Its not enough to say that you don’t like band. If you say, “I think this band sucks” you have to be willing to disclose the reasons behind why you believe this. By saying that you don’t like a band, you are expressing an opinion and opinions are personal beliefs. The old saying is, “Opinions are like assholes: everybody’s got one.” If you have an opinion and you can validate your opinion, it doesn’t necessarily make you right but it makes you sound a lot less like a jackass for saying you don’t like something. The same thing applies if someone calls you out for being wrong for having your opinion. If all they can say is, “You’re wrong and you suck” or come back with some asinine comment like, “Go listen to UFO or something” just shows that they can’t or haven’t validated their reasoning for thinking you’re wrong. I love a good debate regarding music and do it almost daily with my buddy Jammin’ Jaymz. Its totally cool to have opposing views but be ready and willing to back it up in a debate.
I first heard Metallica back in 1985 while in Warehouse Records and Tapes in New Orleans, LA. I was a 12 year old metal head looking for something different. This record store was so cool because most of who worked there were these long haired rock band dudes. I remember walking in and asking the guy about a Venom record I picked up. I knew my parents wouldn’t let me have it because of the pentagram on the cover. I asked what they sounded like and he said, “Check these guys out. They’re like the American version of that kind of music but way better.” He put on “Ride The Lightening” and I was sold. It was so different from anything I had been listening to and I was floored. I went back a week or so later and picked up their debut “Kill ‘Em All” and again I couldn’t believe these guys. They played so fast and good. Their singer sounded bad ass and the coolest part was that they all looked like my friend’s older brother. Just regular looking suburb kids with long hair and bad skin.
Listening to Metallica opened doors for me to listen to other bands like Testament, Exodus, Slayer and eventually even bands like Venom, Diamondhead and Angel Witch. Metallica was proving to be a force to be reckoned with when in 1986 they released an album called “Master of Puppets.” At this point I was a teenager and actually starting to pay attention to lyrical content and I was so impressed with how smart they were lyrically yet musically aggressive. At this point Metallica was starting to become a popular name and even kids that didn’t really like metal at school were starting to hear about Metallica. They seemed destined to take over the world and I couldn’t have been more pumped for them. All cylinders were firing and there was nowhere to go but up. That is until the fateful night of September 27, 1986 when bassist Cliff Burton was killed.
The loss of Cliff really hit the band and the fans really hard. Cliff had a presence much like Steve 
Harris of Iron Maiden. He was more than just a bassist. He possessed all the qualities and showmanship of a true leader and seemed to be the character everyone could connect with. That and he was just an absolute monster to watch on the bass. He played that damn thing like a guitar and had a style that many years later would be seldom imitated and never recreated. Even Metallica as a band was hit so hard they were at a loss as to where to go from there. The band decided to carry on and audition other bassists. This is where there the true beginning of the end started.
When the band announced they had hired Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted, it seemed the band was recharged. They hit the road to finish up the Damage Inc. tour and shortly after released the “Garage Days Re-Visited” EP which had them playing some covers by Diamondhead, Budgie and The Misfits and was also the first recording with Jason Newstead. I thought this album was pretty cool and while I remember feeling totally underwhelmed, I was still a fan. Then “…and justice for all” was released. My first impression was that it sounded really cheaply made. Even though it sounded crappy, the songs were still good and they even released their first music video for “One.” It seemed all of the sudden Metallica was a big band. They were on the radio, on MTV and even kids at my school who didn’t like metal had Metallica shirts. What was happening?
I was still a dedicated fan and then Metallica released the “Black” album. I was in 10th grade when this one was released and this was when I feel that the metamorphosis began from cult status to commercially successful band. The album was so polished sounding and it had some really great moments but then I heard “Nothing Else Matters.” What was happening to the band that seemed to be breaking the mold? Instead of breaking the mold they were starting to fit themselves into a mold that was already there and no more did they sound like a unique band that was doing things their own way. They were starting down a road often traveled and I suddenly began to lose interest.
What happened to Metallica? Some believe that the death of Cliff Burton took a lot of wind out of their sails and they just lost all focus and direction. I actually believe that they tasted success and liked the bittersweet taste of it. Integrity was replaced with compromise and they suddenly became a commodity and a brand. Metallica became the very thing that they were against in the very beginning. The band then went on to put out albums like “Load”, “Re-Load”, “St. Anger” and “Death Magnetic” all of which I grazed only to hear a band that was not even a shadow of their former selves. Metallica has completely lost that fire and that connection to the music. The integrity is gone. Metallica sells millions of records and sells out stadiums all the while not even playing near the capacity that they once played. I’ve heard people make excuses for them by saying, “It’s not 1986 anymore dude. Of course they can’t play like that any more.” Well, Anthrax, Testament, Slayer, Exodus, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and countless others seem to have no problem playing as good if not better than they ever did. Face it. Metallica got lazy and realized that they could work 1/3 as hard and still get fat and rich. Lars Ulrich even said in an interview once that he didn’t have to practice his drums because he’s in Metallica. That says it all.
So here we are in 2011 and Metallica is doing these Big 4 shows with Slayer, Megadeth and 
Anthrax. The ticket prices are absolutely laughable at a range of $90.00 – $225.00. This is such a joke to me and it blows my mind the people that are falling for this. Don’t get me wrong I love Anthrax and Megadeth and I kinda dig Slayer but let’s face it. It’s the ego of Metallica getting to have their name over these other three bands that you are really paying for. It’s like paying 15 bucks to see Anthrax, 15 bucks to see Megadeth, 20 bucks to see Slayer and 175 bucks to see Metalica. Anyways, people will argue that it’s worth it because you’re paying to see history being made. Well, I bought the DVD of the Bulgaria show and while I felt like it was a great show, I didn’t at one point think, “Wow, I’d pay $90.00 to see this!” I had just seen the Megadeth/Testament/Exodus tour and was blown away and then saw the American Carnage tour with Anthrax/Megadeth/Slayer. I felt that this was also a great show and both shows were under $40.00 to see them. Why would I want to pay that extra huge chunk to see a band slop through their set and act like they still have chops?
So what happened to Metallica? This is as question that will never truly be answered. If you ask Metallica, nothing has happened to them. They will say that they are awesome and that they play as good as they ever did. Ask Metallica fans and they will say everything from “they suck” to “they fucking rule.” Its in how you perceive the progress or lack there of in the music. Its in how you take in the live shows and to how much nostalgic value they have for you. For the younger generation of Metallica fans who only know the band as they are now they are far better and stronger than most but for the fans like me who remember when they were an unstoppable force, they are just a train that has lost steam and parked it at the depot forever. At the end of the day, whether Metallica is a good band, a great band or a sucky band is all in the eye of the beholder.
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