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Metallica. Nicknamed by fans the “Godfathers of Rock” (Metallica), the mere mention of this name puts a smile on every heavy metal fan’s face. They were the ones that started it all. If you look at Metallica, you see not only one of the most influential bands of all time, but you also see five men who have struggled through many tribulations; from failure to death, they have seen and experienced it all. From beginning to present, this influential band known as Metallica has inspired the world of heavy metal and helped mold rock into what we know it today. The beginning of Metallica was all started with two teenage “metal-heads” named Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield. James Hetfield, after seeing an ad placed in the local newsletter “The Recycler” for wanting to start a band from Lars, contacted him and they both got to work (Jameson 1). They did not have much to start out with, it was Lars playing drums, and James Hetfield playing guitar and providing vocals, all done on a cheap tape recorder. Ron McGoveny, housemate and old school friend of James, eventually joined the band as the new bass players, and another friend of James, Dave Mustaine, took up lead guitar (Jameson 1). All the while, Ron McGoveny, was having second thoughts of the band, and was eventually replaced by Cliff Burton. Former member of local San Francisco band “Trauma”, he was asked by James and Lars to join, and Ron left of his own free will. The band had previously recorded a demo titled “No Life till Leather” with Ron, which they released and hit big in New York (Jameson 1). They were asked to go and play some shows, and to record a full album, to which they agreed to do. However, once they arrived, they announced they kicked guitarist Dave Mustaine out of the band, mainly because of his large drinking problem. James’ roadie at the time, Mark Whitakker, knew of a guitar player, Kirk Hammett of local San Francisco band “Exodus”, and on April 1st, 1983, he was the new official replacement of Dave Mustaine. Around September of that year, Metallica had finally released its first album, “Kill `Em All” (Jameson 1). In 1984, Metallica finally released their first album after stunning the world with their first. This second LP, titled “Ride the Lightning”, was the first heavy metal band to start off a track with acoustic guitar, after which many other bands followed suit and took the idea (Winston 1).
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