1980 - Lars Ulrich, a Danishman who lived in Los Angeles, was interested in starting his own heavy metal band. At the time Lars was involved with the new wave British heavy metal. After failed attempts he placed an ad in the magazine the "Recycler". James Hetfield a.k.a "The Angriest Kid In The World" answered the ad. The pair met for a jam session and nothing became of it at that point.
1981 - In the summer of "81" Lars was touring with the UK band "Diamond Head". After 3 months the tour wrapped up and Lars secured a record deal with the label "Metal Blade". Seeing Lars had no band at the time he then contacted James Hetfield. So was the beginnings of Metallica.
1982 - This year started out real big and busy for the band. They played Radio City in Anaheim, CA for there first gig with several more gigs to follow. But first they had to have some recorded tracks. So off to the studio to record what is known as Power Metal. The band a this time consisted of Ron McGovney, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Lars and James. The Power Metal album consisted of the songs Hit The Lights, and Motorbreath to name a few. In June the album Metal Massacre was release. This album was recorded in 1981. By August, Lars and James were told of a bassist by the name of Cliff Burton. Burton was playing with a band by the name of Trauma at the time. At this time Lars and James were not very happy with Ron McGovney so they decided to go and check out Cliff Burton. Lars and James liked what they saw, but Cliff was not willing to join the band unless the band relocated to San Francisco.
1983 - Metallica relocated to San Francisco and Cliff Burton becomes the newest member of Metallica. At this point the band was asked to do some east coast gigs. Jon Zazula a record store owner tried but failed to get the band a record contract. So Jon decided to start his own record company called Mega Force and signed Metallica. It was during this year that Dave Mustaine's drinking was becoming to much for the band to handle. So he was asked to leave and in came Kirk Hammett who was playing with the band Exodus at the time. This year also marked the release of Kill 'Em All. The original name for this album was Metal Up Your Ass, but go figure the distributors would not release the album with that name. Sometime after the release of Kill 'Em All, Metallica embarked on a 3 month tour which ended in September. After the tour the band spent the next 3 months writing material for there next album.
1984 - Ride The Lightning was released. This being the bands second album. The band also endeavored on there first European Tour. Which took them to Switerland, Belgium, Germany and winding down in Holland.
1985 - After a break the band performed at the Monsters of rock Festival in England. Metallica then went and spent from Oct. to Dec. recording Master Of Puppets.
1986 - The band releases there 3rd album Master Of Puppets. This album has been said to be the album that has redefine thrash metal. Master Of Puppets sold over a million copies in the United States alone. After the release of Master Of Puppets the band was off to tour with Ozzy Osbourne in Copenhagen. After this tour Metallica would never be an opening act again. Just when Metallica was gaining popularity the unthinkable happens. In the early morning hours of Sept. 27,two tour buses, one carrying the band, were traveling down a road somewhere between Copenhagen and Stockholm. When the bus carrying the band started to slide on the icy road. Unable to regain control the bus finally landed in a ditch on its side. Most of the passengers escaped with minor injures, including 3 or the 4 band members. Unfortunately Cliff Burton was not as lucky. Cliff was pinned under the bus and killed instantly. Approximately a month after the death of Cliff, Jason Newsted from Flotsem and Jetsam was auditioned and sign as the newest band member to Metallica. The band continued on knowing that is what Cliff would have wanted.
1987-88 These were pretty slow years for Metallica. They did record Garage Days- Revisited. The band also went on to play some postponed gigs in Europe. In 1988 they released a video tribute to Cliff Burton called Cliff 'Em All. They also toured with the Monsters of Rock. And then in Sept. of "88"came the release of there 4th album ...And Justice For All. There first recorded album with Jason Newsted. Metallica releases two singles off of this album something they have never have done. These singles were One and Harvester of Sorrow. MTV also released two different video versions of One.
1990 - Metallica wraps up there Damaged Justice tour and takes a long awaited break. During this break they start writing material for there 5th album.
1991 - 1991 brings us the release of Metallica's 5th self-titled album otherwise known as The Black album. This album sold over 20 million copies worldwide. At this time Metallica decides to launch a two year tour. The tour is called the Wherever I May roam tour. This tour took the band to some 300 venues from Aug. of 91 to July of 93. After winding up this tour the band decides to take a year off.
1995 - The band is back in the recording studio recording there 6th album.
1996 - June of 96 Metallica releases Load there 6th album. Upon the release of this album the band launches there Poor Touring Me tour which takes them through mid 1997.
1997 - Metallica releases Re-Load on November 18, 1997 Worldwide. This album shoots to number one on the Billboard Music charts along with a few other charts within the first week of release. The first single and video to be release from the album is called The Memory Remains with Marianna Faithfull ( 1960's singer). Metallica plans to lauch the second half of the Poor Touring Me tour in New Zealand on March 27, 1998.