“So funny, so personable, so goofy”: Metallica’s Kirk Hammett remembers hitching a ride from David Bowie By Matt Mills published 4 April 24 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
“When James comes in, there’s a presence”: Metallica producer explains what James Hetfield and Johnny Cash have in common By Matt Mills published 3 April 24 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
The isolated bass track from Metallica’s Orion proves that Cliff Burton was a master of his instrument By Matt Mills published 3 April 24 Orion without guitars and drums is still a majestic experience. That’s how incredible Cliff Burton was.
"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 3 April 24 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
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 30 March 24 Metallica's James Hetfield loves unwinding with a cigar – but does his vice impact his singing voice?
“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 30 March 24 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 30 March 24 Shoe-throwing, stopping fights, people chatting, stage invaders... it's tough up there for your heroes
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 27 March 24 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
"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 26 March 24 Even with a massive world tour looming, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo shares some ideas on how he could keep busy in 2024
Does anyone else remember that time Metallica played a secret show as a Ramones cover band? By Matt Mills published 22 March 24 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
“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 16 March 24 The Metallica man collaborated with techno duo Orbital for a song on the soundtrack to Spawn
Every Metallica album ranked from worst to best By Merlin Alderslade published 15 March 24 From game-changing debut Kill 'Em All to the emotionally-charged 72 Seasons, this is every studio album by metal's biggest band, ranked
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 14 March 24 Robert Trujillo had no idea how his Infectious Grooves side-project’s new drummer, Jay Weinberg, looked maskless – until they started rehearsing together
“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 12 March 24 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
Every Metallica instrumental ranked from worst to best By Paul Travers published 12 March 24 From (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth to Suicide & Redemption, we’ve rearranged the six Metallica instrumental tracks in reverse-order of excellence
"Then someone shoved a copy of the band's now legendary No Life 'Til Leather demo into my beer-stained hands": The Mötley Crüe haters who paved the way for one man's discovery of Metallica By Xavier Russell published 8 March 24 In late 1982, Metallica played their 27th show at a club in San Fransisco. One Classic Rock writer got there by accident
“It’s about how grateful we were to have our time with Cliff”: Watch the only time Metallica have ever played emotional instrumental To Live Is To Die live By Matt Mills published 3 March 24 In 2011, Metallica finally unearthed their bittersweet tribute to late bassist Cliff Burton in front of one very intimate audience
10 classic metal albums that should be played live in full (but haven’t yet) By Stephen Hill published 2 March 24 From Metallica’s …And Justice For All to Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other, these masterpieces are so good that live crowds need to hear them in their entirety
“It was a real awkward time”: The story of the abandoned Metallica album By Stephen Hill published 1 March 24 In 2001, Metallica hired an old army barracks in California to try and record album eight. The songs were scrapped when James Hetfield entered rehab, but countless fans still want to hear them finished.
"We look forward to an incredible evening of unique performances": Metallica to perform at star-studded Elton John tribute ceremony By Paul Brannigan published 29 February 24 Metallica will join Annie Lennox, Garth Brooks and more in saluting the "influential" songwriting of Elton John and Bernie Taupin
