FEATURE: 25 Metallica Fun Facts & Trivia Ahead Of Their 2025 Aussie Tour

Tiana Speter
May 11
26 min read

Updated: May 14

When interviewing bands or chatting with mates of a certain vintage, it's extremely difficult for Metallica to not routinely pop up as an undisputed commonality for either getting people into heavier music, or cementing their love of the genre. Then there's the whole "helped pioneer thrash" and changing the landscape of music forever, both commercially and creatively - but that's a whole other article and/or entire book series.

Whether you loved them from the beginning, have come and gone over the years or found them later in life, there's no denying the impact Metallica have had on music in general for over four decades, not just for their part in shaping thrash metal, but for also showcasing the capability of commercial appeal for heavy music, revealing the realities of life in a band at their level, railing against the theft of music via peer-to-peer file sharing at the turn of the century, continuously involving themselves in charity work, and still actively releasing and performing new music since forming back in the early 80s.

One of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer, Metallica's contribution balancing technicality with chaos alongside a storied and, at times, turbulent career has seen them not only achieve one of the longest-running careers in the game, but also retain an air of refusing to rest on their laurels - so much so that frontman James Hetfield said in 2024 on The Metallica Report podcast that they actively rail against ever becoming a legacy band.

In honour of Metallica set to return down under in 2025 as part of their record-breaking M72 World Tour that has recently commenced overseas (with their infamous Snake Pit now extending from the front of the stage for the run), here's a round up of 25 fun and/or somewhat lesser-known facts about the one-and-only Metallica to either revisit - or maybe even learn for the first time. And please note: there are obviously a million and one stories behind Metallica and this article in no way is claiming to be a definitive list. Instead, I've focused on ones that sparked my interest in the research process and are definitively (or at least largely) proven to be true either by the band or the people who were there🤘

METAL BLADE'S NAME MASSACRE

Look, we've all made a typo or fifty in our lifetimes. But back in 1982 when Metal Blade first released its compilation album, Metal Massacre, few knew the future that the 10th and final featured artist on the first pressing would go on to have. And few would also soon forget the snafu of having Metallica ever-so-mildly incorrectly listed as Mettallica.

Far worse things can happen to a band, but it's wild to think that this unknown and unsigned group rounding out the compilation would release their first ever song, Hit the Lights, with their name misspelled. And FYI, the typo was rectified on the second pressing of Metal Massacre. And it was Lars Ulrich's friendship with Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel (a friendship sparked from bonding over a Saxon shirt) that ultimately got them over the line to even be featured on Metal Massacre back in the day.

1982: First Metallica song released? Tick. As for their first live show? Keep on reading...

A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD IN ANTARCTICA

What's more metal than performing at the most regional continent in the world? Back in 2013, Metallica took thrash to Antarctica for their Freeze 'Em All one-off show. A show that started life as an online rumour, this landmark event not only secured the quartet bragging rights as the first major act to perform in Antarctica - it also saw them thrash their way into the history books, becoming the first (and currently only) act to tick off all seven continents in one calendar year (and scoring a place in the Guinness World Records 2015 book in the process).

The performance took place in 2013 when they entertained scientists and competition winners under a dome at Antarctica's Carlini Base. And while the official attendance count included 120 scientists and some competition winners via a Coca-Cola Zero sweepstakes, the band also confirmed that some curious penguins also took in the spectacle with a setlist that included For Whom the Bell Tolls, Sad but True, Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman and more. Noticeably, Trapped Under Ice from 1984's Ride the Lightning didn't make the cut, but given the subject matter, it was probably a good call.

Bonus fact was that the band did take any potential noise pollution into consideration, with the group essentially staging a silent disco for attendees in place of amping things up and scaring the hell out of the local wildlife. And the band also brought along Adam Dubin, director of iconic Beastie Boys clips like No Sleep till Brooklyn and Fight For Your Right, and the man also behind Metallica's doco A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, with Dubin capturing proceedings across the trip, leading to the release of the Freeze 'Em All doco.

(credit: Metallica)

LARS ULRICH TENNIS

Back before Lars Ulrich was serving up thrash beats to skin your next door neighbour's wallpaper he was actually bound for an entirely different career: a professional tennis player. His dad, Torben, uncle, Jørgen, and grandfather, Einer, were all tennis pros, with Torben hitting the international tennis circuit for decades well into his 40s, and Einer representing Denmark at the Olympics as well as the Davis Cup (and fellow Davis Cup player Marc Wallenberg proving instrumental in reuniting Einer with his family during the 1940s following the Nazi occupation in Denmark).

Many would know Lars Ulrich's musical origin story surround Deep Purple, which includes being gifted Sabbath Bloody Sabbath for Christmas in 1973 and declaring them as being "the primary musical backbone in my body ever since I first heard them when I was 9 years old".

But in a parallel universe, we may have been more familiar with Ulrich wielding a racket instead of drumsticks, initially beginning to follow in his patriarchal footsteps in the late 70s and early 80s. While his early tennis days showed some promise, ranking in the top 10 in Denmark, Ulrich soon found himself falling behind when he relocated to Newport Beach and didn't make it onto his high school's tennis team. With the lure of rock'n'roll ever-growing on the horizon and proving a refuge from pushing to follow in his family's sporting footsteps, Ulrich soon turned his gaze solely onto the pursuit of music - and would also go on to induct Black Sabbath into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 in a pretty amazing full-circle moment.

L-R: Torbin Ulrich & young Lars // Young Lars & Torben Ulrich (credit: Lars Ulrich)

'CARL': THE AXE BUILT FROM A SEMINAL 1980S GARAGE SPACE

If you look up 3132 Carlson Boulevard in California (avoiding the news and image results in the process), you'll likely be a touch underwhelmed by the exterior result. An industrial looking building on an industrial street in California certainly doesn't set the senses tingling at a first glance; but this very location on Carlson Boulevard is actually hallowed ground for both Metallica and their fans, with the humble garage site that used to exist at that exact address actually marking the space where Metallica's illustrious future was sparked. Yep, this was the first rehearsal space where the group bunkered down after ditching Los Angeles for the San Fran bay area, and it was also in that very garage where Metallica penned one of their early EPs. Oh, and also Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning.

The site of perhaps the most formative years in Metallica's outrageously storied career, notably 1983 through to 1986, a very physical element from 3132 Carlson Boulevard also carried through the band's career in physical form. Before the iconic garage was demolished, Metallica had previously brewed plans to relocate the entire garage to their updated rehearsal space. Sadly, the band didn't act with enough time and the Carlson Blvd dream seem to have died with the demolish; or at least, it would have if Andy Anderson of Attitude Adjustment hadn't saved several pieces of wood from the garage and gifted them to Hetfield.

Hetfield then passed on the pieces to luthier Ken Lawrence, which led to the creation of The Garage Days Guitar - or more affectionately, "Carl", named for Carlson Boulevard. Since then, the Carlson garage legacy has played an ongoing role in the Metallica story; a true living piece of history paying homage to a giant pillar of the band's sonic journey, both physically and figuratively.

L-R: El Camino garage wood (credit: Ken Lawrence) // 'Carl' (credit: Ken Lawrence) // 'Carl' onstage (credit: Metallica)

SKATEBOARDING & SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Back in 1987, Metallica were fresh off release of Master of Puppets the previous year. But 1986 was packed full of highs and lows for the band, spanning a US run supporting Ozzy Osbourne to, tragically, the loss of their brother Cliff Burton when the band's bus driver lost control of the vehicle and skidded off the road in Sweden.

During Metallica's 1986 Ozzy Osbourne tour, marking some of their biggest shows to date, James Hetfield broke his wrist skateboarding for the first time, attempting to pull off a downhill run. Having to cancel their performance in Evansville as a result, Metallica regrouped with Hetfield still handling vocal duties, while crew member John Marshall stepped in on rhythm guitar.

Fast-forward to 1987 following the difficult period after Burton's death and Metallica had lined up a performance on Saturday Night Live, with plans to mow down a new album not long after...until Hetfield broke his wrist skateboarding for a second time. SNL was off the table, and new material plans went out the window with Hetfield unable to play guitar for weeks. Instead, The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisted was unveiled, poignantly marking their first release after Burton's untimely passing.

Legend has it that Hetfield's management company Q Prime added a clause into his contract banning him from skateboarding while on the road. But Hetfield did end up appearing as a downloadable skater in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD alongside band mate Robert Trujillo, allowing fans to perhaps perfect a downhill run sans injury, and Metallica did eventually appear on Saturday Night Live in 1997.

L-R: James Hetfield skateboarding (credit: Gnar Vault) // Hetfield's broken arm (credit: Gnar Vault)

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WALK ON

Back in 1966, a young actor known as Clint Eastwood was spurred into international superstardom via the spaghetti Western flick The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Directed by Sergio Leone, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly boasted a full two and a half minute stare down showdown in a cemetery, with its distinct cinematography and editing also going on to impact film-making for decades to come. And an equal star in this sweeping film is its accompanying score, composed by iconic maestro, and frequent Leone collaborator, Ennio Morricone. And it is Morricone who would become unexpectedly entwined with Metallica later in life.

In the mid-80s, Metallica began using The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as their intro walk out music, replacing the sound of a heartbeat increasing that had previously been used by the band. Hetfield explained the switch, noting that Jon Zazula, the band's manager at the time, came up with using The Ecstasy of Gold, and the Metallica walk out took on a whole new anticipatory vibe

And in 2007, Metallica also payed homage to both the track and Morricone, unleashing an instrumental cover of The Ecstasy of Gold that appeared on the tribute album We All Love Ennio Morricone after the legendary composer's passing. Metallica's cover snagged the band a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, but lost to Bruce Springsteen's own Morricone cover of Once Upon A Time In The West from the same tribute album.

L-R: Metallica performing in 2023 (credit: mothergrid) // The Good, the Bad and the Ugly poster

HAIR CARE

Metallica obviously are not a hair metal band if we're strictly talking genre confines here. However, the band did sport the luxurious long locks that this very writer still aspires to earlier on in their careers while also pioneering the thrash stratosphere.

In 1992, the band's then-bassist Jason Newsted was the first to buck the long hair trope, with multiple theories swirling around the change at the time, ranging from some declaring he had been electrocuted through to the fact he had to trim his locks for a court appearance - and eventually the band's press pics for Until It Sleeps prior to the release of 1996's Load unveiled an entirely new image for Metallica: short hair, and a whole lotta backlash.

In an interview, Newsted commented on the fact that cutting his hair assisted with the increasingly difficult border crossings, saying "I'd just cruise right through customs!". And around the same time that he cut his hair, Newsted started dating supermodels too, a fact which he uttered in the same chat about breezing through customs. Side effect or coincidence? You be the judge:

L-R: Metallica with long hair (credit: Fin Costello) // Metallica 'Load' press image

SKULL RINGS

For eagle-eye fans, and/or jewellery aficionados, you likely would have spied both James Hetfield and Cliff Burton sporting chunky skull rings.

Designed by Crazy Pig Designs owner Armand Serra, these iconic rings wielded by Hetfield and Burton stemmed back to a chance meeting between Serra and Burton in a shop opposite the heavy metal label Music For Nations. Becoming enamoured by Serra's skull rings, Burton allegedly purchased some of the pieces that Serra himself was wearing, and introduced the rest of the band to Crazy Pig Designs.

Making the Evil Skull Ring design famous, Hetfield and Burton were also seen sporting some of Serra's other ring and pendant designs over the years, with Burton's father Ray recreating an iconic photo of his late son many years later, sporting the Plague Skull and Evil Skull rings in a poignant tribute to his fallen son.

And adding to the ring legacy, in 1992 James Hetfield had a brush with death while co-headlining with Guns N' Roses, stepping into some of the stage's significant pyro during Fade To Black. In a case of absolutely being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and unseen by the band's pyro guy, Hetfield caught on fire and was completely surrounded by flames, sustaining burns while partially shielded by his double-necked guitar. Cutting the set short and rushed to hospital, Hetfield not only had to have his clothes cut off, but the ring on his left hand was sawn off too.

Want your own? The iconic skull rings are still available to buy via Crazy Pig Designs here.

L-R: James Hetfield's skull rings (credit: The Great Frog) // Cliff Burton's skull rings

KIRK HAMMETT AND LES CLAYPOOL

Back in 1989, California rockers Primus released their debut single John the Fisherman; a kooky yet charismatic earworm helmed by frontman and bassist extraordinaire Les Claypool.

But it's the accompanying music video for John the Fisherman that links us to Metallica here, with the music video not only featuring Primus rockin' out on a boat, but also a cameo by none other than Kirk Hammett.

Not a random team-up by any means, Claypool and Hammett actually went to high school together, with the pair bonding over music and Claypool revealing later on that Hammett was a driving force in encouraging him to sing for the high school band.

While Hammett went on to join Metallica in 1983, Claypool himself unsuccessfully tried out for the band three years later after the devastating passing of Burton. And, according to an interview with Revolver in 2022, Claypool credits that very audition with helping shape his future edgy creative mindset.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Another "parallel universe" bit of trivia here: imagine if Master of Puppets was released by a band called Red Vette or Blitzer? Or perhaps if Ride the Lightning was released by Thunderfuck? Actually, seeing that last one written down, it's definitely not a stretch.

But yes, these are some of the names that Metallica were circling around before they settled on Metallica, permanently "borrowing" a name from a friend of Ulrich's called Ron who was in motion starting a hard rock fanzine. Revealing in an interview with NPR in 2017 just exactly how it all unfolded, Ron approached Ulrich asking whether he should name his future fanzine "Metallica" or "Metal Mania". Guess which one Ulrich suggested to him?

CARTOON HEROES

Between 2004 and 2005, the Disney Channel ran an animated series called Dave the Barbarian, with the titular Dave, a teenage Barbarian, striving to protect the fictional kingdom of Udrogoth. Set in the Middle Ages, Dave was crazy strong but would also rather be cooking instead while reluctantly battling evil forces alongside his sisters Candy and Fang.

As with many cartoons in the mid-to-late 2000s, meta-humour was on the rise, and Dave the Barbarian also was a refreshing change of pace from the other Disney series around that time, ultimately going on to carve out a cult following.

And during its run, Dave the Barbarian tapped James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich to voice a pair of teenage dragons in the episode aptly titled Here There Be Dragons. You can check out some of the episode below for a nostalgic trip down metal memory lane:

THE FAITH NO MORE CONNECTION

Every Metallica fan knows the tragic tale of Cliff Burton, but his legacy in the fabric of music runs deep beyond the band itself - and his longtime friendship with Jim Martin of Faith No More fame was something truly remarkable.

Growing up forging bonds over a love of Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy as teenagers, Burton and Martin would soon go on to form the band EZ-Street that also boasted future Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin.

Playing a lot of covers under the EZ-Street moniker, the band may not have lasted or succeeded, but the friendship between Burton and Martin followed them into their college years and also spawned the group Agents of Misfortune. Entering a battle of the bands in the late 70s, Agents of Misfortune's chaotic and savage stylings didn't win over the crowd; but it did showcase the virtuosity of both Burton and Martin, with Burton also inadvertently introducing ears to what would become For Whom the Bell Tolls during a jam in the set.

Martin later revealed that several future Metallica and Faith No More songs were born from Agents of Misfortune jam sessions, and following Burton's passing the link between Metallica and Faith No More was maintained, with Martin joining Metallica onstage multiple times before choosing to largely leave the public eye after he departed Faith No More, save for the occasional Burton discussion.

FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE

Remember at the start of this article when Metallica had released their first song (with a misspelled name)? Well, that same year the group ticked off their first official live show which took place on March 14 in 1982 at Anaheim's Radio City.

The band paid tribute to the show in 2022 on the 40th anniversary of their debut live performance, sharing the show's flyer and a handwritten setlist. Of the nine songs that filled the set in Radio City that night, the band incorporated a large amount of covers into the mix, with only two original songs, Jump in the Fire and Hit the Lights. Hit the Lights not only opened proceedings at the show, but as James Hetfield later revealed to Kerrang!, Dave Mustaine broke a guitar string during the first song and it took a decent slab of time for him to change it. This was also pre-Hetfield picking up a guitar, so Hetfield says further in the Kerrang! chat that he couldn't do anything except stand around feeling embarrassed.

Still, according to Hetfield's accounts, around 200 people made it out, including school friends and beyond. And between the covers, two originals and a broken string at the start, it definitely didn't hinder their future, so perhaps there's hope for anyone who recalls having a less-than-stellar first-ever gig.

L-R: Metallica first live show flyer + handwritten setlist (Credit: Metallica, X)

ROCK 'N' ROLL SAVED HETFIELD'S SOUL

If someone says James Hetfield to you, most of us would picture him in rockstar mode onstage (or, if you're like me, instantly hear a "Yeah!!" repeated in the dark recesses of your mind). But rockstars were all once mere mortals back in the day, and prior to being part of one of metal's all-time greats, Hetfield ticked off some humble odd jobs along the way.

Graduating high school in 1981, a mere one year before things really kicked off in the land of Metallica, Hetfield worked as a janitor and also at a sticker factory. But prior to that, Hetfield, born James Alan Hetfield, had also turned to music at an early age and became hooked on Black Sabbath, stating decades later when he inducted the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his Metallica brothers: "...if there was no Black Sabbath, there would be no Metallica...if there was no Black Sabbath, I could possibly still be a morning newspaper delivery boy."

Back to 1981, Hetfield and future founding Metallica bassist Ron McGovney had just graduated high school, and also broken up from the group Leather Charm. And it was Leather Charm guitarist Hugh Tanner who, along with Hetfield, answered a newspaper ad from one Lars Ulrich, seeking "other metal musicians to jam with, Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head, and Iron Maiden".

For Hetfield during his brief stint between leaving school and working in factories, it may not have indicated a future in rock'n'rolling professionally. Life would obviously never be the same again for Hetfield after 1982, but during his more humble professional beginnings he never gave up on his musical dreams. And for a man who listed his plans in his high school yearbook as "Play music get rich", James Hetfield may just be the undisputed king of positive manifestation.

L-R: James Hetfield Yearbook Photo & James Hetfield Yearbook Quote (credit: Avenntus, Reddit)

MOTÖRHEAD CONNECTION

There is certainly a strong link between both Metallica and Motörhead through the years, from Metallica previously covering Overkill, to Motörhead scoring their first ever Grammy Award in 2005 for their cover of Whiplash.

Throughout their careers, the bands would share tours and cross paths with undoubtedly many memorable (and memory-erased) moments in the bank. But the link goes back a touch further than when both acts were in full swing. Notably, a young pre-Metallica Lars Ulrich and Cliff Burton arrived at Lemmy's hotel room after a show in the early 80s, revealing themselves to be the sole members of the Motörhead West Coast Fan Club, and leading to Ulrich eventually throwing up on himself after trying to keep up with Lemmy in the drinks department; a moment that would be immortalised in a photo on the inner sleeve of one of Motörhead's album sleeves in the mid-80s. Also a longtime Lemmy fan, Jason Newsted spoke with SiriusXM about Lemmy normalising using a pick as a bass player, declaring Lemmy as "almost my saviour" as a result.

And that brings us to 1995 when Metallica secretly plotted the peak way to help Motörhead icon Lemmy celebrate his 50th birthday: dressing up as Lemmy and playing Motörhead covers. Team Metallica threw on some long wigs and shades amongst some other costume elements and performed as The Lemmys at L.A's iconic Whisky-a-Go-Go. Thankfully, the venue unearthed and posted some video footage from the night which boasts the band in peak Lemmy mode for Mr. Kilmister's 50th birthday celebrations (which you can spy below).

Lemmy later stated that Metallica had planned their appearance as a surprise, and even interrupted the making of their then-upcoming album, Load, for the occasion. And as an extra fact for this one, Hetfield relinquished vocals to Newsted for their rendition of We Are the Road Crew.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE (WILL) HUNTING

I almost didn't include this fact because it feels a bit grubby diving into someone's personal life and/or their relationships, and The Soundcheck ain't no tabloid. But when a movie who introduced the world to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck has a link to Metallica, it at least needs a mention in this list.

The year is 1997, and Good Will Hunting has just released in cinemas. Directed by Gus Van Sant and penned by Affleck and Damon, Good Will Hunting went on to nab Best Supporting Actor for Robin Williams and Best Original Screenplay for Affleck and Damon at the 70th Academy Awards in 1998 (competing with another monster cinema moment of the 90s that same year: Titanic).

The legs for the movie began when Damon was studying at Harvard University, before Damon moved in with Affleck in L.A. and the pair worked on the script together. During the writing process, Damon was dating Skylar Satenstein, a fellow Harvard attendee (and if you're a fan of the film, you'll note the real-world connection between Minnie Driver's character Skylar). But just before filming began for Good Will Hunting, Satenstein left Damon for a certain Mr. Lars Ulrich.

While neither Ulrich or Damon had a fairytale ending with Satenstein in real life and Damon made some less-than-favourable comments about Ulrich earlier on in the piece, a 2001 Playboy interview with Ulrich revealed there was no bad blood between the two when they finally met properly.

L-R: Minnie Driver as Skylar in Good Will Hunting (Miramax Films) // Skyler Satenstein & Lars

HOW KIRK OBTAINED 'GREENY'

Sometimes the best gift is the one you give yourself, and back in 2014, Kirk Hammett came into possession of a very famous piece of guitar history.

Starting life owned by Peter Green in his Fleetwood Mac prime, the legendary tale of "Greeny", the 1959 Les Paul Standard, was loaned and then later sold to Gary Moore who wielded it for 30 years playing with Thin Lizzy and Skid Row, and also lending its name to Moore's 1995 solo album Blues for Greeny, which paid tribute to Peter Green and was of course recorded using the hallowed guitar.

A mahogany beauty that is also famous for its bewitching and unique tone, stemming partly from its out-of-phase middle switch position via the neck pickup's reversed magnetic polarity, Greeny would eventually find its way to its third illustrious owner: Kirk Hammett. But according to a recent interview with Hammett in The Telegraph, Greeny had been offered to several other prolific players who had fortuitously passed on the opportunity; and the moment Hammett held that legendary axe in his hands, he knew he would never give it back.

Attributing his transformation in terms of tone, attitude and approach as a guitarist to Greeny, Hammett also teamed up with Gibson to recreate the guitar that has shaped so many revered players for decades. And the first thing that Hammett did to celebrate coming into possession of Greeny? He christened it by playing Whiskey in the Jar onstage, an Irish folk classic that not only was covered by Thin Lizzy in 1972 but of course also by Metallica in the late 90s that led to a Grammy Award. “The first thing I wanted to do was play it on stage that night and play Whiskey In The Jar, because the likelihood of that guitar having played Whiskey In The Jar was already pretty huge," Hammett shared in 2021. "So when I played it that first time on stage it felt like I was bringing it back home to where it needed to be and wanted to be."

L-R: Kirk Hammett playing Greeny (credit: Raph PH) // Kirk Hammett "Greeny" Les Paul Standard (credit: Gibson)

TRADING PLACES

When you've been doing something long enough, sometimes a change is as good as a holiday, and clearly Metallica agree to this adage; so much so that every now and then the band decide to mix things up onstage beyond an unexpected deep or obscure cut in the setlist. Instead, they literally swap instruments onstage.

There's been multiple instances of this trading places phenomenon occurring for the band over the years, including some early footage captured during a 1989 performance in Brazil. And in 1992, Metallica not only revisited a Diamond Head cover of Am I Evil? (that you would have perhaps spied on their first ever live show setlist from earlier on in this article) for an encore, but it also featured Hetfield on drum duties, Hammett on bass, Newsted stepping into guitar mode and Ulrich on the mic.

It's loose, it's sweaty, and it all kicks off with Ulrich preempting the performance with a dedication to a late crew member, and also by saying "this is my Bruce Dickinson impersonation, OK?". Hammett is clearly having the time of his life, Newsted gets his steeze on, Hetfield gives a pretty respectable outing on the drums, and a shirtless Ulrich gives his all on the mic. Grab a watch below:

LARS ULRICH + NOEL GALLAGHER 4 EVA

Speaking of Lars Ulrich, the Metallica drummer also has quite a firm connection to Oasis, or more specifically to Noel Gallagher.

A long-time Oasis fan, adding the track Supersonic to a list of his favourite songs of all time, Ulrich also has a unique connection to Noel, with Ulrich being the first person that Noel ever signed an autograph for on American soil (and bonus fun fact: Noel misspelled Metallica when signing the autograph, with one too many T's just like fact #1 in this article).

Ulrich also unexpectedly filled in doing Oasis' lights in 1995 in a tiny hole in the wall venue in New Jersey. "They didn't have a crew guy to run the lightboard," Ulrich shared with The Guardian in 2014, "and I was the only one in the building that knew the songs...".

On top of that, Ulrich has also previously credited Noel with helping him quit cocaine, they both share a mutual love for U2, and Metallica covered Don't Look Back In Anger in 2017 while performing in Manchester Arena in tribute to the victims of the Manchester bombing at the same venue a few months prior.

Noel Gallagher & Lars Ulrich (credit: Beats 1)

DEF LEPPARD TO THE (SNARE) RESCUE

One of the most pivotal moments in thrash metal's eruption, 1986's Master of Puppets is also considered to be one of the most influential releases of all time. Recorded in Denmark, aka Lars Ulrich's homeland, with producer Flemming Rasmussen, Metallica truly served up what could only be described as a masterpiece, while also unknowingly serving as the band's final recording before the tragic passing of Cliff Burton.

For such a prolific album, there are way too many stories around the making of Master of Puppets; so much so, that an entire article could be dedicated to that LP alone. But between a David Bowie-inspired lyric on Leper Messiah through to Hetfield tattooing a part from Orion on his arm, there's also a link to Def Leppard that achieved the specific drum sound that Ulrich was seeking for Master of Puppets.

Desiring a Ludwig Black Beauty snare, Ulrich's thoughts turned to the only person he knew who owned one: Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. Renowned as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll drummers of all time, Allen's reputation and skill-set is even more imposing when you factor in that he has drummed with one arm following a car accident in 1984 resulted in amputation of his left arm. This was all just after the release of Pyromania, Def Leppard's watershed third studio album, and it was also in the timeframe of Allen's recovery and Def Leppard's hiatus that Ulrich was in the studio for Master of Puppets.

At the time, Metallica and Def Leppard were both managed by Q Prime, so legend has it Ulrich contacted management and asked if Allen would consider loaning the 1979-era snare as he wasn't currently using it. Next minute, Master of Puppets achieved Ulrich's dream snare sound.

Allen was thanked in the album liner notes (which you can peep below), and in true badass fasion Allen also adapted to be able to play drums again with the help of Status Quo's Jeff Rich - and it was Rich that also became the new owner of the Ludwig Black Beauty snare (and is still listed on his website kit list).

L-R: 'Master of Puppets' liner notes // Lars Ulrich & Rick Allen

THE POWER OF JÄGERMEISTER

Back in the day, Metallica had what could be referred to as "The Jäger Years"; in fact, when Kirk Hammett appeared on an episode of Let There Be Talk, the legendary guitarist credited Jägermeister's effect on the band, noting how the German herbal liqueur found it's way into Metallica's riff writing. And as Hammett revealed in the same chat: "We would fucking jam wasted all the time...We used to drink and start fighting each other, and the funny thing is that we totally knew we would end up fighting each other."

From wild parties sponsored by Jägermeister recalled in a 1991 SPIN Metallica cover feature, through to Ulrich recalling Hetfield sticking up for him multiple times in their past while in Jäeger-mode ("Fuelled by Jägermeister," Ulrich explained on The Howard Stern Show), present-day Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo also opened the lid on how he keeps his flowing locks looking so sensational onstage: a cheeky mix of good genes, a little bit of beer and some Jägermeister!

L-R: Robert Trujillo (credit: Amy Harris) // A young James Hetfield knocking back some Jägermeister

HULK HOGAN AUDITION CLAIMS

Whether you're a wrestling fan or not, you definitely would have heard of Hulk Hogan and the Hulkamania phenomenon that ensued in the 1980s. And with his charisma and imposing stature, along with the fact that he did actually play in a band called Ruckus when he was younger, and had experience playing bass before he was discovered and found his way into the wrestling world, it doesn't seem that far-fetched that the big man might've once auditioned for Metallica when they needed a bassist, right?

Well, in 2012 Hogan claimed in an interview that he had been asked to consider joining Metallica on bass in the band's early career by Lars Ulrich following Cliff Burton's untimely passing. But here is where things get muddy, because when Ulrich appeared on Howard Stern's radio show that same year Ulrich negated Hogan's claims, saying in the interview: "...I don't know Hulk Hogan...I was scratching my head on that one too."

Hogan obviously heard Ulrich's Howard Stern chat and changed his narrative slightly in a 2014 interview with Noisey. And when Hetfield was presented with a photoshopped photo of Hogan with Metallica in 2017, he was appropriately baffled, referring to Hogan with a wry smile: "I don't know his version of history. I don't remember him."

Called out for telling multiple tall tales throughout his career, I'm definitely deferring to Metallica's version of events here. But on paper, Hogan in Metallica in the 80s would've been nothing short of a spectacle.

L-R: Faux Metallica & Holk Hogan lineup pic (credit: via Reddit) // Hulk Hogan playing bass (credit: via VICE)

THE ONGOING IMPACT OF CLIFF BURTON

A true metal god as well as a beloved figure taken too soon, Cliff Burton wasn't only a gifted performer and musician - his songwriting prowess and musical IQ also lent a unique superpower that powerfully helped launch Metallica into infamy in a (sadly) short space of time.

If you recall Brian Slagel's name from fact #1 in this article, it may also interest you to know that it was Slagel that first introduced Metallica to Burton (and also later to Jason Newsted), which Slagel details in his memoir For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records. But not only were Metallica getting a sensational bassist in the form of Burton in 1982, they were also receiving a man unafraid of dancing to the beat of his own drum as well as a teacher, as James Hetfield powerfully explained in a Metal Hammer interview, describing Burton as “the most schooled of any of us; he had gone to junior college to learn some things about music, and taught us quite a few things. He had such a character to himself, and it was a very strong personality, he did creep into all of us eventually.”

Introducing Lars Ulrich and Hetfield to artists like ZZ Top, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, Burton also had a massive love for R.E.M and punk, with his nonconformity to metal stereotypes also carrying over to his choice of onstage (and offstage) fashion, rejecting the skintight 1980s norm for hippie bell-bottoms. But, according to Lars Ulrich, Burton was also a beer-drinking hell-raiser to balance things out. And side note: ask any bass player how difficult it is to recreate Burton's right-hand technique without a lot of practice (and/or without severing a tendon while fishing which also contributed to his unique technique).

Burton's trained knowledge of harmonies and melodies also opened the floodgates that would cement Master of Puppets into the hallowed chronicles of heavy metal history; heavy yet complex, intelligent yet tough as nails, with classical music influences balanced alongside heavy drinking sessions on the menu during the album's making. And while the ultimate Burton story may be devastating, his undeniable influence in the Metallica story lives on - as does his love of the Misfits and unforgettable headbanging style which still makes my neck ache just from the thought.

L-R: Cliff Burton in full flight onstage (credit: Metallica) // Cliff Burton rocking a Misfits tee (credit: Ross Halfin)

JAMES HETFIELD'S UNCREDITED DANZIG APPEARANCE

Segueing seamlessly from the Misfits to Danzig in the second last fact today, James Hetfield is no stranger to spreading his musical wings beyond Metallica, and back in 1988 Mr. Hetfield also had uncredited appearances on Twist of Cain and Possession (and potentially more) from that very album.

This wasn't the first time Metallica and Danzig crossed paths, with Metallica including a medley of Misfits songs as the outro track on their 1987 EP, The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Visited, and as mentioned in #23 on this list, the late Cliff Burton was a huge Misfits fan, pictured wearing Misfits merch onstage and also sporting a Misfits tattoo.

In 1987 when the recording of Danzig was underway, James Hetfield was apparently hanging out with Glenn Danzig, with the latter telling City Pages later on: “[Hetfield] was hanging out with us in L.A. I had to go back to the studio. He said he wanted to come along. I was like, ‘Oh, sure! Don't worry about it.’”

Hetfield's involvement was kept under wraps for contractual reasons at the time, but if you prowl through Danzig you'll definitely will hear some familiar Hetfield rasp on Twist of Cain and Possession. And, according to Danzig, there's a high likelihood that Hetfield is hiding on another song - but it's definitely not Mother.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? (REPRISE)

And to bring our 25 Metallica fun and trivia facts to a close today, earlier in the piece we looked back at some of the potential band names Metallica circled around before making the final choice. And today's final fact also stems back to the very beginning of the Metallica journey, namely the original name planned for their debut album: Metal Up Your Ass.

With the name originating from a demo that was recorded live in San Francisco (with support from Exodus, notably featuring future Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett), Metallica had planned to use the title again for their debut record; a release that had a minimal budget of $15,000, allegedly was recorded in a haunted mansion, and saw the group recording in the Big Apple with producer Paul Curcio.

Plotting to introduce the world to Metallica with trademark subtly by calling their maiden LP Metal Up Your Ass, it was ultimately Jon Zazula, who had started Megaforce Records and signed the young up-and-coming Metallica, who convinced them to change the name, as Hammett revealed in a 2008 interview: "We got a phone call from our manager telling us half the record outlets wouldn't carry the album if it's called that, because the name was obscene. Cliff said, ‘You know what? Fuck those fuckers, man, those fucking record outlet people. We should just kill 'em all.’ Someone, I can't remember who, said, ‘That's it! That's what we should call the album.’”

Thus, Kill 'Em All was born, becoming the first major label thrash album and changing the course of musical history as we know it in the process.