronze Records would sign
the group until the label insisted that the band should
scrap what they were doing and re-record the album in
Britain. METALLICA, needless to say, refused.
'Ride The Lightning' was released in July 1984. Initial
copies issued by Music For Nations in the UK, Megaforce
in the USA and Banzai in Canada all sported the track
'For Whom The Bell Tolls' incorrectly spelt with "bells".
Without any compromise in METALLICA's trademark ferocity
the songs also were more accessible than previous efforts
and was the first real step in infusing METALLICA's sound
into the mainstream Rock audience. The accompanying single
'Creeping Death' was bolstered with two caustic cover
versions of BLITZKRIEG's 'Blitzkrieg' and DIAMOND HEAD's
'Am I Evil'. Such was the impression made by these songs
they would stay lodged in the band's live set for many
years.
METALLICA's 1984 European tour was dealt a hammer blow
that nearly curtailed the event. Whilst waiting for shipment,
$40'000 of the band's equipment was stolen in Boston necessitating
hasty negotiations to hire replacement gear.
With the band's burgeoning cult following rapidly spilling
over into mainstream success major label Elektra were
quick to buy out the Megaforce contract. This despite
Megaforce having already shipped albums to the American
stores and selling sufficient quantity to crack the Billboard
top 200.
Elektra pulled out all the stops in promoting 'Ride The
Lightning' maintaining sales levels as it was revealed
that not only had METALLICA severed connections with Megaforce
Records but also Johnny Z as manager. From now on the
experienced Q Prime organisation of Peter Mensch and Cliff
Burnstein, noted for successes with AC/DC and DEF LEPPARD,
would handle their affairs.
