Band Members

Present Band Members

James Hetfield

Instrument: Vocals and rhythm guitar

Formed the band on 28 October 1981

Lars Ulrich

Instrument: Drums and percussion

Formed the band on 28 October 1981

Kirk Hammet

Instrument: Lead guitar

Joined the band on 16 April 1983

Rob Trujillo

Instrument: Bass

Joined the band on 24 February 2003


Ex-Metallica Members

Jason Newsted

Instrument: Bass

Joined the band on 28 October 1986

Left the band on 17 January 2001

Cliff Burton

Instrument: Bass

Joined the band on 28 December 1982

Left the band on 27 September 1986 (deceased)

Dave Mustaine

Instrument: Bass

Joined the band on 28 October 1981

Left the band on 11 April 1983

Ron McGovney

Instrument: Bass

Joined the band on January 1982

Left the band on 30 November 1982

Pre Metallica

Lars

Kirk

James

February 10, 1962: Cliff Burton, bassist for Metallica's first three albums, is born.

November 18, 1962: Kirk Hammett is born in San Francisco, California

March 4, 1963: Jason Newsted, Cliff's replacement, is born in Battle Creek, Michigan

August 3, 1963: Jaymz Alan Hetfield is born in Los Angeles, California

December 26, 1963: Lars Ulrich is born in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he lives until the late '70s. When his parents decide to move to Newport Beach, in the vicinity of Los Angeles.

In 1973 Lars, at age 9, goes to his first concert, when Deep Purple played in Copenhagen. He enjoys the concert so much he starts to collect albums by Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy. Later he discovers the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal). He then discovers bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Sweet Savage and Diamond Head, which influenced his musical direction. It was Late 1976 when Lars got his first drum kit from his Grandparents.

In 1980 Lars Ulrich, now 17 flew to Britain to see Diamond Head, his favorite band play. He meet the singer Sean Harris and lived with the band for a month. He soon learned about the band Mercyful Fate, another band in the NWOBHM. Lars returned to Los Angeles to try and make his own NWOBHM band.

Metallica's Quartet

Metallica consists of four heavy metal freaks namely James Hetfield (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar), Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums) and their fourth Bassist by far, Robert Trujillo who, before joining Metallica, has played for Ozzy Osbourne and Suicidal Tendencies.

Metallica has released 11 Main Albums namely Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited (EP), ...And Justice For All, Metallica, Load, ReLoad, Garage Inc., S&M(Live), St. Anger and the Untitled Ninth Studio Album to be released on February, 2008.