NEWS · ·That Eric Alper
Metallica’s Rise From Underground to Global Fame
Metallica formed in Los Angeles in 1981, moved into the Bay Area thrash scene, and grew through underground tape trading, albums, touring and fan support.
Metallica was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 and later moved into the Bay Area thrash scene. In the band’s early period, fans traded tapes and demo recordings circulated through the underground metal community. Lars Ulrich communicated with fans, tape traders and people who produced metal fanzines.
Ride the Lightning was released in 1984 and expanded Metallica’s music with songs including For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black and Creeping Death. Master of Puppets followed in 1986 and included an eight-and-a-half-minute title track. That year, Metallica toured with Ozzy Osbourne, bringing the band to mainstream hard-rock fans, while Master of Puppets reached the Billboard album chart.
When …And Justice for All was released in 1988, Metallica’s audience had grown enough that the band was no longer viewed only as an underground phenomenon. One, released in 1989, was Metallica’s first music video. Fans bought records, traded tapes, wore T-shirts, attended concerts and told their friends about the band.
The Black Album made Metallica one of the biggest bands in the world.
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