Birth School Metallica Death - Vol I (45 page)
Read Birth School Metallica Death - Vol I Online
Authors: Paul Brannigan,Ian Winwood
Tags: #Arts & Photography, #Music, #Musical Genres, #Heavy Metal
On July 14 the Clash of the Titans caravan arrived in New York City for an appearance at Madison Square Garden. The location was significant, for if the touring bands could be viewed as conquering revolutionaries, their presence within the walls of the Garden represented the storming of an Imperial Palace. Originally designed to stage boxing matches, since being opened in 1968 Madison Square Garden had become the site of a bewildering variety of events. For up to eight months each year the venue’s floor comprised an ice rink upon which the National Hockey League team the New York Rangers skated on up to fifty-seven occasions. The same number of fixtures could be played by the Garden’s other sporting tenants, the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks. On other nights the arena was host to a wide variety of concerts, with its most frequent visitors being the Grateful Dead and Elton John. Perhaps most spectacularly of all, each April Madison Square Garden is the site for a residency by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, an extravaganza of such scale that each spring the Lincoln Tunnel (which connects Manhattan to neighbouring New Jersey beneath the Hudson River) is closed to traffic in order that elephants can walk to the most iconic of New York’s five boroughs.
The appearance of Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer at ‘the world’s most famous arena’ was a cause for celebration for those who enjoyed music unsuited to a hangover. It was, however, an occasion that would soon be robbed of its fizz.
It was Elektra’s decision to book Madison Square Garden for the world première of Metallica’s fifth album; if the group required evidence that their record company were willing to go to extraordinary lengths in order to clear space for them at the very top of the musical food chain, this was it. But unlike the participants in the Clash of the Titans, the quartet did not perform at the grand arena. Instead the Garden merely provided the setting to which fans were invited to gather free of charge to listen to their forthcoming collection. Although James Hetfield believed it to be ‘weird’ that his band’s album would play Madison Square Garden before the band themselves had graced its stage, the event was precisely the kind of grand gesture one would come to associate with Metallica.
With appetites whetted by the release of the album’s lead-off single ‘Enter Sandman’ earlier that same week, on the evening of Saturday August 3, 1991, no fewer than 10,000 people convened on 7th Avenue in order to be the first to hear the fruits of Metallica’s labours. Among this number were the members of that summer’s other most celebrated band: Nirvana.
At 8 p.m. the Garden’s house lights faded to black. From the darkness the opening notes of ‘Enter Sandman’ eased their way from the public address system and began to climb to the wooden rafters of the ceiling above. Standing in the wings of the stage, his eyes scanning the arena, James Hetfield admitted that he had never felt more nervous. But as row upon row of the venue’s crimson and turquoise seats were tipped back to afford those gathered in Metallica’s name the space to bang their heads, pump their fists and shred the fretboard of imaginary guitars, Hetfield exchanged a smile with Lars Ulrich.
Like many a crackpot scheme,
Birth School Metallica Death
was born in a pub. This location was Big Red, London’s finest rock bar, situated on the Holloway Road in Islington. As we sat at a table crowded by empty glasses, the conversation turned to the possibility of two writers – one the author of
This Is a Call
, a
best-selling
biography of Dave Grohl, the other a working journalist of occasional high standing – collaborating over the writing of one book. ‘Capital idea!’ we both agreed. But about whom should we write? The answer was not so much staring in our faces as screaming in our ears: Metallica. If you’re going to climb a mountain, it may as well be Everest, no?
Realising our idea wasn’t quite berserk enough, we decided to raise the stakes. ‘Let’s write a biography that spans two books,’ was the suggestion. ‘Brilliant thinking!’ came the response.
So let it be written, indeed.
The first volume of
Birth School Metallica Death
– a project that at times was more deserving of the title ‘Breakfast Metallica Bed’ – would not exist without the invaluable help of a cast of characters, all of whom provided their services with an uncommon degree of patience, and free of charge. The authors’ sincere gratitude goes to Michael Alago, Geoff Barton, Chris Bubacz, Michael Burkert, Rachel Cohen DeSario, Paul Curtis, Malcolm Dome, K. J. Doughton, Adam Dubin, Jerry Ewing, Andy Galeon, John Gallagher, Doug Goodman, Bill Hale, Martin Hooker, Gem Howard, Lisa Johnson, John Kornarens, Bobbie Lane, Joel McIver, Bob Nalbandian, Doug Piercy, Ron Quintana, Xavier Russell, Patrick Scott, Brian Slagel, Steve
‘Zetro’ Souza, John Strednansky, Brian Tatler, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Joey Vera and Jen Walker.
The work undertaken by the indefatigable Scarlet Borg in sourcing and compiling the photographs that feature as part of this book’s landscape has been both diligent and expert. It is for these qualities and more that Scarlet has been a colleague and friend for more years than either party dares to remember.
The authors are also indebted to a body of men and women who made this book possible. Our agent Matthew Hamilton of Aitken Alexander Associates acted not only as a superb
representative
but also as a good friend. As a man who first saw Metallica in concert in 1984, Matthew is also not short on bragging rights. Sally Riley from the same office protected us from those who would tap their watches and mutter darkly at a time of most need. On the continent to our left, our US agent Matthew Elblonk of DeFiore & Company lobbied on our behalf with sufficient aplomb that had we had day jobs we would have been able to give them up.
The authors can count themselves fortunate that this book has been edited by two men who have not just provided sound counsel, but are also fans of Metallica. Ben Schafer at De Capo responded to the testing of his patience with a level of tolerance befitting a man who opens up his spare room to visiting punk musicians. A standing ovation goes to our British editor, Angus Cargill of Faber and Faber. A most supportive and thorough collaborator, Angus’s role in the gestation period of this book stands comparison with the work undertaken with Metallica by Bob Rock. Credit and thanks must also go to James Rose, Luke Bird, Anna Pallai and all at Faber for their invaluable input.
We would also like to thank our European editors, Henrik Karisson at Forma in Sweden and Kristiina Sarasti at Like in Finland. Our sincere gratitude is extended also to Paula Turner at Palindrome and Sarah Barlow, our proofreader. Their eagle-eyed
attention to detail and pin-sharp text editing spared our blushes in more than one instance.
On a personal note, Paul would like to offer heartfelt thanks (and in many cases, sincere apologies) to the Brannigan and Kato families, the fabulous Sammy Andrews, Nick Knowles, Chris McCormack and Jen Venus, Ben Mitchell, Matthew Tibbits, the staff of
Classic Rock
and
Metal Hammer
magazines, and most importantly, my wonderful, beautiful, hilarious family – Hiroko, Yuki and Tyler – who rock my world each and every day.
Ian would like to dedicate this book to my loving and supportive mother, Kathy, and to the memory of my late father, Eric, who would hopefully have regarded this collection as being ‘good stuff’. The author is also gravely in debt to the friendship of Dan Silver, Lawrie Edwards, Jonathan Winwood, Giles Ward, Sean Hogan, Wendy Ainslie, Alistair Lawrence, Paul Harries, Tom Bryant, Rod Yates, Tim Sledmere, George Garner, Dave Everley and Bettina, Fergus, Florence and Freddie McCall, all of whom were kind enough to offer words of support equal to anything available from the Samaritans. Special thanks go to Sylwia Krzak, whose patience in the face of a completion date that at times appeared unwilling to come down from the horizon remained unwavering.
The authors first interviewed Metallica half a lifetime ago. In the twenty-one years that have elapsed, we have found ourselves in the band’s company on scores of occasions. Theirs is an operation that runs with a militaristic might, but it is also one staffed by courteous and helpful people in the name of a quartet the members of which are never less than gracious. Thanks, then, go to James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo and Jason Newsted, as well as Kas Mercer at Mercenary Press and Sue Tropico and Peter Mensch at Q Prime Management. A tip of the hat also goes to Dave Mustaine,
whose candour and articulacy helped drag several of the book’s chapters out of bed.
There is a select number of bands whose music resonates with a clarity and emphasis sufficient to provide the soundtrack for an entire life. Metallica are one of those bands. This book, then, is also dedicated to any reader who has made the group a permanent fixture of each waking day.
All quotations are taken from the authors’ interviews, except as noted below.
‘If Radiohead does it …’ David Fricke, ‘Metallica: The Biggest Bang’,
Rolling Stone
, May 31, 2012
‘That alienated me …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘I am so glad …’ Mick Wall, ‘James Hetfield: My Life Story’,
Metal Hammer
, June 2009
‘Everybody has sung about …’ Metal Mike Saunders, ‘A Dorito and 7-Up Picnic with Black Sabbath’,
Circular
, September 1972
‘Sabbath was the band …’ Dom Lawson, ‘Forever Blackened’,
Metal Hammer
, May 2012
‘Music was a way …’ Terry Gross, ‘Fresh Air’, NPR, November 9, 2004
‘I liked being alone …’ Ben Mitchell, ‘James Hetfield: Iron Man’,
Guitar World
, November 2009
‘My ear was developed …’ Arthur Rotfeld,
The Art of James Hetfield
, Cherry Lane Music, 1999
‘It was like “Who’s this guy…’ Terry Gross, ‘Fresh Air’, NPR, November 9, 2004
‘We watched my mom …’ Ben Mitchell, ‘James Hetfield: Iron Man’,
Guitar World
, November 2009
‘We had no idea …’ Pounding Pat O’Connor, ‘Shockwaves’, www.hardradio.com, 1996
‘He is a sort of gargoyle …’ Mark Kram, ‘The Not-so-melancholy Dane’,
Sports Illustrated
, April 7, 1969
‘I grew up pretty quick …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2007
‘My dad had a room …’ Dave Grohl, ‘Musical Memories with Lars Ulrich’,
Sound City
film trailer, 2012
‘I probably travelled …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘The Conversation: Lars and Torben Ulrich’,
So What!
, volume 12, no. 2, 2005
‘There was a tennis …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2007
‘Once
Sounds
showed up …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2013
‘All through the Seventies … Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2007.
‘Where I grew up …’ Howard Stern, ‘The Howard Stern Show’, September 13, 2011
‘I’d been there …’ Jens Jam Rasmussen,
Forkaelet med Frihed: Lars Ulrich – og hans band Metallica
(
Spoiled by Freedom: Lars Ulrich – and his band Metallica
), Lindhardt & Ringhof, 2004
‘Nobody in America …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2013
‘I’d been in America …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2013
‘Because of my last name …’ Joe Berlinger with Greg Milner,
Metallica: This Monster Lives
, Robson Books, 2005
‘I’d heard the single …’ Neil Perry, ‘Yikes! It’s Metalli-Head!’,
Kerrang!
, July 24, 1993
‘Mötorhead were obviously …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2013
‘He was incredibly shy …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2007
‘I was a rock ’n’ roll rebel …’ Dave Mustaine,
Mustaine: A Life in Metal
, Harper, 2011
‘My first impression …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Ron McGovney: The So What! Interview’,
So What!
, volume 14, number 2, 2007
‘We were outside a club …’ K. J. Doughton,
Metallica Unbound: The Unofficial Biography
, Warner Books, 1993
‘In those days no-one …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘We had heard …’ Pounding Pat O’Connor, ‘Shockwaves’, www.hardradio.com, 1996
‘It was our first encounter …’ K. J. Doughton,
Metallica Unbound: The Unofficial Biography
, Warner Books, 1993
‘As soon as …’ Thomas Kupfer,
Rock Hard
, June 2009
‘That night, in a …’ Xavier Russell,
Classic Rock
, November 2006
‘We heard this wild solo …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘I used to say …’ Harald Oimoen, as quoted in
To Live Is To Die: The Life and Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton
by Joel McIver, Jaw Bone Press, 2009
‘Cliff didn’t take …’ Harald Oimoen, as quoted in
To Live Is To Die: The Life and Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton
by Joel McIver, Jaw Bone Press, 2009
‘We said, “Okay …”’ Harald Oimoen, as quoted in
To Live Is To Die: The Life and Death of Metallica’s Cliff Burton
by Joel McIver, Jaw Bone Press, 2009
‘That term alone …’ Dave Mustaine,
Mustaine: A Life in Metal
, Harper, 2011
‘Cliff was frustrated …’ Anon, ‘Cliff Burton’s Former Bandmate Sets Record Straight About “Lost’ Video”, Blabbermouth.com, February 9, 2004
‘It was then …’ Jens Jam Rasmussen,
Forkaelet med Frihed: Lars Ulrich - og hans band Metallica
(
Spoiled by Freedom: Lars Ulrich - and his band Metallica
), Lindhardt & Ringhof, 2004
‘After I heard them …’ Pounding Pat O’Connor, ‘Shockwaves’, www.hardradio.com, 1996
‘What bothered me …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Ron McGovney: The So What! Interview’,
So What!
, volume 14, number 2, 2007
‘The first thing that …’
Nine Hundred Nights
, Eagle Vision, 2004
‘If there was any …’ Dave Mustaine,
Mustaine: A Life in Metal
, Harper, 2011
‘We started being more comfortable …’ Mick Wall,
Enter Night
, Orion, 2010
‘We sent them $1500 …’ Joel McIver,
Justice for All: The Truth about Metallica
, Omnibus, 2009
‘On the big continental trip …’ Ron Quintana, ‘Rampage Radio’, KUSF, 1983
‘Fortunately no one was hurt …’ Dave Mustaine,
Mustaine: A Life in Metal
, Harper, 2011
‘By now …’ Dave Mustaine,
Mustaine: A Life in Metal
, Harper, 2011
‘It wasn’t really working …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Lars Ulrich interview, 2007
‘My dad was somewhat of an alcoholic …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Kirk Hammett interview, 2007
‘I’ll never forget my sixteenth birthday …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Kirk Hammett interview, 2007
‘I was abused …’ Rob Tannenbaum, ‘Playboy Interview: Metallica’,
Playboy
, April 2001
‘James and I have always …’ Ron Quintana, ‘Rampage Radio’, KUSF, 1983
‘He fucking sucks man …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Friends’,
So What!
, volume 13, number 3, 2006
‘Fuck, what the …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Friends’,
So What!
, volume 13, number 3, 2006
‘The ’bangers out here …’ Trace Rayfield, ‘Metallica: James Hetfield – Lars Ulrich Interview’,
Whiplash
, 1983 (via YouTube)
‘We just have to be patient …’ Trace Rayfield, ‘Metallica: James Hetfield – Lars Ulrich Interview’,
Whiplash
, 1983 (via YouTube)
‘Our so-called producer …’ Pushead, ‘Metallica’,
Thrasher
, August 1986
‘As a twenty-year-old kid …’ Jaan Uhelszki, ‘Metallica Week: Kirk Hammett Interview’, musicradar.com, September 11, 2008
‘From start to finish …’ Jaan Uhelszki, ‘Metallica Week: Kirk Hammett Interview’, musicradar.com, September 11, 2008
‘I’d been all over …’ Paul Travers, ‘Kill ’Em All’,
Kerrang!
, January 23, 2013
‘We just didn’t pay our bills …’ Paul Travers, ‘Kill ’Em All’,
Kerrang!
, January 23, 2013
‘Oh no, oh no …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Friends’,
So What!
, volume 13, number 3, 2006
‘We were very depressed …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘I’m sure I wasn’t …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘It was my favourite Marshall …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘It was only later …’ Mark Putterford and Xavier Russell,
Metallica: A Visual Documentary
, Omnibus Press, 1992
‘It was my first time …’ Mark Putterford and Xavier Russell,
Metallica: A Visual Documentary
, Omnibus Press, 1992
‘We decided that maybe …’ Bernard Doe, ‘Metallica–Lightning Raiders’,
Metal Forces
, issue 8 (1984)
‘We’re as happy …’ Bernard Doe, ‘Metallica – Lightning Raiders’,
Metal Forces
, issue 8 (1984)
‘When they played “Fade …” Brian Lew, comment on ‘Metallica: The First Four Albums – Fade to Black’, www. invisibleoranges.com, July 20, 2011
‘I instantly felt …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Tribal Elders’,
So What!
, volume 9, number 1, 2002
‘While only being twenty-one …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘Tribal Elders’,
So What!
, volume 9, number 1, 2002
‘Cliff Burnstein who signed …’ Bernard Doe, ‘Metallica – Lightning Raiders’,
Metal Forces
, issue 8 (1984)
‘The whole fucking place …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘The Road’,
So What!
, volume 16, number 4, 2009
‘My original idea …’ Ross Halfin,
The Ultimate Metallica
, Chronicle Books, 2010
‘We have rather overlooked …’ Malcolm Dome, ‘Lightning Strikes’,
Kerrang!
, June 14, 1984
‘[It was] like an invisible …’ Anon, ‘WASP Interview’, www. metaldreams.net, 2008
‘Girls would come on …’ Rob Tannenbaum, ‘Playboy Interview: Metallica’,
Playboy
, April 2001
‘They enjoyed what …’ Rob Tannenbaum, ‘Playboy Interview: Metallica’,
Playboy
, April 2001
‘I’m always saying …’ Brad Tolinski and Alan Paul, ‘Black Sabbath Meets Metallica: The Heaviest Interview Ever!’,
Guitar World
, August 1992
‘are some of my best …’ ‘MTV Icon: Metallica’, MTV, 2003
‘From a musician’s point …’ Dante Bonutto, ‘Creeping Sensations’,
Kerrang!
, December 13, 1984
‘One of the reasons …’ Sue Cummings, ‘Road Warriors’,
Spin
, August 1986
‘That’s when it kicked …’ Mat Snow, ‘Metallica: One Louder’,
Q
, September 1991
‘We pulled into Corpus …’ Mat Snow, ‘Metallica: One Louder’,
Q
, September 1991
‘On the news …’ Beth Nussbaum, ‘Speed Metal? Punk Metal? Thrash Metal? Don’t Call It Anything But Metallica’,
Metal Mania
, April 1987
‘We think Ozzy is great …’ Sue Cummings, ‘Road Warriors’,
Spin
, August 1986
‘We told the management …’ Pushead, ‘Metallica’,
Thrasher
, August 1986
‘’You break a leg …’ Pushead, ‘Metallica’,
Thrasher
, August 1986
‘The mass media didn’t …’ Jörgen Holmstedt, ‘No Day More’,
Classic Rock
, January 2005
‘Frankly, no one was …’ Jörgen Holmstedt, ‘No Day More’,
Classic Rock
, January 2005
‘He just sat there …’ Jörgen Holmstedt, ‘No Day More’,
Classic Rock
, January 2005
‘The first card that …’ ‘Metallica: Behind the Music’, VH1, 1998
‘I saw the bus …’ David Fricke, ‘Don’t Tread On Me: Metallica’s James Hetfield’,
Rolling Stone
, April 15, 1993
‘I recall, in my …’ ‘Metallica: Behind The Music’, VH1, 1998
‘My parents were very …’ K. J. Doughton,
Metallica Unbound: The Unofficial Biography
, Warner Books, 1993
‘We thought we …’ K. J. Doughton,
Metallica Unbound: The Unofficial Biography
, Warner Books, 1993
‘I may have lain …’ Rob Tannenbaum, ‘Playboy Interview: Metallica’,
Playboy
, April 2001
‘It was a little …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Jason Newsted interview, 2007
‘You must be …’ Simon Young, ‘Jason Newsted’,
Kerrang! Legends: Metallica
, 2003
‘It was certainly …’ Ben Mitchell, unpublished Jason Newsted interview, 2007
‘I remember we’d do …’ Erica Forstadt, ‘Metallica: The MTV Icons Interviews’, www.mtv.com, 2006
‘At the time …’ J. Bennett, ‘Now the World Is Gone: The Making of Metallica’s …
Justice for All’, Decibel Presents Thrash Metal Hall of Fame Special Issue
, 2011
‘a Japanese woman …’ Ross Halfin, ‘Diary of a Lensman’,
Kerrang!
, December 11, 1986
‘a pile of puke …’ Ross Halfin, ‘Diary of a Lensman’,
Kerrang!
, December 11, 1986
‘The term “garage” …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘The Biggest Garage
Band in the World’,
Kerrang!
, August 20, 1987
‘We never had …’ Steffan Chirazi, ‘The Biggest Garage Band in the World’,
Kerrang!
, August 20, 1987
‘To be honest …’ Howard Johnson, ‘Cliff ‘Banger’,
Kerrang!
, April 30, 1988
‘Well to be perfectly …’ Howard Johnson, ‘Cliff ‘Banger’,
Kerrang!
, April 30, 1988
‘I guess my best …’ J. Bennett, ‘Now the World Is Gone: The Making of Metallica’s …
Justice for All’, Decibel Presents Thrash Metal Hall of Fame Special Issue
, 2011
‘But it never really …’ J. Bennett, ‘Now the World Is Gone: The Making of Metallica’s …
Justice for All’, Decibel Presents Thrash Metal Hall of Fame Special Issue
, 2011
‘We were waiting …’ J. Bennett, ‘Now the World Is Gone: The Making of Metallica’s …
Justice for All’, Decibel Presents Thrash Metal Hall of Fame Special Issue,
2011
‘One time in LA …’ Ross Halfin,
The Ultimate Metallica
, Chronicle Books, 2010
‘For …
Justice
…, my …’ J. Bennett, ‘Now the World Is Gone: The Making of Metallica’s …
Justice for All’, Decibel Presents Thrash Metal Hall of Fame Special Issue
, 2011
‘It’s gotten so safe …’ Jon Pareles, ‘Heavy Metal, Weighty Words’,
The New York Times
, July 10, 1988