Metallica and Their Place in Rock and Roll History

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The band Metallica is a heavy metal music band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California after James Hetfield responded to an ad in June 1981 placed by Lars Ulrich in “The Recycler” a Los Angeles, classified only newspaper. A drummer named Lars Ulrich placed the ad “Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden.", James Hetfield, answered the advertisement. Before the band had even formed Ulrich asked Metal Blade Records founder if he could record a song for the label's upcoming compilation album Metal Massacre, the request was accepted. The unnamed band was officially formed in October 1981, but still without a name for his band. Lars had his own ideas for a band name, names such “Blitzer, Grinder, Helldriver, Thunderfuck, as well as 'Lars Ulrich' spelled backwards.[8]” One day Ulrich was chatting with a friend Ron Quintana, who had been brainstorming names for a fanzine, Quintana's proposed the names "Metal Mania" and "Metallica." Lars convinces Ron to name the fanzine Metal Mania and "steals" the name "Metallica" for his band [8]. At this time, the unknown band named Metallica was born! Over Metallica's first year two years, Hetfield and Ulrich fired several band members, including the original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine. Metallica had driven to New York to record their debut album, that is where Mustaine was officially fired. The firing resulted from his excessive use of drugs and alcohol, overly aggressive behavior, and personality clashes within the band[10]. The band packed up Mustaine's gear and put him on a Greyhound bus and sent him back to California; this time allowed Mustaine to stew his thoughts and create lyrics for his music that would later have ... ... middle of paper ... ...w.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rstone.html#80's 14. All Metallica.Com - Information - Interviews. (n.d.). All Metallica | News History Bios Vintage Guitars. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.allmetallica.com/info/loadpersp96int.shtml 15. Erlewine, S. T. (n.d.). AllMusic. Metallica- Biography. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from www.allmusic.com/artist/metallica-p4906/biography 16. Lollapalooza - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lollapalooza 17. Caulfield, K. (n.d.). Metallica Scores Fifth Straight No. 1 Album | Billboard.com. Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music | Billboard.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003850675#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003850675

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