Metallica consists of James Hetfield (vocals, guitar), Kirk Hammett (guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Robert Trujillo (bass).
Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in October 1981. With 57 million albums sold in the United States (according to RIAA figures), and about 40 million albums sold worldwide[ citation needed], the total number of album sales estimates somewhere around 100 million total. With the release of their most successful album yet, 1991's Metallica, they have become the most commercially successful heavy metal act in history, as well as the 18th biggest selling act in American music history. RIAA Total Sales
After building a following through its role in the development of modern heavy metal, especially thrash metal, (being considered, along with Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, to be one of the "big four" of thrash), in the mid- 1980s, the band 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. In contrast, Metallica's vastly increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of " selling out."
In 2003 Metallica released their 8th studio album, entitled St. Anger, a collection of the most aggressive music they had written in a decade, to deeply divided critical reviews, though their 2004 "Madly In Anger With The World" tour in support of the album remained very successful.
Metallica has confirmed that they are working on what will be their 9th studio album. The release date is expected to be around either late 2006 or early 2007. The album will be produced by the legendary Rick Rubin.
Metallica is listed at #5 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".
Metallica was formed in Downey, California in 1981 by drummer and former tennis prodigy Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, who met after each had separately placed classified advertisements in the American publication The Recycler. James Hetfield responded to Lars Ulrich's call. Bassist Ron McGovney was an original member, and the band used a few transient guitar players, such as Brad Parker and Jeff Warner. Their first session played was in Lars Ulrich's garage. At that time there were only three members, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Dave Mustaine. Ron McGovney joined a few days later. Metallica got its name when drummer Lars Ulrich was helping San Francisco-area metal promoter Ron Quintana pick out a name for a new magazine to promote metal and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands. Quintana came up with a suggestion "Metallica," but Lars quickly suggested another and decided to use that name for the band he and James Hetfield had just started.