A Brief Metallica
History
In the summer of
1981, Lars Ulrich secured a deal to record a track for the Metal
Blade compilation Metal Massacre. Due to the fact that he didn't
yet have a band, he quickly began contacting people. Metallica
formed shortly thereafter in 1982. A demo-tape, entitled No Life
'Til Leather, raced through the international underground
tape-trading network and quickly landed the band a recording
contract with Megaforce Records, who released Kill 'Em All. Their
determination to do things their way and make the music they
wanted to make saw a loyal following grow rapidly. Elektra
Records saw the giant within and signed Metallica in 1984. Their
first major label release Ride The Lightning enjoyed massive
attention globally. After the "Day On The Green" at
Oakland Stadium and the British Castle Donington festival in
1985, and the 1986 release of Master Of Puppets and their
subsequent 6 month U.S. arena tour with Ozzy Osbourne, the band
broke wide open, their U.S. popularity soaring to dizzying new
heights. ...And Justice for All, released in 1988, sparked
multi-platinum sales in the U.S. alone, as well as 18 months of
sold out shows. With 1991's Metallica, the massive tour which
followed it, and the revolutionary stadium headline festivals
with Guns N' Roses; Metallica established themselves as one of
the world's biggest bands. The Metallica album (produced by Bob
Rock) has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Kill 'Em All,
Ride The Lightining, Master Of Puppets, and ...And Justice For
All are also all international multi-platinum sellers. Even their
1987 EP Garage Days Re-Revisited (1987) sold over 3 million
copies worldwide. And, they have two international platinum-plus
video releases, Cliff 'Em All (1987), A Year And A Half In The
Life Of Metallica (1992). Metallica also won three consecutive
Grammy Awards in 1989, '90, and '91.