Does anyone else remember that time Metallica played a secret show as a Ramones cover band? By Matt Mills published 22 March 24 In 2002, Metallica (plus fill-in bassist Bob Rock) took the stage at a San Francisco dive bar and played songs by one of punk’s most prestigious bands
“That was it for me, a rock god lead guitarist playing on it”: how Metallica’s Kirk Hammett helped a dance classic to come full circle By Niall Doherty published 16 March 24 The Metallica man collaborated with techno duo Orbital for a song on the soundtrack to Spawn
Every Metallica album ranked from worst to best By Merlin Alderslade published 15 March 24 From game-changing debut Kill 'Em All to the emotionally-charged 72 Seasons, this is every studio album by metal's biggest band, ranked
Metallica’s Robert Trujillo didn’t know what ex-Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg looked like until they were in Infectious Grooves together By Matt Mills published 14 March 24 Robert Trujillo had no idea how his Infectious Grooves side-project’s new drummer, Jay Weinberg, looked maskless – until they started rehearsing together
“Why did you let Some Kind Of Monster come out?” What happened when Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson interviewed Metallica’s Lars Ulrich By Matt Mills published 12 March 24 In 2008, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich swung by Bruce Dickinson’s radio show to promote Death Magnetic and sling some mud at the St Anger era
Every Metallica instrumental ranked from worst to best By Paul Travers published 12 March 24 From (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth to Suicide & Redemption, we’ve rearranged the six Metallica instrumental tracks in reverse-order of excellence
"Then someone shoved a copy of the band's now legendary No Life 'Til Leather demo into my beer-stained hands": The Mötley Crüe haters who paved the way for one man's discovery of Metallica By Xavier Russell published 8 March 24 In late 1982, Metallica played their 27th show at a club in San Fransisco. One Classic Rock writer got there by accident
“It’s about how grateful we were to have our time with Cliff”: Watch the only time Metallica have ever played emotional instrumental To Live Is To Die live By Matt Mills published 3 March 24 In 2011, Metallica finally unearthed their bittersweet tribute to late bassist Cliff Burton in front of one very intimate audience
10 classic metal albums that should be played live in full (but haven’t yet) By Stephen Hill published 2 March 24 From Metallica’s …And Justice For All to Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other, these masterpieces are so good that live crowds need to hear them in their entirety
“It was a real awkward time”: The story of the abandoned Metallica album By Stephen Hill published 1 March 24 In 2001, Metallica hired an old army barracks in California to try and record album eight. The songs were scrapped when James Hetfield entered rehab, but countless fans still want to hear them finished.
"We look forward to an incredible evening of unique performances": Metallica to perform at star-studded Elton John tribute ceremony By Paul Brannigan published 29 February 24 Metallica will join Annie Lennox, Garth Brooks and more in saluting the "influential" songwriting of Elton John and Bernie Taupin
“Hopefully, everything will go back to normal”: How Korn, Kid Rock and System Of A Down helped Metallica through the three weirdest gigs of their career By Matt Mills published 27 February 24 With James Hetfield injured, Metallica put Jason Newsted on vocals, covered Cheech & Chong and performed with nu metal’s finest for a trio of bizarre 2000 concerts
"There was a two-minute pause, then everybody broke out laughing. They thought I was doing a joke": What happened the night Jethro Tull beat Metallica to a Grammy Award By Johnny Black published 21 February 24 Prog rockers Jethro Tull pipped Metallica to win Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Recording award in 1989, and people are still talking about it
"When you can simplify what it is you want to say it's easier for more people to connect to": How Metallica stripped away the complexity to take their music to the masses By Paul Elliott published 15 February 24 With a little help from astrophysics, Ice-T and Heart, Metallica came up with Enter Sandman, their best-known song and a heavy metal classic
10 heavy metal stars who should have solo careers By Matt Mills published 13 February 24 From James Hetfield to Randy Blythe, we’d love to see what these heavy metal heroes can do by themselves
The 10 best Metallica songs not by Metallica By Matt Mills published 6 February 24 From Avenged Sevenfold to Evile, many have used the Four Horsemen’s influence to pen some similar yet still-incredible anthems
"We are here to play. We don't let our friends down": Watch pro-shot 4K footage of the night Joey Jordison saved Metallica when Lars Ulrich went AWOL By Fraser Lewry published 6 February 24 Original broadcast footage of For Whom The Bell Tolls, Wherever I May Roam and Enter Sandman from Metallica's historic Download 2004 set has surfaced online
"Let's keep the youth making music and keeping the dream alive." Metallica win Best Metal Performance at the 2024 Grammys, as Paramore, Larkin Poe and Boygenius also pick up awards By Fraser Lewry published 4 February 24 It was a big night for rock at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles last night
“They must have realised it was a bit stupid”: Metallica have never covered a Saxon song, and Biff Byford has a theory why By Dave Everley published 4 February 24 Metallica have never covered Saxon on record – could an incident at their second ever show explain why?
Watch Metallica perform Creeping Death with a fan on lead vocals and still sound surprisingly good By Matt Mills published 31 January 24 In 1998, a Metallica megafan called Aaron got the opportunity of a lifetime: singing Creeping Death with his favourite band on national TV