Lars Ulrich tries to put a band together, and without luck places an add into a local magazine called the Recycler. A young James Hetfield responds and they meet to jam. James didn't think much of Lars at first. He had different color drums, and didn't play very well, but the two managed to find a friendship and alot in common with each other.
    After returning from the UK Lars managed to get a spot on a album called Metal Massacre. James couldn't resist the deal. (because he was eager to get the band started) They then found a lead guitar player named Lloyd Grant, and recorded a track for the album under the name "Metallica." Which was the name of another band, and was soon taken by Hetfield and Ulrich.

    August 1982

Brian Slagel (Friend of Lars and the band) tells the band about a great player of a local competing band called Trauma. Since the band was looking for a new bassist because Ron wasn't working out they decided to just check out the show. They all went to Whiskey a Go-Go, where many famous bands have played, and saw the biggest head banging hair ball flopping in the air that they have ever seen. They loved the way he played, and everyone was amazed by the way he head banged. James and Lars quickly asked Cliff to join the band. Cliff would only agree if the band moved from LA to San Francisco. Of course the band felt that LA wasn't treating them right and quickly moved.

April-May 1983
 
Metallica took a journey from SF to New York to record their first album, Kill 'em All, and play a few promotion gigs. Dave Mustaine's drinking problem was becoming worse and was starting to get to the band. After a quick meeting James and Lars went up to Dave, (while he was sleeping)  woke him up, and told him "He was out of the band for good so pack your stuff up." His only response was "When does my plane leave?" The fact is Dave wouldn't have a plane ride home. He would have 3 days on a greyhound bus to think about what had just happened. Meanwhile Kirk Hammett had gotten a phone call from James (on April fools day) and was asked if he would like to join them in NY to record the album. Kirk replied "Yeah, sure" thinking that it was just a joke. He later found out it wasn't, and was on a plane to New York to record the album.

July 0f 1983

Kill 'em All, Metallica's first album,  was officically released to the public. An album that will change the face of music and the lives of the 4 young band members.

Oct 1983 - May 1984

Metallica writes new material for their second album, and goes on a European tour. They then return to the US and record their second album, Ride the Lightning. It is released by Megaforce Records in May of 1984.

Sept - Dec 1985

Metallica is in Copenhagen recording their third album Master of Puppets with Flemming Rasmussen producing. In March of 1986 the album is then released. This is will soon be known as Cliff's last album, and is one of the greatest Metallica albums of all time.

Sept 27, 1986

It was approaching dawn on Saturday 27, 1986. Metallica's two tour buses were making their way down a road that lies somewhere between the  Scandinavian cities of Stockholm and Copenhagen. There was no one else traveling on this road besides the tour buses. Suddenly, just before 6:15am one of the buses started to swerve violently to it's right and was becoming out of control on the wrong side to the road. The bus then tipped over landing on it's side and screaming it's way into a near by ditch where it laid 60 feet from where it started. During the next few minutes that followed a vast majority of the bus' passengers managed to scrabble free from the wreckage. Only 3 of the 4 band members emerged dazed and confused with barely nothing on. The bus driver was standing in the cold morning air trembling and repeating it was black ice. Kirk and James didn't believe him and searched for hours in their socks up and down that Swedish road looking for it. In fact, the ice was never found, but the driver was arrested and released some after. Unfortunately, one fatality came from the crash. To make it worse it was a member of the band itself. So, in the short seconds of the hellish event on that back road, Metallica's dreamlike existence was suddenly transformed into a hellish nightmare. Their 24 year old bassist was dead.

Oct 1986

Metallica holds try outs for a new bass player. They are so drunk at this time that the try out are angry and tuff. Jason Newsted hears about the try outs and learns every metallica song in a few days. He goes to try outs hoping to become the new bassist. When he's asked what he would like to play he responses by saying "Anything you want to hear." In the end their are 5 candidates left to chose from. Metallica invites Jason to come along for a few drinks at Tommy's Joint. Before leaving the place James and Lars go to the restroom and decide to hire Jason. They return and tell Jason "Welcome to Metallica."  He responds by getting on top of the table, screaming, and doing "back flips."

Aug 27, 1986

Metallica record Garage Days Re-Revisited and release it. This album has only cover tunes on it, and is Jason's first recording with the band. One of the track was left off the British version so it could qualify for the singles chart. The album was later discontinued and continues to be a collectors item to this day.

Dec 4, 1987

Metallica's first ever home video is recorded and released. Cliff 'Em All becomes a homage to Metallica's previous bass player Cliff Burton. They didn't have any footage from old shows. so bootleg videos taped by fans were added to the home video.

Sept 1988

Metallica record and release ..And Justice For All on Elektra Records. This is Jason's second album, but is the first one where he plays his stuff with Metallica. They then start the Damaged Justice tour 88-89 in Budapest, Hungry

Dec 6, 1988

Metallica filmed their first music video, One. They always wanted to do a video, but didn't like the images of other videos before with the girls in tight shorts and the guys in spandex. Finally they had an idea they liked, and felt the time was right to do it, and they were given maximum artist freedom from their label. The plot was about a boy that goes off to war, and comes back a vegetable. It becomes one of the best known videos by Metallica.

Feb 1990

Metallica wins a Grammy for best Metal Performance, for One. While on stage receiving the award, the band gives Jethro Tull a big thank you for not releasing anything this year. Which gave a lasting impression in the ears of the audience

Oct 6, 1990

Metallica enters the studio "One on One" in North Hollywood to record their next album. Time passes, and the band is not finished until June 16th of next year. The Album is record by Randy Staub and produced by Bob Rock. The album cover is completely black, and the original album name was "Metallica" but it later received the nickname "The Black Album" due to the black cover.

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Quick Name Glossary     

Lloyd Grant

One of Metallica's founders who played lead guitar and later quit the band

   

Ron McGovney

Metallica's first Bass Player. He later quit the band when he found out the other members wanted to hire Cliff Burton as new bass player

   

Dave Mustaine

Second lead guitarist who replaced Lloyd, and was later kicked out of the band the day before recording Kill 'em All. He then formed his own band called Megadeth

   

Cliff Burton

Metallica's second and best known bass player. He stayed with the band until Sept 27, 1986 when a tour bus crash ended his life he was only 24