Metallica

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'''Metallica''' is an American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band. It was formed in [[Los Angeles]] in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist [[James Hetfield]] and drummer [[Lars Ulrich]], and has been based in [[San Francisco]] for most of its career.<ref name="SF">{{cite news|last1=Pereira|first1=Alyssa|title=Metallica's Black Album turns 25: Here's how local record stores reacted to its sales in 1991|url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Metallica-s-Black-Album-turns-25-9139432.php|access-date=April 20, 2018|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 12, 2016|archive-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031609/https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Metallica-s-Black-Album-turns-25-9139432.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MetallicaOfficial">{{cite web|title=Band History|url=https://www.metallica.com/band/history|website=Metallica official website|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030210257/http://metallica.com/band/history|url-status=live}}</ref> The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding "big four" bands of [[thrash metal]], alongside [[Megadeth]], [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]] and [[Slayer]]. Metallica's current lineup comprises founding members and primary songwriters Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist [[Kirk Hammett]] and bassist [[Robert Trujillo]]. Guitarist [[Dave Mustaine]], who formed Megadeth after being fired from Metallica, and bassists [[Ron McGovney]], [[Cliff Burton]] and [[Jason Newsted]] are former members of the band. Metallica is one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|most commercially successful bands of all time]], having sold more than 163&nbsp;million albums worldwide {{as of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref name="sold">{{cite news|last=Trapp|first=Philip|title=What Metal Band Has Sold the Most Albums?|url=https://loudwire.com/what-metal-band-sold-most-albums/|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=June 5, 2025|archive-date=January 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126042222/https://loudwire.com/what-metal-band-sold-most-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Metallica''' is an American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band. It was formed in [[Los Angeles]] in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist [[James Hetfield]] and drummer [[Lars Ulrich]], and has been based in [[San Francisco]] for most of its career.<ref name="SF">{{cite news|last1=Pereira|first1=Alyssa|title=Metallica's Black Album turns 25: Here's how local record stores reacted to its sales in 1991|url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Metallica-s-Black-Album-turns-25-9139432.php|access-date=April 20, 2018|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 12, 2016|archive-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031609/https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Metallica-s-Black-Album-turns-25-9139432.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MetallicaOfficial">{{cite web|title=Band History|url=https://www.metallica.com/band/history|website=Metallica official website|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030210257/http://metallica.com/band/history|url-status=live}}</ref> The band's fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding "big four" bands of [[thrash metal]], alongside [[Megadeth]], [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]] and [[Slayer]]. Metallica's current lineup comprises founding members and primary songwriters Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist [[Kirk Hammett]] and bassist [[Robert Trujillo]]. Guitarist [[Dave Mustaine]], who formed Megadeth after being fired from Metallica, and bassists [[Ron McGovney]], [[Cliff Burton]] and [[Jason Newsted]] are former members of the band. The band is one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|most commercially successful bands of all time]], having sold more than 163&nbsp;million albums worldwide {{as of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref name="sold">{{cite news|last=Trapp|first=Philip|title=What Metal Band Has Sold the Most Albums?|url=https://loudwire.com/what-metal-band-sold-most-albums/|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=June 5, 2025|archive-date=January 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126042222/https://loudwire.com/what-metal-band-sold-most-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Metallica first found commercial success with the release of its third album, ''[[Master of Puppets]]'' (1986), which is cited as one of the heaviest metal albums and the band's best work. The band's next album, ''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]'' (1988), gave Metallica its first [[Grammy Award]] nomination. Its fifth album, ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]'' (1991), was a turning point for the band that saw them transition from their thrash roots; it appealed to a more mainstream audience, achieving substantial commercial success and selling more than 16&nbsp;million copies in the United States to date, making it the best-selling album of the [[Nielsen SoundScan|SoundScan]] era. After experimenting with different genres and directions in subsequent releases, Metallica returned to its thrash metal roots with its ninth album, ''[[Death Magnetic]]'' (2008), which drew similar praise to that of the band's earlier albums. The band's eleventh and most recent album, ''[[72 Seasons]]'', was released in 2023.

Metallica first found commercial success with the release of its third album, ''[[Master of Puppets]]'' (1986), which is cited as one of the heaviest metal albums and the band's best work. The band's next album, ''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]'' (1988), gave Metallica its first [[Grammy Award]] nomination. Its fifth album, ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]'' (1991), was a turning point for the band that saw them transition from their thrash roots; it appealed to a more mainstream audience, achieving substantial commercial success and selling more than 16&nbsp;million copies in the United States to date, making it the best-selling album of the [[Nielsen SoundScan|SoundScan]] era. After experimenting with different genres and directions in subsequent releases, Metallica returned to its thrash metal roots with its ninth album, ''[[Death Magnetic]]'' (2008), which drew similar praise to that of the band's earlier albums. The band's eleventh and most recent album, ''[[72 Seasons]]'', was released in 2023.