Today marks the 50th birthday of Kirk Hammett, former guitarist with Exodus, celebrated horse rider, premium sporter of curly hair in metal, Christmas fanatic, oh, and lead guitarist in some little old outfit known as Metallica. So in the best tradition of Sunday Slaylists, this week we’re running a special birthday tribute to the man often described as “the third most important member of Metallica”. Yep.
Metallica. Whether you’re one of those people who thinks all of Metallica’s output after Cliff Burton died sucks, or whether you were stoked as Hell when you heard Metallica would be playing their mega-selling, self-titled Black album in full (and in reverse order, for some reason) at this year’s Download Festival, the one thing that’s undeniable is that they are the biggest metal band in the world, and there’ll never be another band as big as them with a drummer quite so bad. If there’s a reason they can print those Birth School Metallica Death t-shirts without looking like conceited pricks, there’s no reason Lars still can’t play drums 20 years later. Did anyone else see Black Album merch with Rob Trujillo’s face on instead of Jason Newsted’s?
Metallica
Beyond Magnetic
Vertigo Records
30 January 2012
by Tom Doyle
If we follow the chronology of that famous T-shirt, we appear to currently be in the “death” phase of Metallica’s career. I recently took to these very pages to explain why Lulu was not the worst album of 2011 but that should not be taken as a defence – the record was an unmitigated disaster and will surely be looked back on in years to come as real emperor’s new clothes moment of folly from the yes-men who now surround the biggest heavy band ever. But in truth Metallica fans haven’t had a lot to shout about for a long time now. St Anger‘s problems were well-documented, and it said a lot about the sorry state of affairs that the band were in that Death Magnetic – an LP which was average by any standard let alone when compared to the bands monolithic back catalogue – was met with a “this isn’t THAT bad” pat on the head from fans and critics.
Outer space – not particularly “metal”, is it? The things about space that are pretty metal – aliens, big freaky robots, whatever it is Bruce Dickinson is singing about on the latest Iron Maiden album – aren’t really what space is about. Space is really about science, satellites, and very, very slow spacewalks. But if we have our way, on November 1st 2010, for 5 minutes 32 seconds outer space is gonna be Metal.
There’s no denying it – 2009 looks like it’s going to be a good year for the Big Four. If you’re suffering from an epic brain-fail, and don’t already know who they are, The Big Four are the quartet of bands who helped define Thrash Metal as we know it – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. But who amongst them is tr00ly still shredding it like they were in 1985?
Yes, Metallica played ‘Blackened’. It was their fourteenth great song of the night. Yes, it was a set highlight.
No, Metallica did not play ‘Enter Sandman. It didn’t really matter. They played ‘Blackened’.
Yes, they played the majority of Death Magnetic. Yes, they fitted into the set seamlessly.
Yes, Metallica are the greatest band in the world. FACT.
Metallica @ London O2 Arena setlist
‘That Was Just Your Life’
‘The End Of The Line’
‘The Thing That Should Not Be’
‘Of Wolf And Man’
‘One’
‘Broken, Beat And Scarred’
‘Cyanide’
‘Frantic’
‘Until It Sleeps’
‘Wherever I May Roam’
‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’
‘The Day That Never Comes’
‘Master Of Puppets’
‘Blackened’
—–
‘Stone Cold Crazy’
‘Jump In The Fire’
‘Seek and Destroy’
Metallica @ London O2 Arena gallery
The day before Metallica play London O2 Arena, they performed a very special show for the BBC to just 300 people. Lifelong ‘Tallica fan, Tony Hampton was there to soak up the atmosphere.
Ok, so everyone at this special BBC Radio 1 Presents… show should be off down the deed poll office to change their middle names to ‘lucky fucker’.
The atmosphere is incredible. Including fans, media types and the odd musician’ (Flea and Simon Neil among others) there arre just 300 people here to witness the mightiest of the mighty.
Metal legends Metallica.
As they hit the stage with an opening brace of newbies ‘That Was Just Your Life’ and ‘End of the Line’ its clear they band are relaxed and enjoying themselves, while remaining tight they’re obviously having fun.
Death Magnetic material sounds dynamic, fresh, heavy as hell and just like proper Metallica should.
A nice dip into the often overlooked Load, which did produce some good moments, era with ‘Until It Sleeps’ follows, ‘Broken, Beat and Scarred’ and ‘Cyanide’ – anyone who doesnt like that runaway Maiden-style riff has serious issues – and straight into ‘Frantic’ which is a brilliant and brutal song, live or otherwise, whatever people say about St Anger.
Watch the video to ‘The Day That Never Comes’ by Metallica
‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’, sublime, utterly sublime and into ‘Day That Never Comes’. What follows is the most memorable though as Hetfield messes up the intro to ‘Master Of Puppets’ and get a sound ribbing from both band and audience.
He laughs it off. And its truly heartwarming to see them enjoying this event so much. You see, Metallica really do care about their fans, always have and thats not changed now they can sell out the enormodomes of this world.
Some bands make people pay for meet and greets at shows, to pick up some pocket money. This will never be the Metallca way.
They finish with ‘Blackened’. Necks snap, grown men with huge beards openly weep. Tomorrow night they will tear the 02 a brand new A-hole in front of 18,000 people for the official launch party for Death Magnetic.
This really is a great time to be a Metallica fan.
Ozzfest 2008 has released details of this year’s event, which will include a special, all-star tribute to ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott and will take place in Dimebag’s home state of Texas on 9 August 2008.
The All-Star Dimebag Tribute will go onstage directly after Dimebag’s brother and former bandmate, Vinnie Paul’s latest band, Hellyeah perform. The collective will play a variety of Pantera songs.
The group will include stars such as Slayer’s Kerry King, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Charlie Benate, Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta, King Diamond and former Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla.
Metal Hammer has reported that Dimebag’s partnet Rita Haney said: “To have the name ‘Dimebag’ still, to this day, unite musicians to pay homage in such a respectful way, is very overwhelming. In Dime’s vision, it’s always been about a damn good time.”
While Gigwise reported on Sharon Osbourne saying: “When we decided on Dallas as the site for this year’s Ozzfest, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to ‘Dimebag’ Darrell since it was his hometown.”
It does look bloody good, doesn’t it.
Ozzfest will take place on 9 August 2008 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas
Thrash Hits .com was yesterday treated to a preview of a selection of tracks from Metallica’s forthcoming new album. Henry Cutmore reports on their ninth studio effort.
Shrouded in the type of secrecy normally reserved for military operations, we were lead into a darkened room and followed in by a man in black muttering something about Metalica having previously issues with “illegal downloading problems – you may have heard about it?”, and who then proceeded to play a number of songs to us at great volume.
Initial listenings suggest that it is a vast improvement on 2003 album St Anger, the making of which provided the subject for the band’s infamous documentary Some Kind Of Monster.
Watch a clip from Some Kind Of Monster
Informally described by the Metallica camp as “9 epics in one album”, the quartet’s new material has been produced by Rick Rubin as is currently at the mixing stage.
Though all the tracks are currently untitled we can confirm that most songs clock in at seven or eight minutes in length – including the lead single, which takes a more down-beat approach than most of the material on the album and has shades of their Grammy-winning epic 1990 breakthrough single ‘One’.
We can also report than it is unlikely Metallica fans will be disappointed with the new material, which contains arguably their most complex, multi-layered arrangements yet and sees a definite return to the bludgeoning, relentless galloping riffs of their Kill ‘Em All / Ride The Lightning era.
Watch the video to ‘One’ by Metallica
The drums sound a lot stronger this time too, while Rob Trujillo’s bass lines feature more prominently in the mix and there even touches of Eastern-tinged guitars. The ten songs that will comprise the finished album clock in at 75 minutes in length.
It is not known whether ‘performance enhancement coach’ Dr Phil Towle was involved in the making of this album.
We suspect not.
Metallica’s new album is scheduled for release in September.
