Metallica is one of the most widely recognized and highly regarded heavy metal bands of all time. Though its members might not be as relevant as they once were, they continue to be important figures for the development of the industry. Here, we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Metallica. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: Lars Ulrich Was a Tennis Prodigy. Hailing from Denmark, Ulrich was an extremely talented tennis player growing up. His father and grandfather both played tennis professionally. Thankfully for the world, Ulrich decided to channel his athletic prowess into playing the drums.
Number Fourteen: James Hetfield Accidentally Burned the Crap Out of Himself. During a 1992 stadium tour that Metallica was co-headlining with Guns N’ Roses, James Hetfield accidentally gave himself third-degree burns after walking into a 12-foot flame. He misjudged the pyrotechnics display.
Number Thirteen: Robert Trujillo Was Paid to Join. When Trujillo came on as Metallica’s bassist in 2003, he was given an advance of one million pounds. Before he joined Metallica, Trujillo was part of Suicidal Tendencies, which was Ozzy Osbourne’s band.
Number Twelve: James Hetfield Was Addicted to Chocolate. In 2001, Hetfield went to rehab for alcohol and “other” addictions. Apparently, one of those “other” addictions was to chocolate. This could explain his weight gain around that time.
Number Eleven: They Made an Expensive Mistake. The name of Metallica’s second album is Ride The Lightning, and it contains a track called “The Call Of Ktulu.” However, early pressings of this album contain a misspelling that reads “The Cat of Ktulu.” Albums with this misspelling now can be sold for a handsome price.
Number Ten: Kirk Hammett Struggled With Drug Addiction. Hammett has admitted that being around Metallica fueled his drug problems. He said, “I had a bad coke problem on the …And Justice For All tour. You hang out with other musicians, and the next thing you know, you have five guys crammed into a bathroom stall.”
Number Nine: Jason Newsted Was an Outcast. Newsted joined as a bassist and a replacement for Cliff Burton, who passed away in 1986. However, the rest of the band didn’t like his sound, and his bass lines are nearly absent on the album …And Justice For All.