In 1982, James Hetfield was unsure of his vocal abilities and for good reason. The version of "Hit the Lights" on the Metal Massacre Vol. 1 compilation featured James screaming like a woman, a stark contrast to how he sounds today. During that year, the band tried to recruit John Bush of Armored Saint to fill the vocal slot. Bush refused, leaving James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine to compete over the role of vocalist and trying to outdo one another through the guitar. This ego clash led to Dave Mustaine being unceremoniously dismissed from Metallica, who would then form Megadeth.
But what if John Bush had accepted the offer?
Bush Metallica: An Alternate History of Metal
In 1982, Armored Saint vocalist John Bush was offered to join a band called Metallica, a Los Angeles quartet composed of James Hetfield (rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Ron McGovney (bass guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums). Having problems with his own band, John Bush decided to give Metallica a chance. The lineup would go into the studio to record an EP known as the No Life ‘Till Leather demo in the summer of 1982.
Not long after recording the demo, the band would relocate to San Francisco in early 1983 out of disgust for L.A.’s growing glam scene. Ron McGovney had been sacked in December 1982 and had been replaced by Trauma bassist Cliff Burton. The band solidified it sound, drawing influence from acts such as Diamond Head, Blitzkrieg and Savage. The band would get a record deal through New Jersey based Megaforce Records and relocate to New York to record their first album, Kill ‘Em All.
After a brief tour, Metallica began work with new producer Fleming Rasmussen in Ulrich’s native Denmark to record their second effort, Ride the Lightning. The album was released in July 1984 and showed Metallica’s heavy hitting style moving to a more progressive sound. The band would gain a massive cult following and would be signed by Elektra Records.
In 1985, Metallica would bring thrash metal to Donnington for the Monsters of Rock Festival. Friction would soon erupt between John Bush and James Hetfield, nearly driving the band apart. Hetfield was kicked out of the band after brawling with Mustaine and Bush following a gig in San Francisco and he was replaced by Chris Poland. James Hetfield would team up with Ron McGovney once again to form a band simply called Hetfield.
Undaunted, the band returned to Denmark to record their third album, Master of Puppets. The album hit the shelves in 1986 and was the first thrash metal album to break the Billboard Top 100, eventually going gold. The band would tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne, proving to themselves that the departure of Hetfield would not derail them on the road to success.
However, this success would come at a price. On September 27, 1986, Metallica’s tour bus would skid off the road while driving from Stockholm to Copenhagen. Cliff Burton would be thrown from the window and crushed by the bus as it fell upon him. The band would suffer immensely, but they auditioned numerous bassists, finally settling on Willie Lange of Lääz Rockit. Metallica would journey to Japan to fill their obligations for a previously scheduled tour in November.
In 1987, Metallica would go to the studio to record the Garage Days Revisited EP, an album consisting of various cover songs. The album proved to be a commercial success. After a bout of touring, Metallica would release Cliff ‘Em All, a compilation of bootleg concert footage and a tribute to their deceased bassist Cliff Burton.
The band would return to the studio and begin work on their fourth length studio effort, …And Justice For All. The album would hit the shelves in 1988 and proved to be an even greater hit than Master of Puppets. Two singles, “One†and “In My Darkest Hour,†became mainstays on MTV’s video rotation. Metallica would go on to collect a Grammy for the album in 1989 and headline the Damaged Justice Tour with support from Queensryche.
In 1990, Chris Poland parted ways with Metallica, citing a new interest in jazz. Seeking to mend his relationship with Metallica, James Hetfield asked if he could rejoin the group. However, he would be refused since Metallica recruited guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman to replace Poland. The band would begin work on its fifth studio effort, Rust in Peace.
Hyped as a return to formula, Rust in Peace hit the shelves in 1991 and almost instantly went double platinum and debuted at number one on the charts in North America. Metallica would collect yet another Grammy in 1992 and launch the Rusted Pieces Tour, supported by Exodus. The band would tour for a year and release a boxed set of live material entitled Live Shit: Binge and Purge, which included 3 CDs and 3 videos of concert footage from the Damaged Justice and Rusted Pieces tours.
Also in 1992, Metallica would accompany Guns N’ Roses on a disastrous tour. In a freak accident at a show in Quebec, bassist Willie Lange stepped into a pyrotechnics column, gaining second and third degree burns over most of his body. Lange’s bass tech would fill in for his touring duties until he recovered from his burns.
The band would return to the studio in late 1993 to record their sixth studio effort, Youthanasia. The album would hit the shelves in 1994, debuting at number five on the charts. However, it would quickly decline on the charts despite going platinum. The band would also lay down a couple of new tracks: “Angry Again†for the Last Action Hero soundtrack and a cover of “Paranoid†for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black, the latter featuring guest guitarist James Hetfield.
Rumors would float around about a possible reunion of the original Metallica. However, Metallica would go on to record its seventh studio album, Cryptic Writings, for a 1996 release. Despite the single “Trust†enjoying radio rotation and a gold album, Metallica was starving for success.
Following the Fight For Freedom tour, Marty Friedman departed Metallica, citing creative difficulties. Bush, Mustaine and Ulrich offered the guitarist slot to James Hetfield. However, Hetfield said he wouldn’t return to Metallica unless Ron McGovney was allowed to come with him. Willie Lange was fired from Metallica and Hetfield and McGovney returned to Metallica in 1997.
The original band reunited for the first time since 1982, a tour was inevitable. However, Metallica had business to take care of first. In 1998, Metallica released a remastered version of the No Life ‘Till Leather demo and performed a few reunion gigs before returning to the studio again to complete the recording of their eighth studio recording, The World Needs A Hero. The album hit the shelves in early 1999 and debuted at number two on the Billboard charts and quickly racked up double platinum sales and earning a Grammy in 2000.
In the year 2000, Metallica would release a live DVD entitled Metallilive, a recording of a concert performed in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden. Metallica was back on top. The Metallica episode of Behind the Music debuted on VH1 in this year as well.
A year later, Metallica would release Hidden Treasures, a double album comprised of a reissue of Garage Days Revisited and other Metallica rarities. The band would tour briefly in support of that album with Anthrax and Iced Earth. Metallica would also play at the Thrash of the Titans show in San Francisco, a tribute concert to raise money for the cancer afflicted Chuck Billy of Testament. Other bands in attendance are Exodus, Lääz Rockit, Flotsam and Jetsam, Dark Angel, Death Angel and Legacy.
In 2002, Metallica would be awarded with an MTV Icon award. There would also be a re-release of Live Shit: Binge and Purge, complete with DVDs. Work would also soon begin on Metallica’s ninth studio album, The System Has Failed. The album would hit the shelves in early 2004.
But what if John Bush had accepted the offer?
Bush Metallica: An Alternate History of Metal
In 1982, Armored Saint vocalist John Bush was offered to join a band called Metallica, a Los Angeles quartet composed of James Hetfield (rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Ron McGovney (bass guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums). Having problems with his own band, John Bush decided to give Metallica a chance. The lineup would go into the studio to record an EP known as the No Life ‘Till Leather demo in the summer of 1982.
Not long after recording the demo, the band would relocate to San Francisco in early 1983 out of disgust for L.A.’s growing glam scene. Ron McGovney had been sacked in December 1982 and had been replaced by Trauma bassist Cliff Burton. The band solidified it sound, drawing influence from acts such as Diamond Head, Blitzkrieg and Savage. The band would get a record deal through New Jersey based Megaforce Records and relocate to New York to record their first album, Kill ‘Em All.
After a brief tour, Metallica began work with new producer Fleming Rasmussen in Ulrich’s native Denmark to record their second effort, Ride the Lightning. The album was released in July 1984 and showed Metallica’s heavy hitting style moving to a more progressive sound. The band would gain a massive cult following and would be signed by Elektra Records.
In 1985, Metallica would bring thrash metal to Donnington for the Monsters of Rock Festival. Friction would soon erupt between John Bush and James Hetfield, nearly driving the band apart. Hetfield was kicked out of the band after brawling with Mustaine and Bush following a gig in San Francisco and he was replaced by Chris Poland. James Hetfield would team up with Ron McGovney once again to form a band simply called Hetfield.
Undaunted, the band returned to Denmark to record their third album, Master of Puppets. The album hit the shelves in 1986 and was the first thrash metal album to break the Billboard Top 100, eventually going gold. The band would tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne, proving to themselves that the departure of Hetfield would not derail them on the road to success.
However, this success would come at a price. On September 27, 1986, Metallica’s tour bus would skid off the road while driving from Stockholm to Copenhagen. Cliff Burton would be thrown from the window and crushed by the bus as it fell upon him. The band would suffer immensely, but they auditioned numerous bassists, finally settling on Willie Lange of Lääz Rockit. Metallica would journey to Japan to fill their obligations for a previously scheduled tour in November.
In 1987, Metallica would go to the studio to record the Garage Days Revisited EP, an album consisting of various cover songs. The album proved to be a commercial success. After a bout of touring, Metallica would release Cliff ‘Em All, a compilation of bootleg concert footage and a tribute to their deceased bassist Cliff Burton.
The band would return to the studio and begin work on their fourth length studio effort, …And Justice For All. The album would hit the shelves in 1988 and proved to be an even greater hit than Master of Puppets. Two singles, “One†and “In My Darkest Hour,†became mainstays on MTV’s video rotation. Metallica would go on to collect a Grammy for the album in 1989 and headline the Damaged Justice Tour with support from Queensryche.
In 1990, Chris Poland parted ways with Metallica, citing a new interest in jazz. Seeking to mend his relationship with Metallica, James Hetfield asked if he could rejoin the group. However, he would be refused since Metallica recruited guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman to replace Poland. The band would begin work on its fifth studio effort, Rust in Peace.
Hyped as a return to formula, Rust in Peace hit the shelves in 1991 and almost instantly went double platinum and debuted at number one on the charts in North America. Metallica would collect yet another Grammy in 1992 and launch the Rusted Pieces Tour, supported by Exodus. The band would tour for a year and release a boxed set of live material entitled Live Shit: Binge and Purge, which included 3 CDs and 3 videos of concert footage from the Damaged Justice and Rusted Pieces tours.
Also in 1992, Metallica would accompany Guns N’ Roses on a disastrous tour. In a freak accident at a show in Quebec, bassist Willie Lange stepped into a pyrotechnics column, gaining second and third degree burns over most of his body. Lange’s bass tech would fill in for his touring duties until he recovered from his burns.
The band would return to the studio in late 1993 to record their sixth studio effort, Youthanasia. The album would hit the shelves in 1994, debuting at number five on the charts. However, it would quickly decline on the charts despite going platinum. The band would also lay down a couple of new tracks: “Angry Again†for the Last Action Hero soundtrack and a cover of “Paranoid†for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black, the latter featuring guest guitarist James Hetfield.
Rumors would float around about a possible reunion of the original Metallica. However, Metallica would go on to record its seventh studio album, Cryptic Writings, for a 1996 release. Despite the single “Trust†enjoying radio rotation and a gold album, Metallica was starving for success.
Following the Fight For Freedom tour, Marty Friedman departed Metallica, citing creative difficulties. Bush, Mustaine and Ulrich offered the guitarist slot to James Hetfield. However, Hetfield said he wouldn’t return to Metallica unless Ron McGovney was allowed to come with him. Willie Lange was fired from Metallica and Hetfield and McGovney returned to Metallica in 1997.
The original band reunited for the first time since 1982, a tour was inevitable. However, Metallica had business to take care of first. In 1998, Metallica released a remastered version of the No Life ‘Till Leather demo and performed a few reunion gigs before returning to the studio again to complete the recording of their eighth studio recording, The World Needs A Hero. The album hit the shelves in early 1999 and debuted at number two on the Billboard charts and quickly racked up double platinum sales and earning a Grammy in 2000.
In the year 2000, Metallica would release a live DVD entitled Metallilive, a recording of a concert performed in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden. Metallica was back on top. The Metallica episode of Behind the Music debuted on VH1 in this year as well.
A year later, Metallica would release Hidden Treasures, a double album comprised of a reissue of Garage Days Revisited and other Metallica rarities. The band would tour briefly in support of that album with Anthrax and Iced Earth. Metallica would also play at the Thrash of the Titans show in San Francisco, a tribute concert to raise money for the cancer afflicted Chuck Billy of Testament. Other bands in attendance are Exodus, Lääz Rockit, Flotsam and Jetsam, Dark Angel, Death Angel and Legacy.
In 2002, Metallica would be awarded with an MTV Icon award. There would also be a re-release of Live Shit: Binge and Purge, complete with DVDs. Work would also soon begin on Metallica’s ninth studio album, The System Has Failed. The album would hit the shelves in early 2004.
