History of Metallica in Timeline
Metallica, formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, is a highly influential American heavy metal band and one of the "big four" of thrash metal. Known for their fast tempos and aggressive style, their current lineup includes Hetfield, Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo. Former members include Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted. They have been based in San Francisco for most of their career.
October 28, 1981: Official Formation of Metallica
On October 28, 1981, Metallica was officially formed, five months after Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield first met.
1981: Metallica Formation
In 1981, Metallica was formed in Los Angeles by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.
March 1982: Metallica's First Gig
In March 1982, Metallica played their first gig at Radio City in Anaheim, with Ron McGovney on bass. They opened for Saxon at the second gig of their U.S. tour.
April 1982: Metallca's Fourth Gig as a Five-Piece Band
In April 1982, Metallica played their fourth gig as a five-piece band in Costa Mesa with lead guitarist Brad Parker.
May 1982: Hetfield's First Live Guitar Performance
In May 1982, James Hetfield played guitar live for the first time at Metallica's fifth gig, marking a shift in his role within the band.
June 14, 1982: Metal Massacre I Release
On June 14, 1982, Metal Massacre I was released, featuring Metallica. Early pressings misspelled the band's name as "Mettallica".
1982: Search for Record Deal
In 1982, Metallica sought a record deal after Metal Blade couldn't cover the costs of their debut album. Jonathan "Jonny Z" Zazula offered to broker a deal but eventually signed them to his label, Megaforce Records.
1982: Spat at the Troubadour
In 1982, before a show at the Troubadour in Hollywood, Lars Ulrich and Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx were allegedly involved in a spat, contributing to the ongoing rivalry between the bands.
1982: Cliff Burton recruited
In late 1982, Metallica recruited bassist Cliff Burton after being impressed by his performance with Trauma. Burton accepted on the condition that they move to El Cerrito.
March 1983: First Performance with Cliff Burton
In March 1983, Metallica's first live performance with Cliff Burton was held at The Stone nightclub.
April 11, 1983: Dave Mustaine's Departure and Kirk Hammett's Joining
On April 11, 1983, Dave Mustaine was ejected from Metallica due to his behavior. Kirk Hammett replaced him the same day.
April 16, 1983: First Performance with Kirk Hammett
On April 16, 1983, Metallica's first live performance with Kirk Hammett took place at The Showplace in Dover, New Jersey, with Anthrax as the support act.
May 1983: Recording Debut Album
In May 1983, Metallica traveled to Rochester, New York, to record their debut album, "Metal Up Your Ass", produced by Paul Curcio.
1983: Dave Mustaine fired from Metallica
In 1983, Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica due to alcoholism and a physical altercation with James Hetfield, among other issues.
1983: Dave Mustaine Fired
In 1983, Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica. Following his dismissal, Mustaine went on to form Megadeth.
February 1984: Seven Dates of Hell Tour with Venom
In February 1984, Metallica supported Venom on the Seven Dates of Hell tour, performing at the Aardschok Festival in Zwolle, Netherlands, in front of 7,000 people.
February 1984: Coining of "Thrash Metal" term
In February 1984, the term "thrash metal" was coined by Kerrang! journalist Malcolm Dome in reference to Anthrax's song "Metal Thrashing Mad".
March 1984: Recording of Ride the Lightning
From February to March 1984, Metallica recorded its second studio album, "Ride the Lightning", at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.
July 27, 1984: Ride the Lightning Album Release
On July 27, 1984, Metallica released its second studio album, "Ride the Lightning", which reached number 100 on the Billboard 200.
September 1984: Signing with Elektra Records and Q Prime Management
In September 1984, Michael Alago from Elektra Records and Cliff Burnstein from Q Prime management attended a Metallica concert, leading to Metallica signing with Elektra and becoming a client of Q Prime.
December 1985: Master of Puppets Recording
From September to December 1985, Metallica recorded their third studio album, "Master of Puppets", at Sweet Silence Studios.
March 3, 1986: Master of Puppets Album Release
On March 3, 1986, Metallica's third studio album, "Master of Puppets", was released and reached number 29 on the Billboard 200.
September 27, 1986: Cliff Burton's Death
On September 27, 1986, during the European leg of Metallica's Damage, Inc. Tour, Cliff Burton died in a bus accident near Dörarp, Sweden.
November 4, 1986: Master of Puppets Certified Gold
On November 4, 1986, Metallica's album "Master of Puppets" was certified Gold.
1986: Newsted Joins Metallica and Experiences Hazing
Following Jason Newsted's hiring in 1986 as Metallica's bassist, he experienced hazing and a lack of acceptance from his bandmates despite his efforts. The band's fourth album unusual mixing was regarded as a way to minimize Newsted's involvement.
1986: Master of Puppets Release
In 1986, Metallica achieved commercial success with the release of "Master of Puppets", which is often considered one of the best metal albums ever.
1986: Billboard Debut
Metallica's album "Kill 'Em All" peaked at number 155 on the Billboard 200 in 1986.
February 1987: End of the Damage, Inc. Tour
In February 1987, Metallica finished its Damage, Inc. Tour after Jason Newsted had joined the band.
March 1987: Hetfield's Second Wrist Fracture
In March 1987, James Hetfield broke his wrist again while skateboarding, which led to the cancellation of a Metallica appearance on Saturday Night Live.
August 21, 1987: Release of The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited
On August 21, 1987, Metallica released the all-covers extended play (EP), titled The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited.
May 1988: Recording of ...And Justice for All
In May 1988, Metallica was in the process of recording their first studio album since the death of Cliff Burton, titled ...And Justice for All.
1988: ...And Justice for All Grammy Nomination
In 1988, Metallica's album "...And Justice for All" earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination.
1988: Creeping Death single release
In 1988, Music for Nations released "Creeping Death" as a limited-edition single, which sold 40,000 copies as an import in the U.S.
1989: Impressed by Dr. Feelgood
Despite their public disdain for glam metal, in 1989, Metallica were impressed by the production and commercial success of Mötley Crüe's album Dr. Feelgood.
1989: Grammy Nomination and Upset
In 1989, Metallica received their first Grammy nomination for the album ...And Justice for All in the category of Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrument. Despite being the favorite to win, Jethro Tull won the award for Crest of a Knave, causing controversy among fans and the press.
1989: Start of The Ecstasy of Gold as intro
Since the 1980s, specifically from 1989, a recording of "The Ecstasy of Gold" has been played to introduce Metallica's performances.
October 1990: Recording The Black Album
In October 1990, Metallica started recording their next album, Metallica (also known as The Black Album), at One on One Recording's studio in North Hollywood, with Bob Rock as the producer.
September 1991: Monsters of Rock Concert in Moscow
In September 1991, Metallica played at the Monsters of Rock series concert in Moscow, where 1.6 million rock music fans converged to enjoy the first open-air rock concert held in the Soviet Union.
1991: Metallica releases "Black Album"
In 1991, Metallica changed their sound to a more traditional heavy metal style on their self-titled album, also known as the "Black Album".
1991: Hiring Bob Rock
In 1991, Metallica hired Bob Rock, the producer of Mötley Crüe's successful album "Dr. Feelgood", to produce their self-titled fifth album.
1991: Metallica album release and commercial success
In 1991, Metallica released their self-titled album, "Metallica", which marked a turning point in their sound, appealing to a mainstream audience and achieving significant commercial success.
1991: Initial Idea of Pairing with Symphony
In 1991, Michael Kamen approached Metallica with the idea of pairing the band's music with a symphony orchestra, which led to the S&M project.
1991: Nielsen SoundScan Tracking
Since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, Metallica has sold 58 million albums in the United States.
April 1992: Appearance at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
In April 1992, Metallica appeared at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and performed a three-song set. James Hetfield later performed "Stone Cold Crazy" with the remaining members of Queen and Tony Iommi.
August 8, 1992: Hetfield's Injury at Olympic Stadium
On August 8, 1992, during a concert at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal as part of the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour, James Hetfield suffered second and third-degree burns to his arms, face, hands, and legs due to a pyrotechnics malfunction during "Fade to Black".
November 1993: Release of Live Shit: Binge & Purge
In November 1993, Metallica released Live Shit: Binge & Purge, the band's first box set, which included three live CDs, three home videos, and a book.
1993: Megadeth opens for Metallica in Europe
In 1993, Megadeth opened for Metallica on numerous European dates. By the late 1980s, it was believed that the feud between Dave Mustaine and Metallica had largely subsided, later confirmed after Megadeth were hired to open for Metallica on numerous European dates.
1995: Escape from the Studio '95 Tour
In the summer of 1995, Metallica went on a brief hiatus and played a short tour called Escape from the Studio '95, which comprised three outdoor shows.
1996: Apocalyptica releases Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
In 1996, Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica released a tribute album titled Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, featuring eight Metallica songs played on cellos.
1996: Metallica headlines Lollapalooza festival
In 1996, Metallica moved away from their original lyrical approach, focusing on anger, loss, and retribution, which included haircuts and the cover art of "Load", and the band headlining the Lollapalooza festival. David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the move as "goodbye to the moldy stricture and dead-end Puritanism of no-frills thrash", and called Load the heaviest record of 1996.
1996: Metallica releases "Load"
In 1996, Metallica moved towards hard rock with the release of the album "Load".
1996: Release of Load and Lollapalooza Headlining
In 1996, Metallica released Load, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and ARIA Charts. The band also headlined the Lollapalooza festival in mid-1996.
December 1997: Saturday Night Live Performance
In December 1997, to promote Reload, Metallica performed "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains" with Marianne Faithfull on NBC's Saturday Night Live.
1997: Metallca releases "Reload"
In 1997, Metallica continued moving towards hard rock with the release of the album "Reload".
1997: Metallica releases "Reload" with blues and hard rock influences
In 1997, Metallica displayed blues and early hard rock influences in "Reload", incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.
1997: American Music Awards Feud
In 1997, the feud between Nikki Sixx and Lars Ulrich was reignited after Ulrich accused Mötley Crüe of using a backing track at the American Music Awards.
1998: Release of Garage Inc.
In 1998, Metallica released Garage Inc., a double album of cover songs. The first disc contained newly recorded covers, and the second disc featured the original version of The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited.
March 7, 1999: Metallica inducted into San Francisco Walk of Fame
On March 7, 1999, Metallica was inducted into the San Francisco Walk of Fame, and the mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, proclaimed the day "Official Metallica Day".
1999: Release of S&M Album and Concert Film
In 1999, Metallica released the album and concert film S&M, which featured two performances recorded with the San Francisco Symphony in April 1999.
1999: Music Video Voted in MTV's Top 100
In 1999, Metallica's debut music video for the song "One" was voted number 38 in MTV's "Top 100 Videos of All Time" countdown and was featured on the network's 25th-anniversary edition of ADD Video.
July 11, 2000: Ulrich's Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee
On July 11, 2000, Lars Ulrich provided a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding copyright infringement.
2000: MTV Video Music Awards Skit and Fanning's Response
At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, Lars Ulrich appeared in a skit criticizing Napster, and Shawn Fanning responded by wearing a Metallica shirt that read: "I borrowed this shirt from a friend."
2000: Discovery of "I Disappear" Leak and Napster Lawsuit
In 2000, Metallica discovered that a demo of their song "I Disappear" was leaked and receiving radio airplay, which led to the discovery of the band's entire catalogue being freely available on Napster. Metallica then filed a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringement.
2000: Napster Lawsuit
In 2000, Metallica initiated a case against Napster, a peer-to-peer file sharing service, due to copyright infringement. The band and other artists filed lawsuits for the unauthorized sharing of their material, eventually reaching a settlement.
2000: Hetfield Blocks Echobrain
In 2000, tensions between James Hetfield and Jason Newsted escalated when Hetfield repeatedly blocked Newsted's desire to pursue his side project, Echobrain.
January 2001: Newsted Leaves Metallica
In January 2001, Jason Newsted abruptly left Metallica before the recording of "St. Anger" due to animosity surrounding his side project being blocked.
January 17, 2001: Newsted's Departure from Metallica
On January 17, 2001, Jason Newsted left Metallica, citing "private and personal reasons" and "the physical damage I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love."
April 2001: Filming of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Begins
In April 2001, filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began filming Metallica to document the recording process of the band's next studio album. They recorded over 1,000 hours of footage over two years.
July 19, 2001: Hetfield Enters Rehab
On July 19, 2001, James Hetfield entered rehab to treat his "alcoholism and other addictions", putting all recording plans on hold.
December 4, 2001: Hetfield Leaves Rehab
On December 4, 2001, James Hetfield left rehab.
2001: Jason Newsted Left the Band
In 2001, former bassist Jason Newsted left the band. He would later perform with them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 4, 2009.
April 12, 2002: Metallica Returns to the Recording Studio
On April 12, 2002, Metallica returned to the recording studio, after James Hetfield had left rehab. Hetfield was required to limit his work to four hours a day.
June 3, 2002: Napster Files for Chapter 11 Protection
On June 3, 2002, Napster filed for Chapter 11 protection under U.S. bankruptcy laws.
September 3, 2002: Sale of Napster Blocked
On September 3, 2002, an American bankruptcy judge blocked the sale of Napster to Bertelsmann and forced Napster to liquidate its assets.
June 2003: St. Anger album debut
In June 2003, Metallica's eighth studio album, "St. Anger", debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, drawing mixed reactions from critics, with some criticizing Ulrich's snare drum sound and the absence of guitar solos.
2003: Sixx Praises St. Anger
Despite the negative reception it initially received, Nikki Sixx praised Metallica's album "St. Anger" during a 2003 interview.
2003: St. Anger Album Release
In 2003, Metallica released the album "St. Anger", the production of which was documented in the film "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster"
2003: Summer Sanitarium Tour
In 2003, Metallica toured for two years in support of St. Anger on the Summer Sanitarium Tour, supported by Godsmack.
2003: Metallica receives MTV Icon award
In 2003, Metallica was awarded the MTV Icon award, and a concert paying tribute to the band with artists performing its songs was held.
2003: Master of Puppets certified platinum six times
In 2003, Metallica's album "Master of Puppets" was certified six times Platinum.
2003: Auditions and New Bassist
In 2003, during the recording of St. Anger, Bob Rock played bass. After the record was completed, the band held auditions for a new bassist, and Robert Trujillo was chosen. Newsted, who had joined Voivod, replaced Trujillo in Ozzy Osbourne's band during the Ozzfest tour.
January 2004: Premiere of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
In January 2004, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the documentary that chronicled the band's recording process, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
2004: Ulrich's Anxiety Seizure at Download Festival
Before the band's set at the 2004 Download Festival, Ulrich was rushed to the hospital after having an anxiety seizure and was unable to perform. Dave Lombardo, Flemming Larsen, and Joey Jordison volunteered to fill in as drummer.
2004: "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" Documentary
In 2004, Metallica was the subject of the documentary film "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster", which chronicled the difficult production of the band's album St. Anger and internal conflicts.
2004: Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
In 2004, the title track "St. Anger" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Also, the song was used as the official theme song for WWE's SummerSlam 2003.
2004: Release of The Videos 1989-2004 DVD
In December 2006, Metallica released a DVD titled "The Videos 1989–2004", which contained videos of music from 1989 to 2004 and sold 28,000 copies in its first week.
2004: Reflection on Load and Reload
In the 2004 documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, James Hetfield mentioned that the band initially thought some of the songs on the albums Load and Reload were of average quality and were polished and reworked until judged releasable.
2005: Break and Performance with the Rolling Stones
Metallca took a break from performing and spent most of 2005 with friends and family. The band opened for the Rolling Stones at SBC Park in San Francisco on November 13 and 15, 2005.
February 2006: Departure of Producer Bob Rock
In February 2006, Metallica announced that after 15 years, Bob Rock would not be producing the band's next studio album. A petition signed by 1,500 fans was posted online in an attempt to encourage the band to prohibit Rock from producing Metallica albums.
April 8, 2006: Kerrang! releases Master of Puppets: Remastered tribute album
On April 8, 2006, Kerrang! magazine released a tribute album titled Master of Puppets: Remastered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Master of Puppets. The album featured cover versions of Metallica songs by bands influenced by Metallica.
September 10, 2006: Metallica guest stars on The Simpsons
On September 10, 2006, Metallica guest starred on The Simpsons' eighteenth-season premiere, "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer".
December 2006: Release of The Videos 1989-2004 DVD
In December 2006, Metallica released a DVD titled "The Videos 1989–2004", which sold 28,000 copies in its first week and entered the Billboard Top Videos chart at number three.
February 2007: Release of We All Love Ennio Morricone tribute album
In February 2007, Metallica recorded a guitar-based interpretation of Ennio Morricone's "The Ecstasy of Gold" for a tribute album titled "We All Love Ennio Morricone", which received a Grammy nomination.
2007: Machine Head album influenced by Master of Puppets
In 2007, Robb Flynn of Machine Head said that when creating the band's album, The Blackening, he wanted to make "an album that has the power, influence and epic grandeur of that album Master of Puppets—and the staying power—a timeless record like that".
June 2008: Recording of Live at Grimey's EP
In June 2008, Metallica recorded a live EP titled Live at Grimey's at Grimey's Record Store, which was later released on November 26, 2010.
September 2, 2008: Leak of Death Magnetic
On September 2, 2008, a record store in France began selling copies of Death Magnetic nearly two weeks before its scheduled worldwide release date, resulting in the album being made available on peer-to-peer clients.
September 10, 2008: Official Release of Death Magnetic in the UK
Due to the leak of Death Magnetic, on September 10, 2008, the band's UK distributor Vertigo Records officially released the album.
September 12, 2008: Scheduled Release of Death Magnetic
Metallica scheduled the release of the album Death Magnetic on September 12, 2008, and the band filmed a music video for the album's first single, "The Day That Never Comes".
November 2008: End of Record Deal with Warner Bros.
In November 2008, Metallica's record deal with Warner Bros. ended, and the band considered releasing its next album through the internet.
2008: Metallica releases "Death Magnetic"
In 2008, Metallica returned to a more thrash-influenced sound with the release of the album "Death Magnetic".
2008: Death Magnetic Release
In 2008, Metallica returned to its thrash metal roots with the release of its ninth album, "Death Magnetic", receiving praise similar to their earlier works.
January 14, 2009: Announcement of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
On January 14, 2009, it was announced that Metallica would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009.
April 4, 2009: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
On April 4, 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Former bassist Jason Newsted performed with the band. Ray Burton, father of the late Cliff Burton, accepted the honor on his behalf. Dave Mustaine declined to participate due to touring commitments.
June 2009: Ulrich Interview on Future Plans
In a June 2009 interview with Italy's Rock TV, Ulrich mentioned Metallica was planning to continue touring until August 2010, and that there were no plans for a tenth album at that time. He expressed the band's intention to collaborate with producer Rick Rubin again.
2009: Newsted Inducted into Hall of Fame
Despite the animosity surrounding his departure, Jason Newsted was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica in 2009.
2009: Guitar Hero: Metallica released
In 2009, Metallica collaborated with the developers of Guitar Hero to make Guitar Hero: Metallica, which included a number of Metallica's songs.
2009: Filming in Quebec
In 2009, Metallica performed shows in Quebec and filmed them; the footage would be used for a DVD called Quebec Magnetic, which was released on December 10, 2012.
2009: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking a significant recognition of their contribution to music.
June 16, 2010: Sonisphere Festival in Poland
On June 16, 2010, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax performed on the same bill for the first time at Warsaw Babice Airport, Poland, as a part of the Sonisphere Festival series.
June 22, 2010: Sonisphere Festival in Bulgaria Broadcast to Cinemas
The show in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 22, 2010, as a part of the Sonisphere Festival, was broadcast via satellite to cinemas.
June 26, 2010: Concert in Bucharest
On June 26, 2010, Metallica played a concert in Bucharest as part of the tour with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax.
June 27, 2010: Concert in Istanbul
On June 27, 2010, Metallica played a concert in Istanbul as part of the tour with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax.
June 28, 2010: Death Magnetic Certified Double Platinum
On June 28, 2010, Death Magnetic was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
August 2010: End of Touring Plans
According to Ulrich's June 2009 interview, Metallica was planning to continue touring until August 2010. There were no plans for a tenth album at that time.
November 9, 2010: Announcement of Rock in Rio Performance
On November 9, 2010, Metallica announced it would be headlining the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro on September 25, 2011.
November 12, 2010: Release of Six Feet Down Under (Part II)
On November 12, 2010, Metallica released Six Feet Down Under (Part II), containing eight songs recorded during the first two Oceanic Legs of the World Magnetic Tour.
November 2010: Ulrich Interview on Writing Plans
In November 2010, during an interview with The Pulse of Radio, Ulrich said Metallica would return to writing in 2011 and wanted to get back to being creative.
November 21, 2010: End of World Magnetic Tour
On November 21, 2010, Metallica's World Magnetic Tour ended in Melbourne, after touring for more than two years in support of Death Magnetic.
November 26, 2010: Release of Live at Grimey's EP
On November 26, 2010, Metallica released a live EP titled Live at Grimey's, which was recorded in June 2008 at Grimey's Record Store.
December 13, 2010: Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House Announcement
On December 13, 2010, Metallica announced it would again play as part of the "big four" during the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, on July 8, 2011, which was the first time all of the "big four" members played on the same stage in the UK.
December 17, 2010: Announcement of Sonisphere Performance in France
On December 17, 2010, another "big four" Sonisphere performance that would take place in France on July 9 was announced.
2010: Big 4 Tour
In 2010, Metallica and Megadeth participated in the "Big 4 Tour" alongside Slayer and Anthrax, signifying a friendlier relationship between the bands. In addition, Dave Mustaine participated in Metallica's 30th anniversary show in San Francisco in 2010, which included former members.
January 25, 2011: Announcement of Big Four Performance in Indio, California
On January 25, 2011, another "big four" performance on April 23, 2011, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, was announced, marking the first time all of the "big four" members played on the same stage in the U.S.
February 17, 2011: Announcement of Show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
On February 17, 2011, a show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on July 2, 2011, was announced.
February 22, 2011: Announcement of Big Four Show in Milan
On February 22, 2011, a "big four" show in Milan on July 6, 2011, was announced.
March 2, 2011: Announcement of Big Four Concert in Gothenburg
On March 2, 2011, another "big four" concert, which took place in Gothenburg on July 3, 2011, was announced.
April 2011: Trujillo Interview on New Album and Producer
In an interview at the April 2011 Big Four concert, Robert Trujillo said Metallica will work with Rick Rubin again as producer for the new album and were "really excited to write some new music."
April 23, 2011: Big Four Performance in Indio, California
On April 23, 2011, Metallica and the "big four" performed at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, marking the first time all of the "big four" members played on the same stage in the U.S.
June 15, 2011: Announcement of Collaboration Album with Lou Reed
On June 15, 2011, Metallica announced that recording sessions with singer-songwriter Lou Reed had concluded. The album, titled "Lulu", was recorded over several months and comprised ten songs.
June 2011: Rubin Confirms Metallica Began Writing New Album
In June 2011, Rick Rubin said Metallica had begun writing its new album.
July 2, 2011: Show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
On July 2, 2011, Metallica performed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
July 3, 2011: Big Four Concert in Gothenburg
On July 3, 2011, Metallica played a "big four" concert in Gothenburg.
July 6, 2011: Big Four Show in Milan
On February 22, a "big four" show in Milan on July 6, 2011, was announced and took place.
July 8, 2011: Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House Performance
On July 8, 2011, Metallica played as part of the "big four" during the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, marking the first time all of the "big four" members played on the same stage in the UK.
July 9, 2011: Big Four Performance in France
On July 9, 2011, Metallica played as part of the "big four" during the Sonisphere Festival in France.
September 14, 2011: Big Four Concert in New York City
On September 14, 2011, the final "big four" concert was in New York City, at Yankee Stadium.
September 25, 2011: Headlining Rock in Rio
Metallica headlined the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro on September 25, 2011.
October 16, 2011: Trujillo Confirms Writing Process for New Metallica Album Has Begun
On October 16, 2011, Robert Trujillo confirmed that the band was back in the studio with Rick Rubin and that the writing process for the new Metallica album had begun. He said they would be recording during most of the next year.
October 30, 2011: Metallca's Indian Debut
On October 30, 2011, Metallica made its debut performance in India, performing in Bangalore at the "India Rocks" concert.
October 31, 2011: Release of Lulu album with Lou Reed
The album Lulu, recorded with Lou Reed, was released on October 31, 2011. The recording of the album was problematic at times.
December 13, 2011: Release of Beyond Magnetic
On December 13, 2011, Metallica released Beyond Magnetic, a digital EP, exclusively on iTunes.
December 2011: 30th Anniversary Shows
In December 2011, Metallica celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing four exclusive shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco for Met Club members, featuring guest appearances and songs from the band's career, and Metallica also began releasing songs online that were written for Death Magnetic but not included on the album.
2011: Return to Writing
According to an interview in November 2010, Metallica planned to return to writing new material in 2011, potentially starting in March or April.
2011: Hetfield's Reaction to Mötley Crüe Insults
During a 2011 meet-and-greet in Mexico City, James Hetfield laughed at a fan's insults towards Mötley Crüe, but refused to directly respond to the fan's comments.
2011: 30th Anniversary Show Appearance
In 2011, Jason Newsted appeared at Metallica's 30th anniversary show in San Francisco.
January 2012: CD Release of Beyond Magnetic
In January 2012, Metallica released Beyond Magnetic on CD, after the digital EP release exclusively on iTunes in December 2011.
February 7, 2012: Announcement of Orion Music + More Festival
On February 7, 2012, Metallica announced the creation of a new music festival called Orion Music + More, to be held in Atlantic City on June 23 and 24, 2012, with Metallica headlining and performing The Black Album and Ride the Lightning in their entirety.
June 9, 2012: Download Festival Headliner
On June 9, 2012, Metallica was scheduled to headline the main stage at the Download Festival at Donington Park, where the band would perform The Black Album in its entirety.
July 2012: Ulrich Discusses New Album Release Date
In July 2012, Ulrich stated in an interview with Canadian radio station 99.3 The Fox that Metallica would not release its new album until at least early 2014.
September 20, 2012: Announcement of Quebec Magnetic DVD
On September 20, 2012, Metallica announced via its official website that a new DVD containing footage of shows performed in Quebec in 2009 would be released that December, with fans voting on the setlists.
November 2012: Launch of Blackened Recordings
In November 2012, Metallica left Warner Bros. Records and launched its own independent record label, Blackened Recordings, acquiring the rights to all of its studio albums, which were reissued through the new label.
December 10, 2012: Release of Quebec Magnetic
On December 10, 2012, Metallica released Quebec Magnetic in the U.S., a DVD featuring footage from shows performed in Quebec in 2009.
January 8, 2013: Ulrich Discusses Upcoming Album
On January 8, 2013, Ulrich stated in an interview with Classic Rock that the band's upcoming album sounded like a continuation of Death Magnetic and that it would be surprising if the record came out in 2013.
July 22, 2013: Ulrich Discusses Upcoming Metallica Record
On July 22, 2013, Ulrich told Ultimate Guitar that 2014 would be all about making a new Metallica record, which would most likely be released during 2015.
December 8, 2013: Freeze 'Em All Show in Antarctica
On December 8, 2013, Metallica played a show called "Freeze 'Em All" in Antarctica, becoming the first band to play on all seven continents, and the performance was filmed and released as a live album the same month.
2013: "Metallica: Through the Never" Concert Film
In 2013, Metallica co-wrote the screenplay for and starred in the concert film "Metallica: Through the Never", performing live within a fictional thriller narrative.
2013: Metallica songs removed from Rock Band
In 2013, due to expiring content licenses, "Ride the Lightning", "Blackened", and "...And Justice for All" were no longer available for download for the video game Rock Band.
January 2014: Grammy Awards Performance
In January 2014, Metallica performed "One" with Chinese pianist Lang Lang at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
March 2014: Metallica By Request Tour
In March 2014, Metallica began a tour called "Metallica By Request", where fans could request songs for the band to perform, and a new song, "Lords of Summer", was written for the concerts and released as a "first take" demo in June 2014.
June 2014: Glastonbury Festival Headliner
In June 2014, Metallica headlined the Glastonbury Festival to attract new fans.
November 2014: BlizzCon Performance
In November 2014, Metallica performed at the closing ceremony of BlizzCon 2014.
2014: Expected Album Release Date
According to Ulrich in July 2012, Metallica's new album would not be released until early 2014 at the earliest.
2014: Focus on New Metallica Record
According to Ulrich in July 2013, 2014 would be focused on making a new Metallica record.
January 2015: Metallica Night with San Jose Sharks
In January 2015, Metallica announced a "Metallica Night" with the San Jose Sharks, featuring a Q&A session and a charity auction benefiting the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club, but no performances.
March 2015: Lollapalooza Headliner
In March 2015, Metallica was announced as a headliner for Lollapalooza, returning to perform there for the first time in 20 years.
May 2, 2015: Metallica Day at AT&T Park
On May 2, 2015, Metallica performed their third annual Metallica Day at AT&T Park.
June 14, 2015: NBA Finals Performance
On June 14, 2015, Hetfield and Hammett performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" live via electric guitars prior to game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
2015: Expected Release of New Metallica Record
According to Ulrich in July 2013, the new Metallica record would most likely be released during 2015.
2015: Tommy Lee's Ulrich Tweet
In 2015, Tommy Lee reignited the feud by tweeting a picture of Lars Ulrich with "Straight Outta Tempo" superimposed over his face.
April 2016: Ulrich Discusses New Album Production
In April 2016, during the week leading up to Record Store Day, Ulrich told Billboard that Metallica's expanded role within the music industry had contributed to the lengthy production time of the new album, but he remained optimistic about its completion in 2016.
August 18, 2016: Announcement of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
On August 18, 2016, Metallica announced that their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, would be released worldwide on November 18, 2016, via their independent label, Blackened Recordings, and they unveiled the track listing, album artwork, and a music video for the album's first single, "Hardwired".
August 20, 2016: Opening of U.S. Bank Stadium
Metallca was announced to be opening the U.S. Bank Stadium on August 20, 2016, with Avenged Sevenfold and Volbeat as support.
November 18, 2016: Release of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
On November 18, 2016, Metallica released Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
2016: Hardwired... to Self-Destruct Number One Debut
Through Hardwired... to Self-Destruct in 2016, Metallica had six consecutive studio albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
February 2017: Metallica launches All Within My Hands Foundation
In February 2017, Metallica launched the All Within My Hands Foundation, dedicated to supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.
August 7, 2017: Fifth Annual Metallica Night with San Francisco Giants
On August 7, 2017, Metallica was invited by the San Francisco Giants for the fifth annual "Metallica Night", during which Hammett and Hetfield performed the national anthem.
2017: US album sales
As of 2017 Metallica has sold 58 million albums in the United States since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.
2017: Hetfield on Sixx Sense
By 2017, tensions seemed to have calmed down as James Hetfield appeared on Nikki Sixx's radio show, Sixx Sense.
January 2018: Reissuing The $5.98 E.P.
In January 2018, Metallica announced that they would be reissuing The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited on April 13 for Record Store Day, and the sixth annual "Metallica Night" was also announced a few weeks later, this time in April, with all proceeds going to the All Within My Hands Foundation, which the band created in late 2017.
February 2018: Second Set of North American Tour Dates
In February 2018, Metallica announced a second set of North American tour dates, most of which were for cities that they had not visited in up to thirty years.
September 6, 2018: Metallica concert in Lincoln, Nebraska
On September 6, 2018, Metallica held a concert in Lincoln, Nebraska, that would later benefit the All Within My Hands Foundation.
March 2019: WorldWired Tour Extension
In March 2019, Metallica announced that its WorldWired Tour would continue into Australia and New Zealand in October with Slipknot as support, and also announced a performance at the grand opening of San Francisco's new Chase Center with the San Francisco Symphony in September to celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of S&M.
March 2019: Jamming on New Material
In March 2019, Trujillo mentioned Metallica had begun jamming on new material for its next studio album, foreseeing it as a culmination of the two previous records and estimating a quicker studio entry than before.
July 2019: South American Tour Announcement
In July 2019, Metallica announced a set of South American tour dates for April 2020 with Greta Van Fleet as support.
March 2020: #MetallicaMondays Series Launch
In March 2020, Metallica began a series on YouTube and Facebook called #MetallicaMondays, where they streamed full archived shows every Monday to relieve boredom while staying home and social distancing amid the pandemic.
March 2020: Benefit Concert
In March 2020, Metallica's other commitments, including a benefit concert, were still expected to continue as planned; this was before the COVID-19 pandemic and Hetfield's recovery postponed or canceled these shows.
April 2020: Ulrich Comments on Album Work During Quarantine
In April 2020, Ulrich stated that Metallica could work on its next studio album while in quarantine.
April 2020: South American Tour Dates
Metallica was planning to tour South America in April 2020.
May 2020: Release of Blackened 2020
In May 2020, while in quarantine, Metallica performed a virtual acoustic version of "Blackened", titled "Blackened 2020", which was later made available for download.
August 10, 2020: Metallica plays show at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery
On August 10, 2020, Metallica performed a show at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, California, before a small audience of crew members. The recording was later used for drive-in movie events across the U.S. and Canada.
August 2020: S&M2 Album Release
In August 2020, Metallica announced that they would release the S&M2 performances as an album, DVD and box set.
September 2020: Global Goal Live Performance
Metallica was scheduled to perform at the Global Citizen Festival in September 2020 alongside artists such as Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Coldplay.
October 2020: Miley Cyrus plans to record Metallica covers album
In October 2020, Miley Cyrus announced plans to record a Metallica covers album.
January 7, 2021: Miley Cyrus records "Nothing Else Matters" cover
On January 7, 2021, Miley Cyrus announced she had recorded a cover version of "Nothing Else Matters" featuring Elton John on piano, Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This version was produced by Andrew Watt and released as a promotional single for the tribute album The Metallica Blacklist.
May 2021: MetallicaMondays to benefit All Within My Hands Foundation
In May 2021, Metallica announced they would host one more #MetallicaMondays stream on May 24 to benefit their All Within My Hands Foundation, featuring a concert from September 6, 2018, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
August 2021: Newsted Unboxes Reissue
In August 2021, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metallica's self-titled album, Jason Newsted was given a box set of the reissue to unbox for a video on the band's YouTube channel.
September 6, 2021: All Within My Hands Foundation raises $377,450
On Labor Day, September 6, 2021, Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation raised $377,450. Clothing brand Carhartt donated all sales proceeds from the holiday to the band's Metallica Scholars initiative.
2021: Sixx Applauds Metallica's Longevity
During an interview in 2021, Nikki Sixx praised Metallica's longevity and their releases, signaling a possible end to the feud.
November 28, 2022: Metallica releases "Lux Æterna" single
On November 28, 2022, Metallica released the single "Lux Æterna".
2022: No Life 'Til Leather Remastered Release Dispute
In 2022, tensions between Metallica and Dave Mustaine flared up again due to disagreements over a remastered release of the "No Life 'Til Leather" demo, specifically regarding songwriting credits for Lars Ulrich, ultimately leading to the project's cancellation and renewed hostility.
January 19, 2023: Metallica releases "Screaming Suicide" single
On January 19, 2023, Metallica released the single "Screaming Suicide".
March 1, 2023: Metallica releases "If Darkness Had a Son" single
On March 1, 2023, Metallica released the single "If Darkness Had a Son".
March 30, 2023: Metallica releases music video for "72 Seasons"
On March 30, 2023, Metallica released a music video for the title track of their album, "72 Seasons".
April 14, 2023: Metallica releases "72 Seasons" album
On April 14, 2023, Metallica released their eleventh studio album, "72 Seasons".
April 2023: Ulrich discusses ideas for next Metallica album
In April 2023, during an interview on Loudwire Nights, Ulrich mentioned that Metallica already has ideas for a follow-up to "72 Seasons".
April 27, 2023: Metallica begins M72 World Tour
On April 27, 2023, Metallica began their three-and-a-half-year-long M72 World Tour in Amsterdam to promote the album "72 Seasons".
2023: Album Sales Milestone
As of 2023, Metallica has sold more than 163 million albums worldwide, marking them as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time.
2023: Fortnite Festival Metallica Season
In 2023, Fortnite Festival, held a Metallica-centric season which included "One", "Lux Æterna", and "Master of Puppets".
2023: 72 Seasons Album Release
In 2023, Metallica released their eleventh and most recent album titled "72 Seasons".
2023: All Within My Hands Foundation donates to Hawaii wildfire relief
In 2023, the All Within My Hands Foundation donated $200,000 for relief efforts after the destructive 2023 Hawaii wildfires.
May 2024: Hetfield confirms writing new music
In May 2024, Hetfield confirmed that he has been "writing lots of music, playing guitar pretty much every day" for the next Metallica project.
August 2024: Metallica season ends in Fortnite
The Metallica-centric season in Fortnite Festival, a rhythm game developed by Harmonix as part of Fortnite, ended in August 2024. During the season Metallica also performed virtually in Fortnite in "Metallica: Fuel. Fire. Fury.", with cosmetics based on Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett and Trujillo being added to the game.
2024: Gaza rock group influenced by Metallica
In late 2024, Sky News published an article about Gaza's first rock group, Osprey V. The group's guitarist, Raji El-Jaru, cited Metallica and Linkin Park as influences.
March 2025: Hammett discusses ideas for next Metallica album
In a March 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Hammett confirmed he has been working on ideas for the next Metallica album and does not expect to start working on the album for at least another year as the band is still finishing the tour.
July 5, 2026: Metallica's M72 World Tour concludes
The M72 World Tour is set to conclude on July 5, 2026, in London.
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