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.