Metallica

Drummer Lars Ulrich put an advertisement about gathering a metal band in the newspaper The Recycler in the beginning of 1981. He added former Leather Charm rhythm-guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, who answered the advertisement, without hesitation and they continued the search together. They took guitarist Dave Mustaine, astonished by his professional equipment, and bassist Ron McGovney. The first single by Metallica Hit The Light entered the collection Metal Massacre I in 1982, and musicians got their portion of attention. In the fall of the same year, Hetfielf and Ulrich met bassist Cliff Burton from Trauma and were so impressed by his play that invited him to join them. After the long hesitations, Burton agreed on the terms that Metallica would re-base to San Francisco. The artists told good-bye to McGovney and moved. However, the band was filled with tension because of Mustaine's aggression, caused by alcohol and drug abuse. He was replaced by former lead guitarist of Exodus Kirk Hammett. Mustaine later formed the Megadeth thrash command, which also reached big success.

In 1983, the band released their aggressive debut Kill'em All that made a big army of fans for Metallica. In 1984, it was followed up by Ride The Lightning with the eponymous lead single and powerful thrash composition For Whom The Bell Tolls. The supporting tour was a success and in 1986, the band issued one of their most legendary full-lengths - Master Of Puppets. Metallica toured along the USA with Ozzy Osbourne - though there were some difficulties due to Hetfield's broken wrist. During the European part of the tour, the band suffered the tragedy - their bus crashed on its way and Burton died in the result. With Burton's family approval, Metallica added Jason Newsted as the bassist and finished the tour in spite of the fact that Hetfield broke his wrist again and they had to find the substitute for him on the rhythm-guitar. In 1988, extremely dark and depressive …And Justice For All album saw light, presented by thrash tune called One. The next creation of the band - Metallica (The Black Album) - was mixed three times and cost about one million dollars. This successful disc got a lighter sound in comparison to previous discs and featured a number of hits like Nothing Else Matters, Sad But True, The Unforgiven and Enter Sandman.

On the tour with Guns N'Roses, during one of the shows there were sudden problems with pyrotechnical equipment that resulted in serious burns to Hetfield. In order to finish the tour, he had to find the rhythm-guitar substitute again. After the lengthy touring, in 1996 the musicians recorded album called Load. The controversial disc cover, fulfilled by Andres Serrano, and Metallica's change of image - they all made haircuts - caused a shock of the audience. However, the material of Load was good - for example, the tribute to Hetfield's mother, ballad Mama Said. A year later, the artists released ReLoad that was notable mostly for the powerful and dramatic The Unforgiven II track. After a five-year break, during which Hetfield got rid of his alcohol problems and Robert Trujillo former of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne band replaced Newsted, Metallica recorded St. Anger. In 2006, it became known that Metallica was going to record the new studio attempt. In autumn 2008 Death Magnetic album saw the light of the day to the great pleasure of all fans. An incredibly loud event for all the lovers of heavy music took place in 2010: the big four of thrash metal: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax went on a joint tour. All those who did not have a chance to visit their shows should not give a way to despair, because the extremely powerful live album The Big 4 Live From Sofia, Bulgaria was released in 2010. That record managed to present the energy and atmosphere of one of the brightest events of rock music world of 2010. An incredibly loud event for all the lovers of heavy music took place in 2010: the big four of thrash metal: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax went on a joint tour. All those who did not have a chance to visit their shows should not give a way to despair, because the extremely powerful live album The Big 4 Live From Sofia, Bulgaria was released in 2010. That record managed to present the energy and atmosphere of one of the brightest events of rock music world of 2010.