History of Metallica in Timeline
Metallica, formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, is a prominent American heavy metal band and a key member of the "big four" of thrash metal. Known for their fast tempos and aggressive style, the band's lineup currently includes Hetfield, Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo. Former members include Dave Mustaine (later of Megadeth), Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted. The band has been based in San Francisco for most of its 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 vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. They later became based in San Francisco.
March 14, 1982: Metallica's First Live Performance
On March 14, 1982, Metallica played its first live performance at Radio City in Anaheim, California, with newly recruited bassist Ron McGovney.
June 14, 1982: Release of Metal Massacre I
On June 14, 1982, Metal Massacre I was released, featuring Metallica's first original song, "Hit the Lights". The band was incorrectly listed as "Mettallica" on early pressings.
1982: Spat between Ulrich and Sixx
In 1982, Lars Ulrich and Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx allegedly had a spat prior to a show at the Troubadour in Hollywood.
1982: Looking for Record Deal
In 1982, Metallica sought a record deal when Metal Blade was unable to cover the cost of recording their debut album. Jonathan "Jonny Z" Zazula offered to broker a deal but eventually signed them to his own label, Megaforce Records.
1982: Cliff Burton recruited to Metallica
In late 1982, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield attended a show where Cliff Burton was playing in the band Trauma. Impressed by his skills, they invited him to join Metallica, which he accepted by the end of the year, with the condition that the band move to El Cerrito in the San Francisco Bay Area.
March 1983: First Performance with Cliff Burton
In March 1983, Metallica's first live performance with Cliff Burton was at the nightclub The Stone. The first recording to feature Burton was the Megaforce demo in 1983.
April 11, 1983: Dave Mustaine Ejected From Metallica
On April 11, 1983, Dave Mustaine was ejected from Metallica due to drug and alcohol abuse and violent behavior just before recording sessions.
April 16, 1983: First Live Performance with Kirk Hammett
On April 16, 1983, Metallica's first live performance with Kirk Hammett was at The Showplace in Dover, New Jersey, with Anthrax as the support act.
May 1983: Travel to Rochester to Record Debut Album
In May 1983, Metallica traveled to Rochester, New York, to record its debut album, Metal Up Your Ass, which was produced by Paul Curcio.
1983: Dave Mustaine Fired from Metallica
Dave Mustaine's tenure with Metallica was marred by his alcoholism and a physical altercation with James Hetfield, leading to his firing in 1983.
February 1984: Support on the Seven Dates of Hell Tour
In February 1984, Metallica supported Venom on the Seven Dates of Hell tour and performed at the Aardschok Festival in Zwolle, Netherlands, in front of 7,000 people.
February 1984: Coining of "Thrash Metal"
In February 1984, the term "thrash metal" was coined by Kerrang! journalist Malcolm Dome in reference to Anthrax's song "Metal Thrashing Mad". Before this, James Hetfield had referred to Metallica's sound as "power metal".
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.
August 1984: Release of Ride the Lightning
In August 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, Elektra Records A&R director Michael Alago and co-founder of Q-Prime Management Cliff Burnstein attended a Metallica concert, signed Metallica to Elektra, and made the band a client of Q-Prime Management.
December 1985: Recording of Master of Puppets
From September to December 1985, Metallica recorded its third studio album, Master of Puppets, at Sweet Silence Studios.
1985: Mustaine's Dislike for Hammett
In a 1985 interview with Metal Forces, Dave Mustaine expressed his dislike for Kirk Hammett, accusing him of stealing his guitar leads. Megadeth also released "Mechanix" on their debut album, as a response to Metallica reworking and retitling it "The Four Horsemen."
March 1986: Release of Master of Puppets
In March 1986, Metallica released Master of Puppets, their third studio album. Following the release, Metallica supported Ozzy Osbourne on a U.S. tour, despite Hetfield's wrist injury.
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. The bus overturned several times, and Burton was pinned under the bus.
November 4, 1986: Master of Puppets Certified Gold
On November 4, 1986, Metallica's third studio album, Master of Puppets, was certified Gold.
1986: Newsted joins Metallica
In 1986, Jason Newsted joined Metallica as the band's bassist.
1986: Commercial Success with Master of Puppets
In 1986, Metallica achieved its first commercial success with the release of its third album, Master of Puppets. The album is considered one of the heaviest metal albums and the band's best work.
1986: Kill 'Em All Peaked on Billboard 200
Kill 'Em All peaked at number 155 on the Billboard 200 in 1986. To support the album, Metallica embarked on the Kill 'Em All for One tour with Raven.
February 1987: End of Tour and Newsted's Initiation
Metallica finished its tour in February 1987. The members initiated Jason Newsted by tricking him into eating a ball of wasabi.
March 1987: Hetfield Breaks Wrist, Metallica Cancels SNL Appearance
In March 1987, James Hetfield broke his wrist while skateboarding, which forced Metallica to cancel their scheduled appearance on Saturday Night Live.
August 1987: The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited Released
In August 1987, Metallica released the all-covers EP titled The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited. It was recorded to test Jason Newsted's talents and to relieve stress following Cliff Burton's death.
May 1988: ...And Justice for All Album Recorded
From January to May 1988, Metallica recorded their first studio album since Cliff Burton's death, titled ...And Justice for All.
1988: Elektra Reissue of Kill 'Em All
In 1988, Metallica's British label, Music for Nations, released 'Creeping Death' as a limited-edition single, which sold 40,000 copies as an import in the U.S. Two of the three songs on the record appeared on the 1988 Elektra reissue of Kill 'Em All.
1988: Grammy Nomination for ...And Justice for All
In 1988, Metallica's album ...And Justice for All earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination.
1989: Metallica Nominated for Grammy, Award Given to Jethro Tull
In 1989, Metallica received its first Grammy Award nomination for ...And Justice for All. However, Jethro Tull won the award, leading to controversy.
1989: Metallca impressed by Dr. Feelgood
In 1989, despite their public disdain for glam metal, Metallica were impressed by the production and commercial success of Mötley Crüe's album Dr. Feelgood.
1989: "The Ecstasy of Gold" Introduction
Since the 1980s, including 1989, a recording of "The Ecstasy of Gold" has been played to introduce Metallica's performances.
October 1990: Metallica Enters Studio to Record The Black Album
In October 1990, Metallica entered One on One Recording's studio in North Hollywood to begin recording its next album, which would become known as The Black Album, with Bob Rock as the producer.
September 1991: Metallica Performs at Monsters of Rock in Moscow
In September 1991, Metallica performed at the Monsters of Rock concert in Moscow, which was the first open-air rock concert held in the Soviet Union. The concert attracted 1.6 million rock music fans.
1991: Change to a Traditional Heavy Metal Style
In 1991, Metallica changed their sound to a more traditional heavy metal style on 1991's Black Album after playing thrash and speed metal on their first four albums.
1991: Metallica hires Bob Rock
In 1991, Metallica hired Bob Rock, the producer of Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood album, to produce their self-titled fifth album.
1991: Release of Metallica
In 1991, Metallica released their fifth album, Metallica, which marked a transition from their thrash roots and appealed to a mainstream audience. The album sold over 16 million copies in the United States and became the best-selling album of the SoundScan era.
1991: Michael Kamen Approaches Metallica with Symphony Idea
In 1991, Michael Kamen approached Metallica with the idea of pairing the band's music with a symphony orchestra, eventually leading to the S&M project.
1991: Metallica simplified its music
In 1991, with new producer Bob Rock, Metallica simplified and streamlined its music for a more commercial approach to appeal to mainstream audiences, which resulted in the band's first album to peak at number one on the Billboard 200.
1991: Nielsen SoundScan Tracking Sales
Since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, Metallica has sold 58 million albums in the United States
April 1992: Metallica Appears 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 also performed "Stone Cold Crazy" with Queen and Tony Iommi.
August 8, 1992: Hetfield Suffers Burns During Concert in Montreal
On August 8, 1992, James Hetfield suffered second- and third-degree burns during the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour in Montreal due to a pyrotechnics accident during the performance of "Fade to Black".
November 1993: Live Shit: Binge & Purge Box Set Released
In November 1993, Metallica released its first box set, titled Live Shit: Binge & Purge. It contained three live CDs, three home videos, and a book.
1993: Megadeth Opens for Metallica
In 1993, Megadeth were hired to open for Metallica on numerous European dates, indicating a subsiding of the historic feud between Dave Mustaine and Metallica.
1995: Escape from the Studio '95 Tour
In the summer of 1995, Metallica went on a brief tour called Escape from the Studio '95, which comprised three outdoor shows, including a headline show at Donington Park.
1996: Load Album Released and Metallica Headlines Lollapalooza
In 1996, Metallica released its sixth studio album, Load, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The band also headlined the Lollapalooza festival in mid-1996.
1996: Move Towards Hard Rock with Load
In 1996, Metallica's album Load saw the band move towards hard rock.
1996: Load album with alternative rock approach
In 1996, with the album Load, Metallica changed musical direction again and focused on non-metal influences. Metallica's new lyrical approach moved away from drugs and monsters, and focused on anger, loss, and retribution.
December 1997: Metallica Performs on Saturday Night Live
In December 1997, Metallica performed "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains" with Marianne Faithfull on NBC's Saturday Night Live.
1997: Ulrich accuses Mötley Crüe
In 1997, Lars Ulrich accused Mötley Crüe of performing to a backing track at the American Music Awards, leading to a renewed feud with Nikki Sixx.
1997: Continued Hard Rock Style with Reload
In 1997, Metallica's album Reload continued the band's move towards hard rock.
1997: Release of Reload
With the release of ReLoad in 1997, the band displayed blues and early hard rock influences, incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.
1998: Garage Inc. Album Released
In 1998, Metallica released a double album of cover songs, titled Garage Inc.. 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. The mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, proclaimed the day "Official Metallica Day".
1999: S&M Album and Concert Film Released
In 1999, Metallica released the album and concert film S&M, which featured two performances with the San Francisco Symphony. Metallica also wrote two new songs for the event: "No Leaf Clover" and "-Human".
1999: "One" Music Video Voted in MTV's "Top 100 Videos of All Time"
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 Provides Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee
On July 11, 2000, Lars Ulrich provided a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding copyright infringement related to Napster.
2000: Ulrich Appears in Skit at MTV Video Music Awards Criticizing Napster
In 2000, Lars Ulrich appeared with Marlon Wayans in a skit at the MTV Video Music Awards, criticizing Napster. Shawn Fanning responded later by wearing a Metallica shirt. Ulrich was later booed on stage.
2000: Metallica Files Lawsuit Against Napster
In 2000, Metallica discovered that a demo of its song "I Disappear" was leaked on Napster and filed a lawsuit against the peer-to-peer file-sharing network for copyright infringement and other violations.
2000: Lawsuit Against Napster
In 2000, Metallica initiated a case against the peer-to-peer file sharing service Napster for sharing their copyright-protected material without consent, eventually reaching a settlement.
2000: Hetfield blocks Newsted's side project
In 2000, tensions between James Hetfield and Jason Newsted reached a breaking point after Hetfield repeatedly blocked Newsted's request to venture into his side project Echobrain.
January 2001: Newsted leaves Metallica
In January 2001, Jason Newsted abruptly left Metallica prior to the recording of St. Anger.
January 17, 2001: Jason Newsted Leaves Metallica
On January 17, 2001, Jason Newsted left Metallica, citing "private and personal reasons." He also expressed a desire to release an album with his side project, Echobrain, which was met with resistance from James Hetfield.
April 2001: Filmmakers Document Metallica Recording Process
In April 2001, filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began documenting Metallica's recording process for their next studio album, ultimately leading to the documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.
July 19, 2001: Hetfield Enters Rehab
On July 19, 2001, James Hetfield entered rehab to treat his "alcoholism and other addictions," causing all recording plans to be put on hold.
December 4, 2001: Hetfield Leaves Rehab
On December 4, 2001, James Hetfield left rehab and returned to his family.
April 12, 2002: Metallica Returns to Recording Studio
On April 12, 2002, Metallica returned to the recording studio, with James Hetfield's work limited 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 due to the legal battles and financial difficulties.
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.
2003: Summer Sanitarium Tour
In 2003, Metallica supported St. Anger on the Summer Sanitarium Tour, with multi-platinum rock band Godsmack.
2003: Metallica Awarded MTV Icon Award
In 2003, Metallica was awarded the MTV Icon award, and a tribute concert with artists performing its songs was held. Performances included Sum 41 and a medley of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Enter Sandman", and "Master of Puppets".
2003: Master of Puppets Certified Six Times Platinum
In 2003, Metallica's third studio album, Master of Puppets, was certified six times Platinum.
2003: Sixx praises St. Anger
In 2003, Nikki Sixx praised Metallica's album St. Anger during an interview, despite the negative reception the album received upon its release.
2003: Robert Trujillo Joins Metallica
In 2003, after auditions, Robert Trujillo, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne's band, was chosen as the new bassist for Metallica. Meanwhile, Newsted replaced Trujillo in Osbourne's band during the Ozzfest tour, which included Voivod.
2003: Release of St. Anger Album
Metallica's eighth album, St. Anger, was released in 2003, its troubled production and the internal struggles of the band at the time were documented in the 2004 film 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster'.
January 2004: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Premieres at Sundance Film Festival
In January 2004, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, documenting the band's struggles during the recording process.
2004: Ulrich's Hospitalization and Download Festival Performance
In 2004, before Metallica's set at the Download Festival, Ulrich was rushed to the hospital due to an anxiety seizure. Dave Lombardo and Joey Jordison volunteered to fill in on drums for the performance.
2004: Release of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
In 2004, the documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was released, documenting the troubled production of Metallica's eighth album, St. Anger (2003), and the band's internal struggles.
2004: Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance
In 2004, the title track "St. Anger" by Metallica won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance; it was used as the official theme song for WWE's SummerSlam 2003.
2004: Hetfield Discusses Song Quality in Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
In the 2004 documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, James Hetfield said that the band initially thought some of the songs on Load and Reload were of average quality.
2004: "The Ecstasy of Gold" Introduction
Since the 1980s, including 2004, a recording of "The Ecstasy of Gold" has been played to introduce Metallica's performances.
2005: Opening for the Rolling Stones
On November 13 and 15, 2005, Metallica opened for the Rolling Stones at SBC Park in San Francisco.
February 2006: Metallca Choses Rick Rubin as Producer
In February 2006, Metallica announced that they would be working with producer Rick Rubin for their next studio album, ending their long-time collaboration with Bob Rock after 15 years.
April 8, 2006: Kerrang! Releases Master of Puppets Tribute Album
On April 8, 2006, Kerrang! released a tribute album titled Master of Puppets: Remastered with the April 8, 2006, edition of the magazine to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Master of Puppets.
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 "The Ecstasy of Gold" Tribute
In February 2007, Metallica released a guitar-based interpretation of Ennio Morricone's "The Ecstasy of Gold" for the tribute album We All Love Ennio Morricone.
2007: Machine Head's "The Blackening" Inspiration
In 2007, while creating the band's album, Robb Flynn of Machine Head said that when creating the band's 2007 album, The Blackening, "What we mean is 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 at Grimey's Record Store
In June 2008, Metallica recorded a live EP at Grimey's Record Store, just before the band's appearance at Bonnaroo Music Festival.
September 2, 2008: Death Magnetic Leaks Online
On September 2, 2008, a record store in France began selling copies of Death Magnetic nearly two weeks before its scheduled worldwide release date, leading to the album being available on peer-to-peer clients.
September 10, 2008: Early Official Release of Death Magnetic in the UK
Due to the leak, on September 10, 2008, Vertigo Records, Metallica's UK distributor, officially released the album Death Magnetic.
September 12, 2008: Scheduled Release of Death Magnetic
Metallica scheduled the release of the album Death Magnetic for 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 Warner Bros. Record Deal
In November 2008, Metallica's record deal with Warner Bros. ended, and the band considered releasing its next album through the internet.
2008: Release of Death Magnetic
In 2008, Metallica returned to its thrash metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Death Magnetic, which received similar praise to the band's earlier albums.
2008: Return to Thrash-Influenced Sound
In 2008, Metallica's Death Magnetic saw the band return to a more thrash-influenced sound.
January 14, 2009: Metallica to be Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On January 14, 2009, it was announced that Metallica would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009. Former bassist Jason Newsted would perform with the band at the ceremony.
April 4, 2009: Metallica inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On April 4, 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with both Trujillo and Newsted performing on stage. Ray Burton, father of the late Cliff Burton, accepted the honor on his behalf.
June 2009: Ulrich Discusses Touring and Future Album Plans
In a June 2009 interview, Ulrich mentioned Metallica's plans to continue touring until August 2010 and collaborate with producer Rick Rubin again. However, there were no immediate plans for a tenth album.
2009: Newsted inducted into Hall of Fame
In 2009, Jason Newsted was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica.
2009: Guitar Hero: Metallica Released
In 2009, Metallica collaborated with the game's developers to make Guitar Hero: Metallica, which included a number of Metallica's songs.
2009: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2009: Filming of Quebec Magnetic
Metallica filmed footage in Quebec in 2009 which was used for the DVD Quebec Magnetic, released in December 2012.
June 16, 2010: Sonisphere Festival, Warsaw
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, Sofia
On June 22, 2010, the Sonisphere Festival show in Sofia, Bulgaria, featuring Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax was broadcast via satellite to cinemas.
June 26, 2010: Concert in Bucharest
On June 26, 2010, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax played concerts in Bucharest.
June 27, 2010: Concert in Istanbul
On June 27, 2010, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax played concerts in Istanbul.
June 28, 2010: Death Magnetic Certified Double Platinum
On June 28, 2010, Metallica's Death Magnetic was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
August 2010: End of Touring Plans
In a June 2009 interview, Ulrich mentioned Metallica's plans to continue touring until August 2010.
November 9, 2010: Headlining Rock in Rio 2011 Announcement
On November 9, 2010, Metallica announced that they 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 Discusses Writing Plans for 2011
In November 2010, Ulrich stated that Metallica would return to writing in 2011, planning to start the creative process around March or April.
November 21, 2010: End of World Magnetic Tour
On November 21, 2010, Metallica's World Magnetic Tour ended in Melbourne, Australia. The band had been 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, just before the band's appearance at Bonnaroo Music Festival that year.
December 13, 2010: Sonisphere Festival Knebworth Announcement
On December 13, 2010, Metallica announced they would play as part of the "big four" during the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, on July 8, 2011, marking the first time all "big four" members played on the same stage in the UK.
December 17, 2010: Sonisphere Festival France Announcement
On December 17, 2010, another "big four" Sonisphere performance was announced, which would take place in France on July 9, 2011.
January 25, 2011: Big Four Performance at Empire Polo Club
On January 25, 2011, a "big four" performance was announced for April 23, 2011, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, marking the first time all "big four" members played on the same stage in the U.S.
February 17, 2011: Show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
On February 17, 2011, a Metallica show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on July 2, 2011, was announced.
March 2, 2011: 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 Comments on New Album with Rick Rubin
In an interview at the April 2011 Big Four concert, Robert Trujillo mentioned that Metallica will work with Rick Rubin again as producer for the new album. There was no shortage of material and they were excited.
April 23, 2011: Big Four Concert at Empire Polo Club
On April 23, 2011, the "big four" (Metallca, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax) performed at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, marking the first time all "big four" members played on the same stage in the U.S.
June 15, 2011: Recording Sessions with Lou Reed Concluded
On June 15, 2011, Metallica announced that recording sessions with Lou Reed had concluded for the album Lulu.
June 2011: Metallica Begins Writing New Album
In June 2011, Rubin said that Metallica had begun writing its new album.
July 2, 2011: Show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
On July 2, 2011, Metallica played a show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
July 3, 2011: Big Four Concert in Gothenburg
On July 3, 2011, the 'Big Four' concert took place in Gothenburg.
July 6, 2011: Big Four Show in Milan
On February 22, it was announced that there would be a "big four" show in Milan on July 6, 2011.
July 8, 2011: Sonisphere Festival UK
On July 8, 2011, Metallica played as part of the "big four" during the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, which was the first time all "big four" members played on the same stage in the UK.
September 14, 2011: Big Four Concert at Yankee Stadium
On September 14, 2011, the final "big four" concert took place in New York City, at Yankee Stadium.
September 25, 2011: Rock in Rio Performance
On September 25, 2011, Metallica headlined the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro.
October 16, 2011: Metallica Back in Studio Writing New Material
On October 16, 2011, Robert Trujillo confirmed that Metallica was back in the studio writing new material and planned to record during most of the next year.
October 30, 2011: Metallca's India Debut
On October 30, 2011, Metallica made its Indian debut in Bangalore after the initial "India Rocks" concert was canceled due to safety concerns.
October 31, 2011: Release of Lulu Album
On October 31, 2011, Metallica released the album Lulu, a collaboration with Lou Reed based on Frank Wedekind's "Lulu" plays Earth Spirit and Pandora's Box.
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, featuring guest appearances and songs from throughout their career.
2011: Plans to Return to Writing
According to Blabbermouth.net, in 2011 the band was considering recording its next album in the second half of the year. In November 2010, Ulrich said Metallica would return to writing in 2011.
2011: Hetfield laughs at insults toward Mötley Crüe
During a 2011 meet-and-greet in Mexico City, James Hetfield laughed at a fan's insults towards Mötley Crüe but did not directly respond to the comments.
2011: Newsted appears at 30th anniversary show
In 2011, Jason Newsted appeared at Metallica's 30th anniversary show in San Francisco.
2011: Metallica and Megadeth on 'Big 4 Tour'
In 2011, Metallica and Megadeth took part in the lauded 'Big 4 Tour', alongside Slayer and Anthrax. That same year, Mustaine took part in Metallica's exclusive 30th anniversary show in San Francisco which invited other former members: Ron McGovney, Lloyd Grant, and Jason Newsted.
January 2012: CD Release of Beyond Magnetic
In January 2012, Metallica's digital EP, Beyond Magnetic, was released on CD.
February 7, 2012: Orion Music + More Festival Announcement
On February 7, 2012, Metallica announced the launch of its new music festival, Orion Music + More, to be held in Atlantic City, and confirmed they would headline the festival and perform The Black Album and Ride the Lightning in their entirety.
June 9, 2012: Download Festival Headliner
On June 9, 2012, Metallica headlined the main stage at the Download Festival at Donington Park, where they performed The Black Album in its entirety.
July 2012: Ulrich on New Album Release
In July 2012, Ulrich stated that Metallica would not release its new album until at least early 2014.
September 20, 2012: Quebec Magnetic DVD Announcement
On September 20, 2012, Metallica announced the release of a new DVD, Quebec Magnetic, featuring footage from shows performed in Quebec in 2009, and allowed fans to vote for the setlists that would appear on the DVD.
November 2012: Launch of Blackened Recordings
In November 2012, Metallica left Warner Bros. Records and launched their own independent record label, Blackened Recordings, reissuing all of its studio albums through the new label.
December 10, 2012: Release of Quebec Magnetic
On December 10, 2012, Metallica released the film Quebec Magnetic in the U.S.
January 8, 2013: Ulrich on the Upcoming Album
On January 8, 2013, Ulrich stated that the band's upcoming album would be a continuation of Death Magnetic and that it was unlikely to be released in 2013.
July 22, 2013: Ulrich on New Album in 2013
On July 22, 2013, Ulrich stated that 2014 would be dedicated to making a new Metallica record, with a likely release in 2015.
December 8, 2013: "Freeze 'Em All" Antarctica Show
On December 8, 2013, Metallica played a show called "Freeze 'Em All" in Antarctica, becoming the first band to perform on all seven continents, and releasing the performance as a live album the same month.
2013: Release of Metallica: Through the Never
In 2013, Metallica co-wrote and starred in the concert film Metallica: Through the Never, performing live against a fictional thriller storyline.
2013: Downloadable Tracks 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 in the Rock Band video game series.
January 2014: Grammy Performance with Lang Lang
In January 2014, Metallica performed "One" with Chinese pianist Lang Lang at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
March 2014: "Metallica By Request" Tour Start
In March 2014, Metallica began a tour called "Metallica By Request", where fans requested songs for the band to perform.
June 2014: Glastonbury Festival Headliner
In June 2014, Metallica headlined the Glastonbury Festival.
November 2014: BlizzCon Performance
In November 2014, Metallica performed at the closing ceremony of BlizzCon 2014.
2014: New Album Release Delayed
In July 2012, Ulrich said that Metallica would not release its new album until at least early 2014.
2014: Recording a new Metallica Album
In July 2013, Ulrich said that 2014 would be dedicated to making a new Metallica record, with a likely release in 2015.
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 and charity auction.
March 2015: Lollapalooza Headliner
In March 2015, Metallica was announced to headline Lollapalooza, returning to perform there for the first time in 20 years.
May 2, 2015: Third Annual Metallica Day
On May 2, 2015, Metallica performed their third annual Metallica Day at AT&T Park.
June 14, 2015: NBA Finals National Anthem Performance
On June 14, 2015, James Hetfield and Kirk 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.
2015: Lee tweets picture of Ulrich
In 2015, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee reignited the feud by tweeting a picture of Lars Ulrich with the words "Straight Outta Tempo" superimposed over his face.
2015: New Metallica Album potential release
In July 2013, Ulrich said that a new Metallica record would be made in 2014, with a likely release in 2015.
April 2016: Ulrich on Album Production Time
In April 2016, Ulrich discussed the reasons for the time taken to write and record the new album, mentioning the band's expanded role within the music industry.
August 18, 2016: Hardwired... to Self-Destruct Album Announcement
On August 18, 2016, Metallica announced their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, would be released worldwide on November 18, 2016, via Blackened Recordings, and 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 opened 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 Debut
In 2016, Metallica released Hardwired... to Self-Destruct. It was the sixth consecutive studio album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
February 2017: Metallica Launches All Within My Hands Foundation
In February 2017, Metallica launched All Within My Hands Foundation, dedicated to creating sustainable communities by 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", with Hammett and Hetfield performing the national anthem.
2017: Third-Best-Selling Music Artist
As of 2017, Metallica was the third-best-selling music artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, selling 58 million albums in the United States.
2017: Hetfield appears on Sixx Sense
In 2017, James Hetfield appeared on Nikki Sixx's radio show 'Sixx Sense,' suggesting that the feud between the bands had calmed down.
January 2018: Reissue of 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.
February 2018: Second Set of North American Tour Dates Announced
In February 2018, Metallica announced a second set of North American tour dates, mostly for cities they hadn't visited in up to thirty years.
September 6, 2018: #MetallicaMondays concert date
The #MetallicaMondays concert on May 24, 2021, to benefit All Within My Hands Foundation, dated back to September 6, 2018, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
2018: Album Sales Worldwide
As of 2018, Metallica had sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, establishing them as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time.
March 2019: WorldWired Tour Extension & S&M2 Announcement
In March 2019, Metallica announced the extension of its WorldWired Tour into Australia and New Zealand, and that it would perform S&M2 with the San Francisco Symphony to celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of S&M.
March 2019: Trujillo on New Album Material
In March 2019, Trujillo said that Metallica had begun jamming on new material for its next studio album and that it would be released sooner than the previous two.
July 2019: South American Tour Dates Announced
In July 2019, Metallica announced South American tour dates for April 2020 with Greta Van Fleet.
March 2020: Benefit Concert Still Expected
Despite Hetfield entering rehab in September 2019, as of March 2020, the band's benefit concert was still expected to continue as planned. However these shows were later postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support Hetfield's recovery.
March 2020: Launch of #MetallicaMondays
In March 2020, Metallica began the #MetallicaMondays series on YouTube and Facebook, streaming full archived shows every Monday during the pandemic.
April 2020: Ulrich on Working on New Album
In April 2020, Ulrich stated that Metallica could work on its next studio album while in quarantine.
April 2020: South American Tour Postponed
Metallica's South American tour, originally announced in July 2019 for April 2020, was postponed due to Hetfield's rehabilitation program.
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: Show at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery
On August 10, 2020, Metallica played a show at Gundlach-Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, California, which was only attended by a few crew members, and it was recorded and played for drive-in movies across the U.S. and Canada on August 29.
August 2020: S&M2 Album Announcement
In August 2020, Metallica announced that they would release the S&M2 performances as an album, DVD, and box set.
September 2020: Metallica Set to Perform at Global Citizen Festival
In September 2019, it was announced that Metallica would perform at the following year's Global Citizen Festival in September 2020, but these shows were later postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support Hetfield's recovery.
October 2020: Miley Cyrus Plans Metallica Covers Album
In October 2020, Miley Cyrus announced that she was planning on recording a Metallica covers album.
January 7, 2021: Miley Cyrus Records "Nothing Else Matters" Cover
On January 7, 2021, Miley Cyrus announced that she recorded a cover version of "Nothing Else Matters" that would feature Elton John on piano, drummer Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This version was produced by Andrew Watt, and was released as a promotional single for the tribute album The Metallica Blacklist.
May 2021: Metallica Announces #MetallicaMondays Benefit
In May 2021, Metallica announced they would do one more #MetallicaMondays on May 24 to benefit their All Within My Hands Foundation.
August 2021: Newsted unboxes reissue box set
In August 2021, Jason Newsted was given a box set of the reissue of Metallica's self-titled album to open for an unboxing video, which was uploaded to the band's YouTube channel to celebrate the album's 30th anniversary.
September 6, 2021: All Within My Hands Foundation Raised Funds
On September 6, 2021, Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation raised $377,450. The foundation teamed up with workwear brand Carhartt, with Carhartt donating all of their sales proceeds on the holiday to the band's Metallica Scholars initiative.
2021: Sixx applauds Metallica's longevity
During an interview in 2021, Nikki Sixx applauded Metallica's longevity and praised several of their releases.
November 28, 2022: Metallica Releases "Lux Æterna" Single
On November 28, 2022, Metallica released the single "Lux Æterna".
January 19, 2023: Metallica Releases "Screaming Suicide" Single
On January 19, 2023, Metallica released the second single titled "Screaming Suicide".
March 1, 2023: Metallica Releases "If Darkness Had a Son" Single
On March 1, 2023, Metallica released the third single titled "If Darkness Had a Son".
March 30, 2023: Metallica Releases "72 Seasons" Music Video
On March 30, 2023, Metallica released a music video for the album's title track, "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 Next Metallica Album Ideas
In April 2023, during an interview on Loudwire Nights radio program, Ulrich mentioned that "there [were] some ideas [Metallica] could start with" for the follow-up to 72 Seasons, and highlighted James Hetfield's prolific riff-writing.
April 27, 2023: Metallica's M72 World Tour Begins
On April 27, 2023, Metallica promoted the album with a two-and-a-half-year-long tour, titled the M72 World Tour, which began in Amsterdam.
2023: Fortnite Festival Release
Fortnite Festival, a 2023 rhythm game developed by Harmonix as part of Fortnite, held a Metallica-centric season from June to August 2024 which included "One", "Lux Æterna", and "Master of Puppets".
2023: Release of 72 Seasons
In 2023, Metallica released its eleventh and most recent album, 72 Seasons.
2023: All Within My Hands Foundation Donations
In 2023, the All Within My Hands Foundation donated and further raised funds for World Central Kitchen's Ukraine war relief efforts and granted $200,000 for relief efforts after the destructive 2023 Hawaii wildfires.
May 2024: Hetfield Confirms Writing New Music
In May 2024, James Hetfield confirmed that he has been "writing lots of music, playing guitar pretty much every day."
May 2024: Hammett Discusses Ideas for Next Album
In a May 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Kirk Hammett confirmed that he has been working on ideas for the next Metallica album and that he has 767 new ones. He doesn't foresee the band starting the next album for at least another year because they're still finishing the tour.
August 2024: Metallica-Centric Season in Fortnite Festival
The Metallica-centric season of Fortnite Festival, a 2023 rhythm game, lasted from June to August 2024 and included "One", "Lux Æterna", and "Master of Puppets". 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.
November 19, 2025: Metallica's M72 World Tour Concludes
Metallica's M72 World Tour, which began on April 27, 2023, in Amsterdam, is set to conclude on November 19, 2025, in Auckland.
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