
Metallica and Megadeth | |
Metallica - The most consistently innovative metal band of the late 80s and 90s was formed in 1981 in California, USA, by Lars Ulrich (b. 26 December 1963, Copenhagen, Denmark; drums) and James Alan Hetfield (b. 3 August 1963, USA; guitar/vocals).They recorded their first demo, No Life Til Leather, with Lloyd Grand (guitar), who was replaced in January 1982 by David Mustaine (b. 13 September 1961, La Mesa, California, USA). At the end of 1982 Clifford Lee Burton (b. 10 February 1962, USA, d. 27 September 1986; bass, ex-Trauma) joined the band, playing his first live performance on 5 March 1983. Mustaine departed to form Megadeth and was replaced by Kirk Hammett (b. 18 November 1962, San Francisco, California, USA; guitar). The Ulrich, Hetfield, Burton and Hammett combination endured until disaster struck the band on 27 September 1986, when Metallicas tour bus overturned in Sweden, killing Cliff Burton. During those four years, the band put thrash metal on the map with the aggression and exuberance of their debut, Kill Em All. After the death of Burton, the band elected to continue, the remaining three members recruiting Jason Newsted (b. 4 March 1963, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA; bass) of Flotsam And Jetsam. The original partnership of Ulrich and Hetfield, however, remained responsible for Metallicas lyrics and musical direction. The MTV-friendly Enter Sandman broke the band on a stadium level as did another album track, Nothing Else Matters. The follow-up Load entered the US charts at number 1. The album marked a change in image for the band, who began to court the alternative rock audience. Garage Inc. collected assorted cover versions and the following years S&M was recorded live with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. St Anger saw them return to their thrash roots.
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