METALLICA

Formed in 1981 in the city of Los Angeles, California, is the most successful, and most popular heavy metal band ever. This band is called Tenacious D, Just kidding, forget the clowns from Tenacious D, the heavy metal Mammoth in question is the mighty Metallica. Like most bands, they too had a small start but it didn’t take them long to develop a cult following. Metallica may not have been the pioneers of Thrash metal, but like Nirvana, they made this sub-genre famous. They are still one of the genre's top bands, and that doesn't look like it'll be changing anytime soon.

Metallica, like all great rock bands have scooped a number awards in their long and illustrious history. Speaking of awards, as a fan of great music, i'm still baffled by the fact that Jethro Tull took home the Grammy for best hard rock/metal performance in 1989 ahead of the then favorites, Metallica. Of course it doesn't matter now because Metallica have won numerous awards, and have been inducted into the rock n roll hall of fame, so yeah i guess they did eventually have the last laugh.

If it’s something to do with heavy metal, Metallica have done it, I mean it's practically impossible to have a discussion about great heavy metal bands without mentioning the name Metallica. Metallica have achieved more than any heavy metal band that has come before or after them. They've even  played where no heavy metal band had ever been before. I don’t mean Space, I mean Glastonbury. Though playing a gig in space would be quite the achievement.

Many consider Metallica to be the greatest heavy metal band of ever, and I believe they're not entirely wrong. I'm actually a die hard Iron Maiden fan, but It's quite clear that the numbers definitely skew in Metallica's favor. Just take a look at their album sales, and fan base, you'll be amazed at how popular they are.

Like The Redhot chilli Peppers' bassist, Flea, put it, “whatever the intangible items are that make a band the best, Metallica has them.” I definitely agree with him here, i mean just look at the wealth of talent Metallica have had since the band was created.

Past Band Members

Ron McGovney (Bassist)

Ron was the first and original bassist for Metallica, he together with James, Lars and Dave Mustaine formed the first Metallica line up. He quit the band due to constant clashes with Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine.

Dave Mustaine (Guitarist)

Rhythm Guitarist: Dave mustaine

 Dave Mustaine is an incredible guitarist, who at one time was also part of Metallica. He was then fired from the band because of his excessive alcohol and drug use along with his inability to get along with the other band members. This didn’t get in the way of him making the best of his talent, he then formed another thrash metal band of his own. Mustaine's band, Megadeth went on to be part of thrash metal’s best bands. Even though Dave wasn’t inducted into the rock n roll hall of fame along with the other Metallica members, his contribution to Metallica’s first album, ‘kill em all,” helped the band get that first and essential foothold on their way to becoming the most famous heavy metal band around.

 Cliff Burton (Bassist)

He may have contributed to only four Metallica albums, but its hard to name a heavy metal bassist that can outplay the Late Cliff Burton. Yes a few names do come to mind, names like Steve Harris and Geezer butler, but in the five years that cliff played for Metallica, he showed the whole world what he could do with a bass in his hands.

 With great bass lines like, the opening on for whom the bell tolls, and  the instrumental Anesthesia Pulling teeth, Cliff Burton cemented himself in the hearts of the Metallica faithful as the band’s greatest bassist. Which does say a lot considering the band now has another skilled bassist in the form of Robert Trujillo. Cliff may have lost his life in a horrible bus accident, but his timeless bass lines still echo on in our hearts, may he Rest In Peace.

Jason Newsted (Bassist)

Jason Newsted may have left the band under the most peculiar circumstances, but his contribution is not forgotten. It is a well known fact that it was during the Jason Newsted era that Metallica got the most mainstream success, in short, he helped turn Metallica into a mainstream heavy metal band.  He might not have really been the standout fan favorite, but his contribution to the many albums he played on helped the band reach the heights that it did.

Present band members.

RobertTrujillo (Bassist)

After Jason Newsted left the band, Metallica hired former Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne bassist, Robert Trujillo. Rob isn’t your average heavy metal bassist, which is why it didn't take him long to cement himself as an essential member of the band.

 Rob may not have been the first or second bassist to grace the stage with Metallica, but when he gets up on stage and starts doing his thing, he totally kills it. Lets not forget his crab walk, which makes him looks like he is life threateningly constipated.

Kirk Hammett (Lead guitarist)

When Metallica fired Dave Mustaine, they hired Kirk hammett, who turned to be quite a revelation. kirk assumed the role of playing lead and made it his own. His guitar playing brings emotion to Metallica’s raw thrash metal sound and With incredible solos on songs like “the unforgiven”, “Fade to black” and of course “One,” kirk Hammett established himself as one of the greatest guitarists ever. If at all you dispute his claim to being one of the greatest guitarist ever, just listen to his absolute ripper of a solo on “one.”

But of course Kirk hammett doesn’t only do lead guitar bits and epic solos, he also has a few incredible riff, Take for example the insanely monstrous riffs on, creeping death and,  enter sandman.

kirk Hammet may occasionally play a sloppy gig here and there like all human musicians, but that doesn't take anything away from him being a great guitarist.His guitar skills were acknowledged by the great Rolling stones magazine, that once had him on their list of greatest guitarists.



James Hetfield (Rhythm Guitarist and Vocalist)

James Hetfield, the infamous leader of Metallica, the man who fronts the band and plays rhythm at the same time. Not many heavy metal guitarist can boast having the collection of incredible riffs that James has, the only other probable heavy metal rhythm guitarists who could match his riffing skills are black Sabbath’s iconic Ironman, Tony Iommi, and former Metallica member, Dave Mustaine.

The fact that James is able to play such elaborate riffs and produce such ferocious vocals simultaneously is quite a feat, and to be able to do all of that so calmly without missing a note is also quite admirable.
The animosity in James Hetfield's vocals makes him one of heavy metal's finest vocalists. His vocals may not soar like Dio's or be as unsettling as Ozzy's, but they sure are the stuff of legend.

Lars Ulrich (Drummer)

 Lars Ulrich is one of the co-founders of the great heavy metal band that is Metallica, he  may not always get the credit he deserves, but he is quite the drummer, he may not be one of the finest rock drummers ever but when it comes to heavy metal drumming, he is one of the best around. If  I were to have a list of top 10 heavy metal drummers, he would probably make the list, but the key word here is “probably,” which implies that he is not really top 5 material, but that's just my take on his drumming skills.

Lars may be diminutive or what some would call a miniature man, but for what he lacks in size, he makes up for with his ego. He is the most pretentious and controversial Metallica member, I mean many may not have heard this, but he once claimed that late bassist, Cliff Burton “Might not be good enough to now be in Metallica as it now,” which by any measure is profoundly disrespectful.

Top 10 Metallica songs

10. The unforgiven III

Released off metallica's 2008 album, Death Magnetic, is the song The Unforgiven iii. Many Metallica fans may not rate this song as being one of the bands finest, but in my book, the Unforgiven is a phenomenal piece that has great lyrics. Of course it also has a fine guitar solo.

9. Nothing else matters

One of the most popular and  commercially successful Metallica songs ever. Nothing else matters contains elements of balladry that are not really the core of Metallica's sound, but whether you are a noob or a die hard Metallica fan, you most definitely like this song.

8. The four horsemen

Metallica have knack for writing songs about Biblical events, and with this one they bring forth the tale of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, who come to bring destruction to man kind. The original version of this song was written by Dave Mustaine, but the polished up  version by Metallica is the real masterpiece. The riff by itself is quite something.

 7. For whom the bell tolls
 
For whom the bell toll was released as a single on Metallica's Second album, Ride the lightning. The song's lyrics were inspired by Earnest Hemmingway's book that has the same name.

 For who the bells has a very deceptive bass intro that one could mistake for a guitar intro. The song opens with an incredible wah wah distorted bass riff from late bass Virtuoso, Cliff Burton. Of course only Cliff Burton could shred like that, and on this song much like he did on Anesthesia(pulling teeth), his bass skills shone and actually overshadowed other band members.

6. Fade to black

Fade to black has one of kirk Hammet's most famous pieces of guitar work, and by that i mean the awesome guitar solo. The guitar solo on this song is probably among his finest solo's ever, but that's just my opinion, for all i know some may not even consider it to be a great guitar solo.

 5.  Creeping death

The riff on this song by Kirk Hammet's is probably on of his best. its a really great song this one. Creeping death is another Metallica song about a biblical event. This one is about the angel of death in the story of Moses, that came in the night and butchered the first born sons of Egypt. It really is quite the song.
 

4. Seek and destroy

Seek and destroy is a thrash metal master piece from Metallica's debut album written by Lars and James Hetfield. The songs opens with a great James Hetfield riff and instantly put fans in a heavy metal trance that leaves them singing along to the chorus like, " searching, seek n destroy."  its impossible to not want to sing along to the chorus of this song. The songs rage filled lyrics depict anger and murderous intent from the get go, sorta of like a serial killer hunting down his victims one by one.
 

3. Enter sandman

Of course the sandman isn't meant to be scary or anything, but that's if its anyone else but Metallica telling the story. With enter sand man, Metallica turned children's nightmares and scary phantasms into reality, and with the insane guitar skills of Kirk Hammet doing the riffing, it couldn't get any darker.

2. One

Kirk Hammet and James Hetfield at their best, i mean the riff by James Hetfield is incredible, and then the guitar solo on this song is also great. But that's not all, this song has some great lyrics. Its a dark tale that depicts the struggles of a casualty of war, one that has lost their sight, hearing, arms and legs.The song is like an SOS message from someone begging to be put out of their misery.

1. Master of puppets

The greatest Metallica song of all time, boasting a monstrous riff and guitar solo. This song defines Metallica's sound in every note played, every word sung and every drum beat. It is also one of thee very best heavy metal songs ever recorded, if not the best ever. Everything about this song screams METALLICA! METALLICA! METALLICA!.

Starman: David Bowie

Who would’ve thought that in 2016, we’d lose one of the most iconic musician of the 20^th century, certainly no one in their right mind i should hope. Early this year the world lost an icon, an innovator and a great man, a man whose music did more than just entertain, it shaped minds and brought down cultural barriers. The world didn’t just lose another musician, it lost one of the finest ever.

David Bowie’s contribution to music is unparalleled; no other musician has influenced music and pop culture as much as this man did. Most people say Elvis, The Beatles, Led zeppelin, Michael Jackson, and Kurt Cobane, redefined music with their work, but the reality is David Bowie’s contribution to Music also played a pivotal part, to some it played an even bigger role than that of all the a fore mentioned artists. He didn’t just invent Glam rock; he also helped plant the seed for countless genres like Punk rock, Disco plus countless others.  His singing, stage presence and audacious attire baffled crowds and critics alike. If you could sum up his onstage persona in one word, it would be, "daring," because he dared to do what many had feared to do, which was to simply be himself in more ways than one.


 David Bowie was not your ordinary musician he had a knack for attracting controversy, with his dressing as well as the countless other things he did. Bowie wasn’t just a singer, he was a performer, a rebel, and oh lets not forget, he was Ziggy Stardust. During the early years of his career, many called him pretentious, but that’s what all great artists are called when the people fail to understand the beauty of their art. Lets not forget that it was these simple minded and conservative people that had earlier labelled greats like The king of Rock n Roll( Elvis Presley), and The rolling stones a bad influences on the young minds, and look what that did to dent their progress, close to nothing. Both acts went on to top charts, gain world wide fame, and eventually earn the respect of those that once persecuted them. This was simply because no matter how hard you try, you can never shackle the power and influence of great music.

For many, The Day The music Died, was the day Buddy Holly died, but for me it is the day David Bowie lost his life to cancer. I am not in anyway trying to be disrespectful or playing down Buddy Holly's contribution to music, in fact i believe he was an inspirational musician and innovator in more ways that one. But in my opinion, the death of Bowie is the day the music finally died, because it comes as a rude wake up call that reminds us to cherish the aging musicians we still have before they eventually leave us to go to a place where the music never stops. Please take a moment to remember another great Musician we lost at the end of last year, one Ian "Lemmy " Kilmister, a heavy metal pioneer in every sense of the word, may he RIP.


David  Bowie much like Freddie mercury was one for the theatrics, simply put, the man liked to put on a show. His somewhat outrageous attire made him standout in whatever he did, you could say, the attire gave his singing an edge. His attire didn't take anything away from his singing, because fact is, David bowie could sing, he really could sing.  If one was to make a list of the greatest singers to ever step into a recording studio, it would be criminal to leave out this Starman.

Words cannot begin to tell the whole tale of the great work Bowie did during the course of his life, so in the immortal words of the man himself, “Stars are never sleeping, dead ones and the living…........we will never get rid of these stars, I hope they live forever,”  RIP David Bowie......may you live forever in our hearts.

Alice In Chains

When it comes to grunge, some band names mean more than others. One such name is Alice in chains, a great band that embodied all that was great about grunge and as such is one of the most successful Grunge bands that has ever graced the music circuit. The band was founded by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and original Vocalist, Layne Staley. The band’s first full line comprised of drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr.

The band made some of the most mindblowing  grunge songs and albums of the early 90s, songs like Man in the box , would? , plus albums like Dirt, their self-titled album, Alice in chains, and  Jar of flies, that are very hard to forget. Alice in chains may not have been the pioneers of Grunge, but they along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, led the Seattle grunge movement that made grunge the household music genre it was in the early 90s. Of course they may not always be spoken of in the same breaths as Nirvana, mostly because they weren't as popular. Alice in chains are still the only genuine contender when it comes to competing with Nirvana for the title of Grunge's greatest band. If you doubt this, just give their all encompassing Grunge anthem, "The Man in the box" a listen.

Alice in chains as a band had a distinct sound, their brand of grunge included elements of heavy metal, and of course there was the Layne Staley factor. Staley's Singing style was unique and that in itself made the band unique. Staley's vocals had a knack of enthralling your hearing giving you the illusion of pain and struggle laced with a hint of fear. Staley's singing could project power with a touch of tenderness and vulnerability. He is widely considered to be the greatest grunge vocalist ever, which says a lot considering the fact that grunge has had quite a number incredible vocalists like Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Soundgarden's Chris Cornell and the iconic Kurt Cobain. Like The smashing pumkins' vocalist, Billy Corgan, put it, "Layne had an amazing voice that had such a beautiful, sad, and haunting quality about it." In short he sounded like no one else."
His singing plus the backing vocals of Jerry cantrell, were a vocal match made in grunge heaven, the two had such great singing chemistry, that you could say they'd achieved musical nirvana with their singing 

Staley wasn't just a good vocalist, he was very good, very very good. If it wasn't for substance abuse, he'd have gone on to be one of the greatest vocalist's rock music has ever had.

L-R: Sean Kinney, Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley, Mike Inez

  Staley’s substance abuse not only led to the band’s long inactivity in the late 90s, but also his eventual death in 2002. There's the little known fact that, before his death, Staley had planned to audition for Tom Morello's band, Audioslave. Of course the band eventually hired Chris Cornell, who by the way, did an incredible job. Hitherto, the thought of Audioslave being fronted by Layne Staley sends chills down my spine and gives me perpetual thoughts of what could’ve been but never was.

Alice in chains like all great bands soldiered on despite the death of their inspirational frontman. The band's current frontman, William DuVall is doing some great work with Alice in chains.
With a great song like Hollow, and a decent album like Black gives way to blue under his belt, things are looking up for him and for the band.

Here's a  list of 10 essential Alice in chains songs that every grunge fan ought to know

·         Would?

·         Man in the box

·         Rooster

·         Bleed the freak

·         Nutshell

·         Angry chair

·         Them bones

·         Check my brain

·         No excuses

·         Rain when I die

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You can share your favorite Alice in chains albums and songs in the comments area.