Metallica

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Lars Ulrich and Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple

“Metallica would jam on their stuff in rehearsals, songs like Black Night and Highway Star”: Lars Ulrich on his lifelong love of Deep Purple and the genius of the Machine Head album

By Peter Makowski published

Lars Ulrich is a lifelong Deep Purple fan – and here’s why

Metallica play in front of Elton John

"Love lies bleeding in my hands - OOH YEAH!" Watch full HD footage of Elton John looking on in delight as Metallica rock their brilliant cover of Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

By Merlin Alderslade published

Metallica just showed Elton John - and the world - why we desperately need a Garage Inc 2

James Hetfield onstage in 1996

“If you’re putting all these Beavis and Butt-Heads in the parking lot, where are you going to park the cars?” What happened when Metallica battled the city of Philadelphia to perform in a car park

By Matt Mills published

Metallica played a free gig in a car park to promote 1997’s Reload. In the process, they infuriated locals, got bashed by politicians and sued an entire stadium.

James Hetfield performing and Elton John looking on

"Sir Elton helped cover Nothing Else Matters, and tonight, you can see us return the favor!" Watch a clip of Metallica performing a rollocking cover of Elton John classic, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, with Elton looking on approvingly

By Merlin Alderslade published

The cover song we did NOT have on our 2024 bingo card!

Ozzy Osbourne, Nita Strauss and Lemmy taking part in various WWE events

From Ozzy Osbourne and the British Bulldogs to Edge's legendary Slayer entrance, here are 12 times heavy metal ruled WWE's biggest show, Wrestlemania

By Merlin Alderslade published

With Wrestlemania 40 coming this weekend, here are 12 iconic moments heavy metal took over WWE's flagship event

Photos of Kirk Hammett of Metallica and David Bowie

“So funny, so personable, so goofy”: Metallica’s Kirk Hammett remembers hitching a ride from David Bowie

By Matt Mills published

Metallica’s guitarist has told the story of how David Bowie came to the rescue when he didn’t have a ride to his hotel

Photos of James Hetfield in 2023 and Johnny Cash in 1994

“When James comes in, there’s a presence”: Metallica producer explains what James Hetfield and Johnny Cash have in common

By Matt Mills published

Hardwired… To Self-Destruct and 72 Seasons producer Greg Fidelman has said what trait Metallica’s frontman shares with country’s legendary man in black

Cliff Burton of Metallica onstage in 1986

The isolated bass track from Metallica’s Orion proves that Cliff Burton was a master of his instrument

By Matt Mills published

Orion without guitars and drums is still a majestic experience. That’s how incredible Cliff Burton was.

Metallica studio portrait, 1985

"I ordered Chinese food and beer for them, and we just sat there and talked": Metallica, Ride The Lightning, and the meal that got them signed

By Jon Wiederhorn published

Metallica changed the rules with their second album, Ride The Lightning. It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world would play along

James Hetfield of Metallica performs at State Farm Stadium on September 01, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.

Are cigars affecting James Hetfield's voice? Not according to the Metallica man, who says he hasn't sounded this good in a long time

By Stef Lach published

Metallica's James Hetfield loves unwinding with a cigar – but does his vice impact his singing voice?

Metallica in 1984

“We’d play a song in a certain tempo. Three weeks later, it would be twice as fast”: who invented thrash metal? Kirk Hammett has a theory

By Metal Hammer published

Kirk Hammett was there at the birth of thrash with his original band Exodus, so he should know more than anyone who invented the genre

"Get the **** off my stage before I punch you in the ****ing face": Ten times a band stopped a gig to lambast a member of their own crowd

By Niall Doherty published

Shoe-throwing, stopping fights, people chatting, stage invaders... it's tough up there for your heroes

Lar Ulrich of Metallica and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2023

Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith will have cameos in the This Is Spinal Tap sequel

By Matt Mills published

Two of the biggest drummers in rock and metal will join Elton John, Paul McCartney and more in Rob Reiner’s long-awaited mockumentary sequel

Ozzy Osbourne/Robert Trujillo

"That was a special adventure – I wouldn’t be here without him": Robert Trujillo says he'd love to work with Ozzy Osbourne again and reveals the classic cult supergroup he wants to resurrect

By Rich Hobson published

Even with a massive world tour looming, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo shares some ideas on how he could keep busy in 2024

Metallica onstage in 2002

Does anyone else remember that time Metallica played a secret show as a Ramones cover band?

By Matt Mills published

In 2002, Metallica (plus fill-in bassist Bob Rock) took the stage at a San Francisco dive bar and played songs by one of punk’s most prestigious bands

Metallica's Kirk Hammett

“That was it for me, a rock god lead guitarist playing on it”: how Metallica’s Kirk Hammett helped a dance classic to come full circle

By Niall Doherty published

The Metallica man collaborated with techno duo Orbital for a song on the soundtrack to Spawn

Metallica 2023

Every Metallica album ranked from worst to best

By Merlin Alderslade published

From game-changing debut Kill 'Em All to the emotionally-charged 72 Seasons, this is every studio album by metal's biggest band, ranked

Photos of Robert Trujillo and Jay Weinberg

Metallica’s Robert Trujillo didn’t know what ex-Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg looked like until they were in Infectious Grooves together

By Matt Mills published

Robert Trujillo had no idea how his Infectious Grooves side-project’s new drummer, Jay Weinberg, looked maskless – until they started rehearsing together

Bruce Dickinson and Lars Ulrich in 2008

“Why did you let Some Kind Of Monster come out?” What happened when Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson interviewed Metallica’s Lars Ulrich

By Matt Mills published

In 2008, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich swung by Bruce Dickinson’s radio show to promote Death Magnetic and sling some mud at the St Anger era

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica onstage in 2012

Every Metallica instrumental ranked from worst to best

By Paul Travers published

From (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth to Suicide & Redemption, we’ve rearranged the six Metallica instrumental tracks in reverse-order of excellence