That’s Flea, bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, on the first time he heard Metallica, who were just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in a show that honestly makes me want to kill myself because I wasn’t there. Eminem was there too to introduce Run-DMC, another inductee. Eminem and Metallica in the same place at the same time? Are you kidding me? (Oh, and Wanda Jackson gets the props, too? FINALLY? Another favorite of mine? Heaven!)
And why am I strangely happy, as though it has something to do with me, that Jason Newsted joined Metallica onstage for “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman”? Sheila, you do not know these people. It is not a personal victory for YOU.
And yet … and yet … it is. If you’re a Metallica fan, you’ll get it.
And how psyched is Robert Trujillo right now? (Especially after the sort of awkward touchy-feely beginning of his time with Metallica with Hetfield crying at the table about his abandonment issues as they all drank bottled water.)
And how bummed is Dave Mustaine.
I’ve been listening to Metallica for, what, 20 years? Almost non-stop? They’re in every playlist I make, they’re always in rotation.
They make me want to cry, and they make me want to punch someone in the face. It’s all good.
My brother wrote a goosebump-y piece about what Metallica’s so-called “black album” means to him. I consider it a must-read, and that’s not just because I’m related to him.
I read that NY Times article 4 times in a row, trying to imagine myself into that auditorium. Also, Hetfield giving props to Thin Lizzy? Effing cool.
(I realize that being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is akin to winning an Oscar. It’s not a testament of true value. Some of my favorite actors have never won an Oscar. Phone call for Mr. Bridges and Mr. Grant. But still: the description of the HOF show and the validation and the excitement was catching to me.)
I’m a Metallica fan and I totally get it. When I heard about that phone call to Jason Newsted, I got goosebumps.
So freakin awesome!
Hahaha….Dave Mustaine. Thanks for adding that tidbit!
I had a profoundly stupid moment reading that last paragraph, and my brain thought ‘Hugh?!’ when it should have thought ‘Cary’. D’oh!
I am one of the fans that Brendan talks about being alienated by the kind of success it took to get them to this point, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not happy for them. Any time a band from my youth earns an honor, it feels good.
Sheila, you do not know these people. It is not a personal victory for YOU.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I think it’s hard for anyone who’s seen Some Kind of Monster to not feel that way. My friend and I felt like we’d been in yearlong therapy with Metallica afterwards. When we first heard about this reunion, we started talking about how waggy & happy Kirk would be, because obviously we knew him that deeply after our intense group therapy sessions.
It has so many scenes I’ll never forget, after only seeing it once. I vividly remember Robert Trujillo’s audition, where he was practically backflipping and running up the walls in order to get them to like him. And when they admitted they’d been bullying poor Jason forever because he wasn’t Cliff? Lars’ father!!!!
Wasn’t Kirk an adorable rock ‘n’ roll poodle? He just wanted everyone to get along and rock out. I loved when he was unselfconsciously chatting about his hair loss products! My friend & still use that magic gesture of his when he slapped his forehead with his palm in frustration at everyone else.
Sorry, this comment has got away from me. I could talk about that documentary for hours.
A – I know, Trujillo’s audition was just off the charts. I loved, too, how he wasn’t all judgey when Hetfield started crying – he was seriously listening, part of the band already – but it was just SUCH a funny shot.
And yes, Kirk is the deeply sensitive one. I know him well, I tell you!!
Lars’s father was just … I mean – what? SO FASCINATING.
De – I couldn’t believe my empathetic response to poor Dave Mustaine in that movie when he came into the group therapy session. His pain was just … immense … It was unbelievable. I really felt for the guy!
Red – Yes, that shot was hilarious! It was like he was through the looking glass.
Not De, but I couldn’t get past that either. My friend and I talked for what felt like HOURS afterwards about the fact that Megadeth is a consolation prize for Dave Mustaine, and that losing Metallica is the pivotal moment of his life. I’m sure he’d hate me for this, but now when I think of him, I don’t think of “Megadeth” or “metal”, but “Oh, I really want to make him a cup of tea & biscuits”. His self-loathing just broke my heart.
My family used to vacation on Maui just before Christmas and we would stay at the same resort every year. We saw James there 2 or 3 different years. My highlight was almost being caught by him at the bottom of the water slide because he was expecting one of his kids to come down instead of me.
It was funny to see a guy who manifests such anger just being a regular parent playing with his kids. Then it was odd to watch “the Metallica Movie” a few years later and realize how silly it is to generalize about someone else’s well-being based on seeing them for a few hours in a swimming pool.
To me, even better than being in the RnR Hall of Fame is the fact that “Death Magnetic” just kicks serious ass. It’s wonderful at this point in their career that they can make such great album.
mutecypher – Love the story of Hetfield at the pool! It’s amazing to me to see how gentle he was in “the movie” – and good Lord, Kirk was so gentle he might as well have been a cuddly tree creature – yet when they play, out comes the aggression and the rage, and it’s not a put-on – it’s real. It’s a wonderful magic trick.
And yes – Death Magnetic is awesome. I remember getting goosebumps when hearing the first chords – thinking, “Oh man … this is gonna be awesome.”
Wow, I’m so off the internets nowadays, I didn’t freaking catch that Metallica was introduced in the HOF!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAGHHH!!!
And Jason Newsted joined them onstage? Oh my God, I am dying here…!!!!!
And last, but not least: Death Magnetic is one hell of a good album.
I see I add nothing new to the comments, but I just wanted to let off some steam, this is too exciting!!!!!!