James Hetfield
(vocals/guitar) Kirk Hammett (guitar)
Jason Newsted (bass) Lars
Ulrich (drums)
February
of 1989 found the band invited to perform at the Grammy
awards. METALLICA did not win but this inaugural foot
in the door at the Grammys was a portent of what was to
come. METALLICA completed their '...And Justice For All'
world tour in South America during October 1989.
Lar Ulrich, together with 'Kerrang!' editor Geoff Barton,
compiled a compilation album featuring some of his favourite
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands for the Vertigo
label to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the movement
.
In February of 1990 METALLICA returned to the Grammy awards
once again. This time '... And Justice For All' won. A
subsequent European tour beginning in May saw strong support
from DIO prior to ensconcing themselves in the studio
to begin the writing process for their next album.
The band picked up a further Grammy in February of 1991
for their take on QUEEN's 'Stone Cold Crazy'. By the start
of the summer the Rock world was holding it's breath for
the new album and when the simply titled 'Metallica' was
launched it was apparent from the off that this was the
record to propel METALLICA into the major league. Hitting
the American number 1 position the album, racking up in
excess of 598,000 first week sales, would doggedly retain
its grip in the Billboard charts for a further staggering
85 weeks. The first single culled from the album 'Enter
Sandman' would be instantly hailed a classic and would
quickly be recognised as one of the greatest songs of
the genre.
In August METALLICA undertook the European 'Monsters Of
Rock' festivals as special guests to AC/DC before an appearance
in Moscow.
The band returned home to headline the San Francisco 'Day
On The Green' festival before kicking off their 'Wherever
I May Roam' would tour.
