Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California, by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist/singer James Hetfield.

Quick Scoop

  • Metallica started in 1981 after Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a Los Angeles newspaper looking for musicians to form a metal band.
  • The early lineup centered around Ulrich on drums and Hetfield on vocals and rhythm guitar, which remains the band’s creative core today.
  • The band later became a key force in shaping thrash metal and heavy metal globally, building from that original 1981 Los Angeles origin.

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