Metallica is a legendary heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar) & Lars Ulrich (drums), Jason Newsted (bass; 1986 to 2001) & later joined by Kirk Hammett (lead guitar; joined in 1983, replacing Dave Mustaine) & Robert Trujillo (bass guitar; joined in 2003). The band is widely regarded as one of the most influential & successful metal bands in history, & a founding member of the "Big Four" of thrash metal alongside Slayer, Megadeth, & Anthrax. They have sold over 125 million albums worldwide with Metallica (1991, aka The Black Album) being their most commercially successful album, featuring “Enter Sandman”. Metallica has received 9 Grammy Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, 7 Kerrang! Awards & more. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
