Metallica formed in 1982. A demo-tape, entitled No Life 'Til Leather,
raced through the international underground tape-trading network and
quickly landed the band a recording contract with Megaforce Records,
who released Kill 'Em All. Their determination to do things their way
and make the music they wanted to make saw a loyal following grow rap-
idly. Elektra Records saw the giant within and signed Metallica in 1984.
Their first major label release Ride The Lightning enjoyed healthy
attention globally. After the "Day On The Green" at Oakland Stadium
and the British Castle Donington festival in 1985, and the 1986 release
of Master Of Puppets and their subsequent 6 month U.S. arena tour with
Ozzy Osbourne, the band broke wide open, their U.S. popularity soaring
to dizzying new heights. ...And Justice for All, released in 1988,
sparked multi-platinum sales in the U.S. alone, as well as 18 months
of sold out shows. With 1991's Metallica, the sell-out tour which
followed it, and the revolutionary stadium headline festivals with
fellow superstar rockers Guns N' Roses, Metallica established themselves
as one of the world's biggest bands. The Metallica album (produced by
Bob Rock) has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Kill 'Em All, Ride
The Lightining, Master Of Puppets, and ...and Justice For All are also
all international multi-platinum sellers. Even their 1987 EP Garage Days
Re-Revisited (1987) sold over 3 million copies worldwide. And, they have
two international platinum-plus video releases, Kill 'Em All (1987),
A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica (1992). Metallica also won
three consecutive Grammy Awards in 1989, '90, and '91.
1982
September - METALLICA's first gig in San Francisco.
November - METALLICA's last gig with Ron McGovney.
December - METALLICA moves to San Francisco and Cliff Burton joins.
1983
February - METALLICA records "Whiplash" Demo. Tracks include: Whiplash
and No Remorse.
March - METALLICA's first gig with Cliff.
March - METALLICA head to the East Coast to meet with Johnny "Z" Zazula.
April - METALLICA fires Dave Mustaine and brings in Kirk Hammett from
EXODUS.
May - METALLICA enters the studios in Rochester,NY to record
"Kill `Em All".
July - "Kill `Em All" is released.
July - METALLICA begin US tour with RAVEN.
September - METALLICA's tour ends in San Francisco.
December - METALLICA returns to New York and begins writing material for
next album.
1984
February - "Jump In The Fire" single is released.
February - METALLICA start tour of Europe with Venom.
February - After tour METALLICA heads to Copenhagen to record
"Ride The Lightning".
June - Work on "Ride The Lightning" ends.
August - METALLICA play a showcase gig in New York City with ANTHRAX.
In attendance are Cliff Burnstien of Q Prime Managment and Michael Alago
of Elektra Records. Both like METALLICA and sign them.
August - "Ride The Lightning" is released.
November - "Ride The Lightning" is re-released on Elektra Records.
November - "Creeping Death" single is released. (Garage Days Revisited)
November - METALLICA begins European tour.
1985
January - METALLICA begin US tour with W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint.
March - METALLICA's US tour comes to an end in Portland,Oregon.
July - METALLICA begin writing material for their next album.
August - METALLICA plays both Donington and Day On The Green with
ZZTOP and the SCORPIONS.
September - METALLICA enter the studio in Copenhagen to begin work
on "Master Of Puppets".
December - Work on "Master Of Puppets" ends.
1986
March - "Master Of Puppets" is released. Enters US charts at #29 and
stays in top 40 for 7 weeks.
March - METALLICA begin tour as support act for OZZY OSBOURNE.
June - James breaks his wrist in a skateboard accident. John
Marshall, Kirk's guitar roadie, fills in on guitar.
August - METALLICA in tour with OZZY OSBOURNE.
September - METALLICA begin European tour with ANTHRAX.
September - Cliff is killed in a bus accident outside of Ljungby,Sweden.
October - METALLICA heads back to the US and begins search for new bass
player. Jason Newsted is chosen.
November - METALLICA's first gig with Jason and first tour of Japan.
December - METALLICA finish tour of US and Canada.
1987
January - METALLICA finish tour of Europe.
February - METALLICA's European tour ends in Gothenburg,Sweden.
March - James breaks his wrist again while skateboarding (Gives it up.).
METALLICA is forced to cancel Saturday Night Live appearance.
July - METALLICA records "Garage Days Re-Revisited" EP.
September - "Garage Days Re-Revisited" is released. Enters US charts at
#28 and stays in top 40 for 8 weeks.
August - METALLICA plays European Monsters Of Rock tour with BON JOVI
and DEEP PURPLE.
November - METALLICA begins writing material for their next album.
December - "Cliff `Em All" home video is released.
1988
January - METALLICA enter the studio to record "...And Justice For All".
May - Work on "...And Justice For All" ends.
May - METALLICA join US Monsters Of Rock tour with VAN HALEN and the
SCORPIONS.
July - The US Monsters Of Rock tour ends in Denver.
August - "Harvester Of Sorrow" single is released.
September - "...And Justice For All" is released. Enters US charts at
#6 and stays in top 40 for 34 weeks.
September - METALLICA begin Damaged Justice tour in Budapest,Hungary.
November - "Eye Of The Beholder" single is released.
December - METALLICA shoot the video for "One" while in Los Angeles.
1989
January - "One" single is released.
February - METALLICA perform live on the Grammy Awards, but do not win.
October - METALLICA's Damaged Justice tour ends in Sao Paulo,Brazil.
1990
February - METALLICA wins Grammy Award for "...And Justice For All".
May - METALLICA tour Europe with DIO.
June - METALLICA plays two shows with AEROSMITH.
August - METALLICA begin writing material for their next album.
October - METALLICA enters the studio to begin work on "Metallica".
1991
February - METALLICA wins Grammy Award for "Stone Cold Crazy".
June - METALLICA ends work on "Metallica".
July - "Enter Sandman" single is released.
August - "Metallica" is released. (The Black Album) Enters US charts
at #1 and stays in top 40 for 85 weeks.
August - METALLICA begins European Monsters Of Rock tour with AC/DC.
September - METALLICA plays a free concert in Russia.
October - METALLICA plays at Day On The Green with QUEENSYRCHE then later
in the month METALLICA begins Roam tour in Peoria,IL.
November - "The Unforgiven" single is released.
1992
February - METALLICA performs at the Grammy Awards and win.
March - "Nothing Else Matters" single is released.
April - METALLICA perform at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in
London. May - "Wherever I May Roam" single is released.
July - METALLICA begins US Mosters Of Rock tour with GUNS N' ROSES.
August - James is burned in pyro accident in Montreal. John Marshall
is brought in to play guitar.
September - "A Year And Half..." Parts 1 & 2 home videos are released.
October - "Sad But True" single is released.
October - METALLICA finish Monsters Of Rock tour then head to Europe.
December - METALLICA's European tour ends.
1993
January - METALLICA performs on the American Music Awards and win.
March - METALLICA begin Asian, Australian and South American tours.
May - METALLICA begin Nowhere Else To Roam tour of Europe. Some gigs
include MEGADETH.
July - METALLICA end Roam tour in Belgium.
November - "Live Shit: Binge & Purge" box set is released with 3 live
CDs from Mexico City in February/March `93, 2 live videos from San Diego
in January `92 and 1 live video from Seattle in August `89.
1994
April - "One/Live" single is released.
May - METALLICA begin Live Shit tour in Buffalo,NY with DANZIG and CANDLEBOX.
August - METALLICA plays at Woodstock `94 with NINE INCH NAILS, AEROSMITH,
and many others.
August - METALLICA ends Live Sh*t tour in Miami.
December - METALLICA begin writing material for their next album.
1995
March - METALLICA enters the studio to begin work on "Load"
August - METALLICA take a break from the studio and plays at the
Donington Monsters Of Rock Festival.
September - METALLICA play at the Arctic Circle with HOLE.
1996
April - METALLICA finish work on "Load".
May - "Until It Sleeps" single is released.
June - "Load" is released. Enters US charts at #1 and stays in top 40 all
summer.
June - METALLICA begin Lollapalooza tour in Kansas City with SOUNDGARDEN
& The RAMONES.
August - METALLICA end Lollapalooza tour in Los Angeles.
September - METALLICA performs on the MTV Video Music Awards and wins.
September - METALLICA begins Poor Touring me in Europe.
October - "Hero Of The Day" single is released.
November - METALLICA performs "Last Caress" and "So What" on the European
MTV Awards, and is banned from MTV award shows.
November - METALLICA ends European tour.
December - "Mama Said" single is released.
December - METALLICA begins North American tour.
1997
January - METALLICA performs on the American Music Awards and wins.
February - "King Nothing" single is released.
May - METALLICA ends Poor Touring Me in Edmonton,Canada.
June - METALLICA enters the studio to begin work on "ReLoad".
August - METALLICA takes a break from the studio and play 3 festivals
in Europe.
August- James gets married to Francesca Hetfield.
October - METALLICA plays 2 acoustic sets at The Bridge School Benefit
in San Francisco.
October - METALLICA finish work on "ReLoad".
November - "ReLoad" is released. Enters US charts at #1.
November- "The Memory Remains" single released.
December - METALLICA perform "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains" live on
Saturday Night Live.
December - METALLICA perform "The Unforgiven II" live on the BillBoard
Music Awards and win for Best Hard Rock Band.
1998
March - METALLICA start touring the world for their album �ReLoad�.
March - METALLICA tour pushed up until April due to the death of Lars'
mother.
June- James becomes a father on the 11th to his first child, Cali Tee
Hetfield.
July - METALLICA come to Starlake Amphitheatre in Pittsburgh, PA on the
22nd. August- Lars becomes a father on the 5th to his first child, Myles
Ulrich.