Metallica Plans "Family Reunion" at Hall of Fame
Legendary heavy metal band Metallica is seeking a positive, no-hard-feelings approach to its upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and planning what drummer Lars Ulrich calls "a sort of family reunion," according to Reuters.
The guest list for the band's April 4 induction ceremony in Cleveland includes label executives from Metallica's former labels Megaforce and Elektra original guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney and longtime bassist Jason Newsted, who will reportedly perform with the band at the ceremony. Ray Burton, the father of deceased bassist Cliff Burton, who played with Metallica from 1982 to 1986, will also be present at the ceremony. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea will formally induct the band into the Hall.
"I think everybody is proud of their association (with Metallica)," Ulrich told Billboard.com. "We're reaching out to everybody who's been a part of this, both inside the band on and on the periphery of the band over the years."
Guitarist Kirk Hammett said that the band's approach was inspired by seeing new wave band Blondie inducted in 2006, and all of the tension and politics that went hand in hand with it.
"We collectively said to each other that if that ever happens and we get inducted, we don't want any of that, because it kind of really puts a whole bad, sour note on the celebration itself," Hammett told Reuters.
Metallica formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. The band released its debut album, Kill 'Em All, in 1983, and maintained a strong following in the thrash metal genre through its 1988 album,
And Justice for All. But with the release of the more mainstream sounding Metallica in 1991, the band became not just heavy metal heroes but icons for music in general. The album has sold more than 15 million copies in the U.S. alone.
Metallica is currently the No. 4-selling artist of the SoundScan era, which began in 1991. Since then, the band has sold more than 51 million albums in the U.S. Its latest album, Death Magnetic, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in September 2008, and has since sold nearly two million copies.
In conjunction with the induction ceremony, a new Metallica edition of the popular video game franchise, Guitar Hero, will be released on March 29, according to Entertainment Weekly.
