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Metallica
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Metallica is an American heavy metal band active from the 1980s to the 2000s. After building a loyal following through its role in the development of thrash metal in the 1980s, Metallica successfully broadened its audience in the early 1990s. Accordingly, the band stood as the most commercially visible example of the metal genre for most of that decade. However, Metallica's vastly increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of 'selling out' by some long-time fans. In 2003 Metallica released St. Anger, a collection of the most aggressive music they'd written in a decade, to deeply divided critical reviews and comparatively mediocre sales figures. Nevertheless, extensive and successful tours throughout 2003 and 2004 reinforced the band's reputation as a top-notch live act.
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The Metallica singer-guitarist’s parents were strict Christian Scientists; the sect’s distrust of Western medicine meant Hetfield had to leave class during any health-related lessons in school. When his mother, an opera singer, died, the troubled teen cut loose. “Just causing trouble, shoplifting, getting a little stash box,” he says. He knew what he wanted, though: His high-school yearbook entry read: “Aspirations: Be a rock star.”
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Entertainment Weekly reports that Metallica has "submitted" a song for consideration in the next Mission Impossible movie starring Nicole Kidman's husband Tom Cruise. The soundtrack, and movie are set for release in May of next year.
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After signing a major label deal with Elektra Records in 1985, Metallica went on to produce another album, Master of Puppets, released in 1986 and regarded by many of their fans as their best work. However, on September 27th of that year, during a European leg of shows, bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a tour bus accident in Ljungby, Sweden. As something of a psychological defense against the potentially debilitating grief that now surrounded them, the band immediately found a new bassist in Jason Newsted, formerly of Flotsam and Jetsam. Shortly thereafter Metallica released The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited as a preliminary effort with their new member. This album continued the band's interest in recording obscure songs by relatively obscure (to American audiences) British metal and hardcore bands. In 1988 they recorded ...And Justice for All, an album full of some of the band's most structurally complex music.
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Later that year, Ron McGovney left the band and Metallica asked Trauma bassist Cliff Burton to join. Burton agreed if the band would relocate to his hometown in Castro Valley, CA. With Burton the band recorded the Megaforce Demo. After establishing themselves in the Bay Area thrash metal scene, Metallica traveled to the New York Tri-State Region in 1983 at the urging of promoters Jon and Marsha Zazula. After a few gigs the band signed with the Zazulas' new label, Megaforce Records. Shortly after being signed, Ulrich and Hetfield decided Mustaine's aggressive and disruptive behavior (related to alcohol and drug use)[citation needed] was becoming too much to handle. Kirk Hammett was brought in from the band Exodus, and Mustaine was fired, soon to create the thrash band Megadeth.
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Metallica must be considered one of the most well-known metal bands ever, with their work in the 80's in particular receiving accolades as amongst the finest metal works ever recorded. Formed in 1981 by the duo of James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, their youthful energy quickly gained them an incredible underground following, with their debut Kill 'Em All being one of the most anticipated underground releases of the era. And it did not disappoint -- arguably one of the first true thrash albums, it jumpstarted a thrash scene that would last for years to come. With each succeeding release their popularity grew, and with the release of 1986's Master Of Puppets (one of the most popular thrash albums of all time), it was clear that it would only be a matter of time before true worldwide fame would be theirs. They suffered a tremendous setback when bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a tour bus accident, but even that did not slow them down, as they recruited new bassist Jason Newsted and continued growing with 1988's ...And Justice For All.
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