Metallica

Metallica, influential American heavy metalband that, along with Slayer and Anthrax, developed the subgenre speed metal in the early and mid-1980s. The principal members were lead singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield (b. August 3, 1963, Downey, California, U.S.), drummer Lars Ulrich (b. December 26, 1963, Gentofte, Denmark), lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (b. November 18, 1962, San Francisco, California), and bassist Cliff Burton (b. February 10, 1962, San Francisco—d. September 27, 1986, near Stockholm, Sweden). Jason Newsted (b. March 4, 1963, Battle Creek, Michigan) took over on bass after Burton was killed in a tour bus accident.