| 1962 | |
| February 10 | Cliff Burton (bass guitarist) born |
| November 18 | Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist) born |
| | |
| 1963 | |
| March 4 | Jason Newsted born (bass guitarist) born |
| August 3 | James Hetfield (singer and lead guitarist) born |
| December 26 | Lars Ulrich born (drummer) born |
| | |
| 1977 | Jason’s forms his first band "Diamond" with Kevin Kendrick, Todd Smiedendorf and Tom Depoy in Niles, MI. Newsted family relocates from Niles to Kalamazoo, MI |
| September | James' freshman year at Downey HS, befriends Ron McGovney |
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| 1978 | James joins his first band "Obsession" with Jim Arnold, Rich and Ron Veloz |
| | |
| 1979 - 80 | James’ mother passes away and he moves to La Brea, California |
| | James quits "Obsession" |
| | |
| 1980 - 81 | James forms "Phantom Lord" with Jim Mulligan and Hugh Tanner |
| | |
| 1981 | |
| May 9 | Lars and James meet for the first time in Newport Beach, California. |
| June | Ron McGovney joins "Phantom Lord" and renames it "Leather Charm". The band splits as the drummer and guitarist leave |
| October 15 | "MEALLICA FORMED" |
| October 31 | Jason Newsted and Tom Hamlin relocate to Phoenix, AZ from Kalamazoo, MI |
| | |
| 1982 | |
| January | The first demo of "Hit The Lights" recorded. Lloyd Grant overdubs guitar solo |
| March | Metallica records 3 song demo - one was an original song called "Hit The Lights" and two cover songs "Killing Time" and "Let It Loose". |
| March 14 | Metallica plays their first gig at Radio City, Anaheim, California |
| March 28 | Play their second gig, supporting Saxon at Whiskey - A - Go - Go, Hollywood, California |
| April | Band records "Power Metal" a 4 - track demo of "Hit The Lights", "The Mechanix", "Jump In The Fire" and "Motorbreath" |
| April 23 | Make their only appearance as 5 - piece band with Damien Philips (aka Jeff Warner) in Costa Mesa, California |
| May 25 | James' first gig on rhythm guitar at Backbay (Lars') High School, Costa Mesa, California |
| June 14 | Metal Massacre LP released with first appearance of Metallica on record |
| July 6 | Recording session for "No Life Til Leather" demo tape which includes songs: "Hit the Lights", "Motorbreath", "The Mechanix", "Phantom Lord", "Seek and Destroy", "Jump In The Fire" and "Metal Militia". High Velocity records finances the recording. |
| September 18 | Play their first gig at "The Keystone", San Francisco |
| November 11 | Band plays at "The Woodstock" in Los Angeles |
| December 10 | Metallica and Ron McGovney part |
| December 28 | Cliff Burton joins Metallica as the bass guitarist |
| | |
| 1983 | |
| February 11 - 15 | Metallica shifts base from Los Angeles to San Francisco |
| March 5 | Cliff's plays in his first Metallica show at "The Stone" in SF |
| April 1 | Kirk Hammett joins Metallica as the lead guitarist. |
| April 9 | Dave Mustaine's last Metallica show |
| April 11 | Dave leaves Metallica |
| April 16 | Kirk's plays in his first Metallica show in Dover, NJ |
| May 3 | Metallica signs contract with John Zazula's Megaforce Records |
| May 10 - 27 | Metallica start "Kill’ Em All" recording sessions in Rochester, New York |
| July 27 - September 3 | Metallica start their first tour "Kill Em All For One" with "Raven" |
| September 24 | Metallica record demos for "Ride The Lightning". Live tracks of "Phantom Lord" and "Seek and Destroy" recorded
Jason Newsted forms the group "Dogz" with Kelly David. Eric AK later joins "Dogz", "Dogz" is renamed "Flotsam & Jetsam" |
| | |
| 1984 | |
| January 19 | Bands equipment stolen in Boston MA. This event inspires the song "Fade To Black" |
| January 20 | "Jump In The Fire 12" released in Europe
|
| February 3 | Metallica begin their first European tour with Venom in Zurich, Switzerland |
| February 20 | Metallica start recording for "Ride The Lightning" album at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark |
| March 26 | Metallica make their first appearance in England at London's "Marquee Club" |
| June 6 | Second European tour starts in Holland with "The Twisted Sisters" |
| August 1 | Meet future co-manager Cliff Burnstein of Q Prime |
| September 12 | Metallica signs contract with Elektra Records in USA |
| November 16 | Elektra re-releases "Ride The Lightning" |
| November 17 - 18 | Metallica play "Trapped Under Ice" for the first time in Paris. |
| November 18 | The first major European Tour begins in Paris with "Tank" as the support act. |
| November 23 | "Creeping Death 12" released in Europe |
| December 20 | First London headlining gig at Lyceum, end of first European tour. |
| | |
| 1985 | |
| January 10 | USA co-headline tour begins in Nova Scotia |
| February 9 | First performance of "Fade To Black" in Chicago |
| March 9 | "Ride The Lightning" album peaks at #100 on USA charts |
| March 18 | "Ride The Lightning" tour ends in Portland, OR |
| August 17 | Metallica performs at "Monsters Of Rock" Festival at Castle Donington for the first time |
| September 2 | Metallica begin recording sessions for "Master Of Puppets" in Denmark |
| September 14 | Plays at the "Metal Hammer festival" in England and performs "Disposable Heroes" for first time |
| September 30 | Metallica performs at "Day On The Green" Festival in Oakland, California |
| December 27 | Recording of "Master Of Puppets" album is completed |
| December 31 | Metallica plays at the SF's Civic Center, with Megadeth, Metal Church and Exodus |
| | |
| 1986 | |
| February 21 | "Master Of Puppets" album is released in USA |
| March 27 | USA tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne starts in Wichita, KS |
| May 11 | "Master Of Puppets" peaks at #29 in USA |
| July 26 | James Hetfield has a skateboarding accident in Evansville, IN and breaks his arm |
| July 27 | John Marshall temporarily plays the Rhythm guitar as James recovers from the accident |
| Aug 3 | Last USA appearance with Cliff Burton |
| September 10 | European leg of "Damage Inc." tour starts in Cardiff, Wales |
| September 26 | Play the last gig with Cliff Burton in Stockholm, Sweden. James' arm heals as he plays the Rhythm guitar again |
| September 27 | Cliff Burton dies in bus accident in Sweden |
| October 7 | Cliff's funeral, Castro Valley, California |
| October 28 | Jason Newsted joins Metallica as the bass guitarist |
| October 31 | Jason's last show with Flotsam & Jetsam |
| November 4 | "Master Of Puppets" gets Gold Certification in USA |
| November 8 | Jason's first gig with Metallica at Country Club in Reseda, California |
| November 20 | First Japanese tour ends at Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo |
| | |
| 1987 | |
| February 8 | "Damage Inc." tour world tour ends in Zwolle, Holland |
| February 13 | Metallica plays at the "Aardschock" festival in Gothenburg Sweden with "Anthrax" and "Metal Church". |
| March 23 | James meets with his second skateboarding accident and breaks his arm again.
Band scheduled to appear on NBC TV's Saturday Night Live cancelled due to James' broken arm. |
| July 8 | Recording session for "Garage Days Re-revisited" begins in Los Angeles |
| Aug 8 | "Master Of Puppets" ends 72 week run on USA Charts |
| August 21 | "Garage Days Re-revisited" released in USA |
| August 22 | Metallica plays at the "Castle Donington" festival |
| October 10 | "Garage Days Re-revisited" peaks at #28 on USA Charts |
| November 5 | "Ride The Lightning" gets Gold certification in USA |
| December 4 | "Cliff 'Em All" home video released in USA |
| December 7 | "Garage Days Re-revisited" gets Gold certification in USA |
| | |
| 1988 | |
| January 15 | "Kill Em All" re-released in USA by Elektra with "Am I Evil?" and "Blitzkrieg" as bonus tracks |
| January 29 | Metallica begins recording for "...And Justice For All" in Los Angeles |
| February 4 | "Cliff 'Em All" home video gets Platinum and Gold certification in USA |
| May 27 | "Monsters Of Rock" tour starts in Troy, WI with 40,000 people featuring "Van Halen", "Scorpions", "Metallica" and "Kingdom Come" |
| July 28 | "Master Of Puppets" gets Double Platinum certification in USA |
| Aug 19 | "Harvester Of Sorrow 12" single released in UK |
| August 25 | "...And Justice For All" album released in USA |
| September 11 | First show of "Damaged Justice" tour in Budapest, Hungary |
| October 9 | "...And Justice For All" album peaks at #6 in USA |
| October 30 | "Eye Of the Beholder" single is released in USA |
| October 31 | "...And Justice For All" gets Platinum and Gold certification in USA |
| November 15 | USA leg of "Damaged Justice" tour starts in Toledo, OH |
| December 6 | Music video for the single "One" recorded |
| | |
| 1989 | |
| January 9 | "One" single released in USA |
| February 22 | Metallica performs "One" on world-wide broadcast of Grammy Awards |
| April 5 | "Cliff 'Em All" home video get triple Platinum certification in USA |
| April 8 | "One" single peaks at #35 in USA |
| May 1 | First show in New Zealand in Auckland |
| May 3 | First show in Australia in Adelaide |
| May 16 | "Kill Em All" album gets Gold certification and "Ride the Lightning" gets Platinum certification in USA |
| June 20 | "2 Of One" Home video released in USA |
| July 20 | "...And Justice For All" gets double Platinum certification in USA |
| August 18 | "2 Of One" gets Platinum certification in USA |
| September 23 | Last USA gig on "Damaged Justice" tour at Laguna Hills, California |
| October 8 | Last show of "Damaged Justice" tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| | |
| 1990 | |
| January | Band records "Stone Cold Crazy" for release on Elektras’ 40th Anniversary album "Rubaiyat" |
| May | Metallica plays at various European festivals, including surprise shows at Hippodrome and Marquee in London |
| August 13 | James and Lars record 3 demo's for new album |
| October 6 | Recording of self-titled "Metallica" album commences at "One On One" Studio in California |
| October 14 | Records demo for the single "The Unforgiven" at Bayview Studios, California |
| | |
| 1991 | |
| April 29 - May 4 | James, Lars and Bob Rock do minor recording at "Little Mountain Studios" in Vancouver |
| June 10 | Mixing and minor recording starts at "A & M" Studios in Hollywood |
| July 7 | Recording and remixing of the album "Metallica" ends |
| July 8 - 10 | Mastering of "Metallica" at "Sterling Sound" in New York |
| August 12 | Self-titled album "Metallica" released. Debuts at #1 on USA charts
|
| August 17 | Band performs at Castle Donington "Monsters Of Rock" |
| September 28 | Metallica performs in Moscow at the Tushino Airfield |
| October 12 | Begin tour for "Wherever I May Roam" |
| | |
| 1992 | |
| February 25 | Perform "Enter Sandman" at Grammy Awards. Metallica wins "Best Heavy Metal award" for the album "Metallica" |
| April 20 | Band performs at "Tribute To Freddie Mercury" at Wembley Stadium. The 3 song set appears on the live "Nothing Else Matters" CD single that features the Scary Guy. James performs "Stone Cold Crazy" with Queen and Tony Iommi |
| July 17 | Co-headline tour with "Guns ‘N Roses" begins at RFK Stadium, Washington DC |
| August 8 | James burned by a pyro mishap at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. Riot ensues when "Guns ‘N Roses" frontman AXL Rose leaves stage |
| | |
| 1993 | |
| July 4 | Last show of "Wherever I May Roam" tour |
| November 23 | "Binge & Purge" box set released
Metallica Fan Club formed |
| | |
| 1994 | |
| May 30 | Summer tour begins in Buffalo, NY. "Kill/Ride" Medley and "The God that Failed" played live for the first time |
| July 3 | Danzig's last gig opening for Metallica, Glenn performs Misfit's classics "London Dungeon", "Last Caress" and "Green Hell with Metallica". "Suicidal Tendencies" joins Metallica on "So What" |
| August 21 | Last show on Summer tour. Rob Halford joins Metallica on "Rapid Fire" |
| | |
| 1995 | |
| May | Band starts recording sessions for next album(s) |
| August 17 | Rehearsal attended by Club members |
| August 23 | Bands performs Club Member only gig at London Astoria 2 |
| August 26 | Bands interrupts recording session to play at Castle Donington "Monsters Of Rock" show |
| September | Band plays gig at Tuktoyatuk, Canada with "Hole", "Veruca Salt" and "Moist" |
| | |
| 1996 | |
| February 13 | James gets his hair cut |
| May 21 | "Until It Sleeps" single released in USA |
| May 23 | Video of "Until It Sleeps" premiers on MTV |
| June 1 | Metallic releases "Load" album in Japan |
| June 3 | "Load" is released in non-Japan/North America areas |
| June 4 | "Load" is released in North America |
| June 23 | Band plays Club members only gig in Toronto, Canada |
| June 27 | "Lollapalooza" Festival tour begins |
| August 3 | Lemmy of "Motorhead" joins band onstage in Irvine, CA for the single "Overkill" |
| August 4 | Last Lollapalooza show in Irvine, CA. Lemmy joins sits in on "Overkill", Jerry Cantrell joins for "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Live recordings of 5 songs from this show appeared as B - sides |
| September 4 | Metallica plays "Until it Sleeps" at MTV Video Awards |
| September 6 | "Poor Touring Me" European tour begins in Vienna, Austria with "Corrosion of Conformity" opening |
| November 14 | Metallica scheduled to play "King Nothing" at MTV Europe's Video Music Awards, "Last Caress/So What" performed instead |
| November 27 | Last European "Poor Touring Me" in Copenhagen, Denmark |
| December 19 | "Poor Touring Me" North America begins in Fresno, CA, "Korn" opens |
| | |
| 1997 | |
| January 26 | Lars marries Skylar in Las Vegas, NV |
| January 27 | "King Nothing" performed at American Music Awards |
| January 28 | Last date with "Korn" opening, "Corrosion Of Conformity" opens remaining shows |
| February 9 | "Fuel" played for the first time in Chicago |
| May 28 | "Poor Touring Me" ends in Edmonton, Canada |
| July | Recording session for the album "ReLoad" begins |
| August 17 | James marries long-time girlfriend Francesca |
| August 22 | Band breaks from studio for European Festivals, "Pukkelpop" Festival in Belgium |
| August 24 | Appear at "Reading Festival", England |
| October 10 | Recording for "ReLoad" finished |
| October 18 - 19 | Metallica plays acoustic show at Neil Young's 11th Annual Bridge benefit |
| October 21 - 22 | Record video for "The Memory Remains" single in Van Nuys, California |
| November 10 | "The Memory Remains" single released world-wide (except N. America) |
| November 11 | "The Memory Remains" single released in North America; Metallica performs a free show in Philadelphia |
| November 13 | TV appearance on BBC's "Top of the Pops"; Club show at London's "Ministry of Sound". Eight songs recorded at this show would appear as b - sides on various formats of "The Unforgiven II" single |
| November 14 | "ReLoad" released in Japan |
| November 15 | Club gig in Hamburg, Germany |
| November 16 | Club gigs played in Stockholm and Copenhagen. "The Memory Remains" music video premieres on MTV |
| November 17 | World-wide release of "ReLoad" (except USA and Japan) |
| November 18 | USA release of ReLoad; Club show in Paris |
| December 6 | Band plays "The Memory Remains" with "Marianne Faithfull" and "Fuel" on Saturday Night Live |
| December 8 | Wins Billboard Music Award for the Best Hard Rock Artist |
| December 12 | Video shoot for the single "The Unforgiven II" in Los Angeles |
| | |
| 1998 | |
| January 26 | "The Unforgiven II" video premieres in USA |
| January 31 | Kirk marries Lani in Hawaii |
| February 23 | "The Unforgiven II" singles are released world-wide (except N. America & Australia) |
| March 2 | "The Unforgiven II" released in Australia |
| March 17 | "The Unforgiven II" released in North America |
| March 21 | Metallica performs live for MTV's "ReLoad, Rehearse, Request" show |
| March 22 | Lars’ mother, Lone Ulrich mother passes away. First three Pacific Rim tour dates rescheduled |
| April 2 | Pacific Rim leg of "Poor Re-Touring Me" begins in Newcastle, Australia |
| April 7 | Metallica plays live for Club members on Australian TV show "Recovery" |
| May 7 | Video shoot for the single "Fuel" in Tokyo |
| May 8 | Pacific Rim leg of "Poor Re-Touring Me" ends in Tokyo |
| May 21 | "Fuel" video premieres on MTV in USA |
| June 13 | Cali Tee Hetfield born |
| June 16 | "Fuel" singles released |
| June 24 | North American leg of "Poor Re-Touring Me" begins in West Palm Beach, Florida |
| July 6 - 11 | Met Club contest winners work on tour as roadies for Metallica |
| August 5 | Myles Ulrich born |
| August 8 | Tour break |
| August 15 | Jason performs with "Sepultura" in Brazil |
| August 28 | Tour resumes in Irvine, California |
| September 13 | Last show of "Poor Re-Touring Me" in San Diego, California |
| September 15 | Metallica return to studio to record new cover songs for "Garage Days re-release" |
| October 10 | MetClub's first CD-ROM, "Byte the Lightning", ships. |
| October 18 | Metallica performs set at the Playboy Mansion. |
| October 23 | Video for the single "Turn The Page" shot, directed by Jonas Akerlund in LA. |
| November 6 | Kirk has emergency appendectomy while on promo tour in London. |
| November 17 | Toronto, Canada first show in "Garage Inc." promo tour. |
| November 18 | Metallica appears on MTV features premiere of "Turn The Page" music video. |
| November 19 | Chicago, IL "Garage Inc." promo tour. |
| November 20 | Detroit, MI "Garage Inc" promo tour. |
| November 22 | "Whiskey In The Jar" home video shot in NY. Jonas Ackerlund is the director. VH-1 airs Behind the Music program dedicated to Metallica. |
| November 23 | Philadelphia, PA "Garage Inc." promo tour.
"Garage Inc." released outside North America. |
| November 24 | New York, shown live on MTV "Garage Inc." promo tour. "Garage Inc." released in North America. |
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