It's the music, stupid

Point 01: Metallica vs the fans

The public has been clamoring for updates and I have not been able to deliver due to some major personal developments (good ones). When I started this blog I made a promise to myself never to cross the line and write about things that happen in my 3-D life. I will not break that promise here. Those that know me are aware of the latest happenings and I want to thank all those who were involved in any way, shape, or form. Thank you for your help, encouragement, support, and most importantly friendship.

This week one of my most beloved bands, Metallica, made a splash as it tried a foray into the world of online music. This seemed like a welcome departure from the Metallica of 2000, which had an angry Lars Ulrich appear in front of reporters and TV cameras and lambaste Shawn Fanning and Napster. This sadly misguided tirade ended up backfiring as it alienated many of the band's die-hard fans. It also made the band look hypocritical. Metallica was a local Bay Area band that grew into a mega-act because of its fans trading bootleg tapes of their shows and music. As a direct result of these 'pirates,' Metallica earned a fiercely loyal following that ended up launching the band to the summit of Mt. Olympus of metal music.

As it turns out, many former fans have still not gotten over Napster-gate and made it apparent in the comments to Wired's coverage of Mission: Metallica. The comments were so overwhelmingly negative against the band that it lead Wired to write a second piece about how sour the Metallica fans still are. The article's main focus is on Napster and how it tarnished the reputation of a once-great band.

I, however, submit that most of this griping about Metallica has nothing to do with Napster (at least not anymore). Had the band produced anything worth listening to, anything that was worth the title of 'Metallica record' in the past 8 years we would have all happily forgiven and forgotten. But the sad fact of the matter is that Metallica is not the same band that we fell in love with, and these diatribes against its online offering is a reflection of just that.

Metallica lost its edge and when they decided to take Bob Rock on as producer of their first mainstream hit Metallica (The Black Album). Rock was the man behind the boards for bands like Skid Row and Bon Jovi, bands that pioneered the very type of music that Metallica and its fans were rebelling against. While Richie and Jon and Sebastian Bach were running around on stage wearing lipstick and teased out hair, the boys from San Fran were on stage, kicking ass in black jeans and t-shirts while blasting out epic, thrashy riffs and face-melting solos.

While the Black Album gained Metallica a wider, more popular appeal (22 million copies sold worldwide), Metallica lost its core following and are still struggling to win it back. Releasing a down-tuned, tin-can popping, solo-less mess known as St. Anger did not do the band any favors. Their latest effort slated for a September '08 release, on paper, looks like a return to the Metallica of old. Taking over for Bob Rock is legendary producer Rick Rubin (Danzig, Slayer, System of a Down). The songs are back in standard tuning and Kirk is back to writing solos. I anxiously await their latest effort, but not without a tinge of apprehension. This, their 9th studio album, has the potential to make us love the band again (Metallica is the reason why I learned guitar), or it may be the final nail in the coffin for a band that while having an unparalleled catalog simply could not (or would not) keep their long-time fans coming back for more.

"To me the most boring thing in the world is safe, mainstream heavy metal...I'd rather listen to Madonna."
- Lars Ulrich