Metallica have worked very hard to come back from the image they projected by fighting against Napster in the early 2000s.
The metal titans’ crusade against the forefather of music-sharing services felt like a slap in the face to the fans they’d constantly encouraged to bootleg and tape-trade their material, and seemed to put their bottom line ahead of new listeners’ ability to obtain music. But since then, Metallica have supported up-and-coming artists while publicly giving tons of money to charity, while the public opinion of music-sharing has shifted dramatically due to the low royalty rates of big streaming services like Spotify. Now, in a new interview, guitarist Kirk Hammett has come out basically saying ‘I told you so’ to the masses.
The interviewer, who speaks to Kirk for Classic Rock, kinda feeds right into Kirk’s response with their question:
Classic Rock launched just before Napster came along in 1999, and the music industry started to change. Metallica were one of the big names fighting against peer-to-peer file sharing, which morphed into the streaming model that prevails today.
We warned everyone that this was gonna happen. We warned everyone that the music industry was gonna lose eighty percent of its net worth, power and influence. When these monumental shifts come you just either fucking rattle the cage and get nothing done or you move forward.
There’s definitely a new way for getting music out there, but it isn’t as effective as the music industry pre-Napster. But we’re stuck with it. There needs to be some sort of midway point where the two come together, or another completely new model comes in.
There you have it, what goes around comes around, and now that streaming is no longer the technological darling it once seemed to be, Metallica were right all along.
Whatever job we have, we all fuck up at some point. even the guitarist for the biggest heavy metal band of all time does at some point.
What really matters is how you deal with this fuck up, how you own it then move forward, rather than fight it.
This is exactly what Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett did at the Boston Calling festival this weekend, where he totally butchered the intro to a song he’s played a million times, and at least had the good humour to laugh at how hard he dropped the ball.
As you’ll see in the fan-shot video below, Kirk started off Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” on Sunday, May 29th, at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, Massachusetts, with a little flourish from “More Than a Feeling” by Boston (because of the fest). However, when it came time to play his own song, Kirk straight-up screwed the pooch, prompting him to fall to his knees and then flop onto his back in exasperation. The dude then got up with a big grin on his face and told the crowd, “Sorry, guys, you’re so kickass…I got distracted by how kickass you are!” Then he tried again, and the band played the song.
Some part of us wants to criticise Kirk for messing up a track he’s played countless times in his life. Something about a big crowd, owing the fans, yadda yadda yadda. But honestly, this incident just makes him look very endearing. Metallica ONLY play to big crowds, so it’s inevitable that they’re going to have minor fuck-ups in front of thousands and thousands of people. Least they can do is chuckle about it and apologise.
METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo was featured guest on the latest episode of “The Ex-Man With Doc Coyle”, a podcast where guitar player Doc Coyle of BAD WOLVES and GOD FORBID talks to professionals in the music world and other creative industries about the challenges and transitions of leaving monumental ventures.
Robert during Metallica’s performance in Paris back in 2019
Talking about how important it is getting along with your bandmates, Trujillo said: “Any situation, people that are coming up and doing bands, never get caught up in the idea that you’re in your band and you’re safe and nothing can touch you. Anybody can be replaced. And you wanna always try to be as respectful as possible. Because you’re gonna have your ups and downs and you’re gonna bump heads, but it doesn’t mean you quit or you hate the person or whatever.
“I’ve always been in situations in my bands where there were those moments and things get heated and you’re bumping heads. It happens in METALLICA. There’s been a couple of times, even with James. Maybe something was bothering him… I remember one time, about three years ago in Italy. Poor guy, he got stung by a bee in his face, I think it was. I don’t think he’s allergic, but there was poison oak going on. So your face is hurtin’, your body’s itchin’. You’re out there on the road. It’s raining. We were in Italy or something. And one of the songs, like ‘Memory Remains’ or something… I had a lot in my head. Kirk and I were doing these duets and I’m singing in other languages. And Lars threw, like, ‘Do a bass solo,’ kind of a day before. And I’m just, like, ‘Aaaargh…’ So I’m tense. And [James is] tense too, but we’re tense about different things. And we’re going on stage very soon and things are running late. And we’re playing ‘Memory Remains’ [in the tuning room], and I’m just kind of jamming through it, but I’m not really jamming through it with full intensity, I’m just kind of ghosting it a little bit. And he’s, like, ‘You know the song?’ And this is a song we’ve played thousands of times. And I was insulted, because this is one of the easiest songs we play, and you’re asking me if I know the song. So I’m just kind of, like, ‘Yeah, I know the fucking s…’ I blew a fuse for a second. And then I felt horrible, and he felt horrible. And then we realized, I think, that I’m tripping on the load that I have on my shoulders over here, he’s tripping on this and that, and probably… I mean, I get it, man, I’ve had poison oak, I’ve had bee stings before, and it ain’t fun. And you’re out there and you’re trying to be the best you can. So, rather than throwing your instruments down and coming to blows or anything like that, you work it out, you kind of calm yourself and you realize what’s going on.”
He continued: “So even in our situation, things like that can happen. And it’s just the nature of the beast. We’re all individuals and we all have our moments. So I always stress that, more now than ever.
Hetfield praised Trujillo during a 2017 interview with the 94.5 The Buzz radio station, saying: “Who else could [have come in and done the job]? I mean, there were a few people we auditioned, I know. It might have worked out with other people, but it’s hard to find people that are, say, your age, kind of your upbringing, musically, obviously, ability-wise, they’ve been on the road. It’s not like you’re bringing some kid out for his first time, and it’s, ‘Oh my God!’ He’s going through all the stuff that you did twenty-five years ago. He’s got kids. He’s married. It just jelled, and it’s still jelling. And his personality is probably one of the best contributions, I think, to the band, ’cause he’s so chill, he’s so up for anything, he’s always in there rehearsing. So he does fit in.”
METALLICA‘s front man James Hetfield got emotional during the band’s concert Thursday night in Brazil, admitting to the audience that he was “feeling a little bit insecure” prior to taking the stage.
Before starting “Sad But True” at Estádio do Mineirão in Belo Horizonte on May 12, the 58 years old thanked the huge crowd, saying how he and his bandmates are “so blessed” to have the support of such a loyal fanbase. But then he added : “I’ve gotta tell you I wasn’t feeling very good before I came out here. [I was] feeling a little bit insecure, like I’m an old guy, [I] can’t play anymore, all this bullshit that I tell myself in my head. So I talked to these guys, and they helped me, as simple as that. They gave me a hug and said, ‘Hey, if you’re struggling on stage, we’ve got your back.’ And I tell you, it means the world to me.” At that point, all three of James‘s bandmates approached the singer and once again gave him a heartfelt group hug, with Hetfield visibly touched by the gesture. He then once again addressed the audience, telling them: “And seeing you out there, I… I am not alone. I am not alone, and neither are you.”
James has been open about his battles with addiction, anxiety and low self-esteem in the past, most recently last fall while discussing the transformation he had to undergo in order to successfully front METALLICAduring the touring cycle for the band’s 1991 self-titled album, which stands as one of the top-selling records of all time.
He told Apple Music‘s Zane Lowe in October 2021: “There was such an expectation already on myself to not let the team down and be the best as possible. But then you add 60,000 people out there… You need to be what they need you to be, ’cause this is what you’ve evolved to be. And it is a little bit of Oz,” referencing the classic 1900 children’s book “The Wizard Of Oz” by L. Frank Baum which was then adapted into the two-time Oscar-winning film in 1939. “Like, the man behind the curtain, pay no attention, but this guy behind the curtain is just dying and struggling and freaking out and not knowing who he is.”
Alex is a 5-year-old boy from Lebanon and a relative of veteran bassist Vik Bajac. Alex’s favorite bands happened to be thrash legends Metallica and Lebanese thrashers Blaakyum. Continue reading
METALLICA Lemmy tribute video is out, and it is amazing.
We recently lost one of the forefathers of Thrash Metal: Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead band. And Metallica were among the first to mourn the legend.
If you were a Metallica fan during the 90’s, you would have noticed that James Hetfield was majorly influenced by Lemmy and he even trimmed his own beard in the same way.
Metallica just released a single from their upcoming album, that will be released live tomorrow! (check out how to stream the release concert online here). The single, entitled Murder One, is a 2D animated cartoon video that features the character of Lemmy Kilmister in the main role. The song is really intense and takes us back to the Black Album era. The music video is kind of a story about the late legend, and also includes some quotes from Lemmy in the subtitles.
Watch the video of Murder One below, and check out all other releases as you scroll down:
METALLICA Lemmy tribute video
MURDER ONE – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT By METALLICA
ManUNkind – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT BY METALLICA
CONFUSION – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT BY METALLICA
DREAM NO MORE – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT By METALLICA
ATLAS, RISE – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT By METALLICA
MOTH INTO FLAME – HARDWIRED… TO SELF-DESTRUCT By METALLICA
Metallica Hardwired… To Self Destruct tracklist
Disc 1
Hardwired
Atlas, Rise!
Now That We’re Dead
Moth Into Flame
Dream No More
Halo On Fire
Disc 2
Confusion
ManUNkind
Here Comes Revenge
Am I Savage?
Murder One
Spit Out the Bone
Metallica tour dates:
Paris Le Grand Journal, France – November 15, 2016
London House Of Vans, UK – November 18, 2016
Oakland Fox Theater, CA – December 17, 2016
Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome, South Korea – January 11, 2016
Beijing Le Sports Centre, China – January 18, 2016
Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo, China – January 20, 2016
Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore – January 22, 2016
Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark – February 03-05-07 & 09, 2016
Sao Paulo Interlagos Racetrack, Brazil – March 25 & 26, 2016
Buenos Aires Hippodrome San Isidro, Argentina – March 31 & April 01, 2016
Santiago Parque O’Higgins, Chile – April 01 & 02, 2016
With these words, it is confirmed that Metallica will stream Hardwired…To Self-Destruct release celebration concert on November 18th live online. Continue reading
METALLICA just released the long-awaited new track “Hardwired” from their upcoming album: “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct”. The video that was posted just half an hour ago can be watched below.
It seems that the Thrash giants finally realized that there is no place like home. Metallica have just blown off the dust on their old history and brought us a smashing thrashing fast pure HEAVY METAL track.
METALLICA will release its long-awaited new album, “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct”, on November 18. The follow-up to 2008’s “Death Magnetic” consists of two discs, with nearly 80 minutes of music.
The band says: “‘Hardwired…’ represents the next phase of our journey as METALLICA and we are so excited to share it with you.
If anyone was tuned into radio station 93X in Minneapolis earlier today, you heard the world debut of the first track, ‘Hardwired’, and we’re hoping you’ll hear a lot more of it in the coming days.
Produced by Greg Fidelman, along with James [Hetfield] and Lars [Ulrich], this is our eleventh studio album and is available for pre-order in a variety of configurations including 12 songs on a double CD, vinyl, digital download, as well as a deluxe version with the riffs that were the origins of the album. Everyone who pre-orders the album through Metallica.com will receive an instant download of the song ‘Hardwired’.”
Disc One
01. Hardwired
02. Atlas, Rise!
03. Now That We’re Dead
04. Moth Into Flame
05. Am I Savage?
06. Halo On Fire
Disc Two
01. Confusion
02. Dream No More
03. ManUNkind
04. Here Comes Revenge
05. Murder One
06. Spit Out The Bone
Disc Three (Deluxe Edition Only)
01. Lords Of Summer
02. Riff Charge (Riff Origins)
03. N.W.O.B.H.M. A.T.M. (Riff Origins)
04. Tin Shot (Riff Origins)
05. Plow (Riff Origins)
06. Sawblade (Riff Origins)
07. RIP (Riff Origins)
08. Lima (Riff Origins)
09. 91 (Riff Origins)
10. MTO (Riff Origins)
11. RL72 (Riff Origins)
12. Frankenstein (Riff Origins)
13. CHI (Riff Origins)
14. X Dust (Riff Origins)
