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Metallica Drummer to Sell Basquiat Painting
Lars Ulrich, songwriter and drummer for the heavy-metal band Metallica, is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his art collection that could set a new auction record for the artist, Christie's said Friday.
"Untitled (Boxer)" was painted in 1982 by Basquiat, a graffiti artist who died of a drug overdose in 1988 when he was 27. It depicts a black heavyweight fighter with his arms thrust in the air against a graffiti-filled background.
Christie's will offer the work on Nov. 12 as part of its Post War and Contemporary Art sale. Its pre-sale estimate is more than $12 million. Lars Ulrich, songwriter and drummer for the heavy-metal band Metallica, is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his art collec... more -
Metallica Face Criticism Over Sound Quality of “Death Magnetic”
An odd complaint has cropped up around the release of Metallica’s much-anticipated chart-topping album Death Magnetic: fans think it’s too loud. An odd complaint has cropped up around the release of Metallica’s much-anticipated chart-topping album Death Magnetic: fans think it’s... more
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George Michael Busted!
Ten stories in two minutes. Bono, Ted Nugent, Courtney Love, Led Zeppelin, George Michael, Travis Barker and Eddie Veder to name a few. On this edition of the Weekly Fix, we bring you the music news overload. Ten stories in two minutes. Bono, Ted Nugent, Courtney Love, Led Zeppelin, George Michael, Travis Barker and Eddie Veder to name a few... more
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iPod Taking Some of the Blame for Problems With Metallica's 'Death Magne...
If you purchased Metallica's new album Death Magnetic, you may have noticed that it sounds like complete shit. But don't blame Metallica, producer Rick Rubin or mastering engineer Ted Jensen—the real culprit here is Apple and their dammed iPod. While the "loudness wars" have been going on since the late 80's, the development of digital music and the iPod have heated things up. Record execs are tempted to sacrifice dynamic range for increased volume because digital music makes it possible to squeeze all of the sound into a narrow, high-volume range. This temptation is pressed further when you try and optimize sound for the iPods crappy lo-fi earbuds.
It is clear that the record industry needs to shift their focus from quantity and put it squarely back on quality. I mean—who are they trying to impress anyway? Do people really care who has the loudest album anymore? According to a recent WSJ article, even metal fans are complaining that things are getting out of hand. Do you agree? If you purchased Metallica's new album Death Magnetic, you may have noticed that it sounds like complete shit. But don't bla... more -
Metallica, Run-D.M.C. nominees for Rock Hall
1980's rappers Run-D.M.C. and rockers Metallica are amongst the acts nominated for entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, announced on Monday in Cleveland, Ohio. 1980's rappers Run-D.M.C. and rockers Metallica are amongst the acts nominated for entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ann... more
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Metallica, The Stooges, Run-DMC Lead Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
Metallica, Run-DMC and The Stooges are among the nominees for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. For the first time in 12 years, the ceremony will be held April 4th in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Metallica, Run-DMC and The Stooges are among the nominees for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. For the first time in 12 year... more
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Metallica to McCartney
From Death Magnetic to death threats, this Weekly Fix covers all that and in between. Get the latest on Metallica, McCartney, Mozart and more. From Death Magnetic to death threats, this Weekly Fix covers all that and in between. Get the latest on Metallica, McCartney, Mozart a... more
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Metallica Interview Canceled after reporter download their album via Bittorrent!
Metallica’s label Universal stepped in and canceled an interview with a Swedish newspaper last week after one of its writer reviewers said he got his copy of the album via BitTorrent. The writer, Jonn Jeppsson, who actually reviewed an edited version of ‘Death Magnetic’, admitted he downloaded it from The Pirate Bay.
It seems that no matter how hard they try, Metallica will continue to make anti-piracy headlines. After their bloody battle with Napster years ago, they were determined to keep calm when their latest album, ‘Death Magnetic’, inevitably hit the torrents.
This time, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich shocked everyone by saying: “If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. It’s 2008 and it’s part of how it is these days.”
Despite this effort, it hasn’t taken long for people to start a dispute over piracy. According to a report, Metallica’s label, Universal Music, canceled an interview the band had planned with the Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan last week, after a writer there, Jonn Jeppsson, sparked off an anti-piracy row featuring him and The Pirate Bay.
Instead of reviewing the official version of the album, Jeppsson used an unauthorized cut called “Death Magnetic: Better, Shorter, Cut”, which contains the same songs as the original, but shortened. If reviewing an unofficial copy wasn’t enough, Mr Jeppson clearly enraged Universal when he admitted in his review that he downloaded his copy off The Pirate Bay.
Metallica’s label Universal was not pleased, to say the least. Talking with Dagens Media, Universal Sweden’s Per Sundin said: “The reviewer is referring to a torrent where someone has altered the original songs. The reviewer explains exactly where one should go in order to download the file that is totally infringing copyright. It’s not only an illegal file, but an altered file. The reviewer also writes that this is how the album should have sounded.”
Showing that Universal isn’t happy about piracy, even if Lars seems to have undergone a road-to-Damascus-style recovery, Sundin went on stating: “File-sharing of music is illegal. Period. There’s nothing to discuss. That fact that Sydsvenskan has a writer that has downloaded this music illegally and then makes mention of an illegal site in his review is totally unacceptable to us.”
Hinting that Universal may stop sending promo material for Sydsvenskan to review he ends: “We live in symbiosis with each other and we send them our artists’ record for free for review. But if they download the albums illegally instead, then there’s no point in doing that.”
Meanwhile, ‘Death Magnetic’ entered the UK chart at #1. Metallica’s label Universal stepped in and canceled an interview with a Swedish newspaper last week after one of its writer reviewers ... more -
Q and A with Robert from Metallica
"It's like you're caught inside a massive set of waves"
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Q and A with Kirk Hammet
"I was ready to start working on a solo album"
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Q and A with Lars from Metallica
"If we don't get along, everything else is irrelevant"
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Q and A with James Hetfield.
"There's more dedication from the four of us than ever before"
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Louder Faster Stronger
How Metallica conquered bad habits, group therapy and ego clashes to make their heaviest record ever. An excerpt from the cover story.
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Jacqueline Mannering (Lead Guitarist) & Robert Trujillo (METALLICA) Bassist L...
My daughter and Robert Trujillo at the launch party of their album Death Magnetic at the o2 Arena London 15th September 2008.
Awesome concert!! My daughter and Robert Trujillo at the launch party of their album Death Magnetic at the o2 Arena London 15th September 2008. ... more -
Mrs Sarkozy meets Metallica on TV
Singer Carla Bruni, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has given a rare performance, appearing alongside rock bands Metallica and Kings of Leon.
The acts were all on UK music TV show Later... with Jools Holland, where Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy told the host her husband was "very kind" about her music.
"I play it at home and I disturb him with it in the middle of the night," the 40-year-old former model said.
She married Mr Sarkozy in February and released her third album in July.
The TV show, starting its 33rd series, is renowned for its eclectic mix of music.
Metallica, Carla Bruni and Jools Holland (far right)
Metallica provided a contrast to Carla Bruni on Jools Holland's show
Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy tapped her foot and clapped as heavy metal monsters Metallica performed tracks from their number one album Death Magnetic.
But their music could not be further apart, with Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy's sultry, breathy chanson style evoking Parisian cafes, while Metallica normally soundtrack sweaty stadiums.
As well as the French first lady and Metallica, the programme also featured the group at the top of the UK singles chart - Tennessee blues-rockers the Kings of Leon.
One edition of the show went out live on Tuesday, while another extended version was filmed to be broadcast on BBC Two on Friday.
Jools Holland, the former Squeeze musician turned TV host, interviewed Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy for both shows.
Her appearance came just days after she met Pope Benedict XVI, while she has also accompanied Mr Sarkozy meeting dignitaries such as the Queen and the Dalai Lama in recent months.
During the live episode, Holland asked what it was like mixing her roles as a singer-songwriter and president's wife.
click on link Singer Carla Bruni, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has given a rare performance, appearing alongside rock bands Metalli... more -
Metallica Stir Up a Mosh Pit at “Death Magnetic” Show for BBC
Fresh off a launch party/concert for Death Magnetic in Berlin, Metallica checked into London’s BBC Theatre last night to record a one-hour live radio broadcast that saw the band test five new tracks and rifle through a handful of old favorites. Fresh off a launch party/concert for Death Magnetic in Berlin, Metallica checked into London’s BBC Theatre last night to record a one-... more
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Metallica interview canceled over mention of torrent
A Swedish journalist reviewed the new Metallica record, based on a mashup he heard from a bit-torrent. The version cut out parts of the songs, which the writer appreciated. He said it was like removing a person from a fat suit.
Metallica's label, Universal, canceled the interview because the writer linked directly to where you can download the music for free.
Metallica has long been at war with the internet. A Swedish journalist reviewed the new Metallica record, based on a mashup he heard from a bit-torrent. The version cut out parts of th... more -
Metallica tries to revive classic sound on 'Death Magnetic'
In the last decade, Metallica has had a few image problems. They had run-ins with Napster and fans who were downloading their music, then they battled with each other and fired their bass player. Once metal innovators, they became parodies of bloated, past-their-prime rock stars in the “Spinal Tap”-like 2004 documentary “Some Kind of Monster.”
With its scenes of petty in-fighting, group therapy, and champagne-sipping extravagance, “Monster” exposed a band that had lost touch with everything that had once made it great.
“Death Magnetic” (Warner), the band’s first studio album in five years and the ninth in its 25-year career, tries to rehabilitate the band’s image by explicitly referencing its late ‘80s Golden Age.
Back then, Metallica defined thrash metal with its speed and aggression, then expanded the genre’s range with acoustic touches, roof-raising melodies and multi-part arrangements reminiscent of progressive rock.
But in reality, this is mid-life crisis music, closer in spirit to the band’s previous (and much derided) album, “St. Anger.” The 2003 album’s musical merits were lost in the ill-will stirred up by the Napster controversy, but it boasted a weird, buzzing energy born of discontent and confusion. Lars Ulrich’s drums sounded like trash cans, and the songs lashed out violently in search of direction, in contrast to the more concise, song-focused arrangements of the previous decade. I saw it as an improvement over most of the band’s ‘90s albums, but that’s not really saying much.
The hooks on “Death Magnetic” are more apparent, thanks to the production of song-doctor Rick Rubin. And Ulrich’s drums now sound like drums again, especially on the blister-raising last half of “My Apocalypse.” The interplay between guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett reaches levels of blinding fury on “All Nightmare Long.”
But there are crucial differences with the past, a few key reasons why middle-age Metallica is not nearly as potent as early Metallica. In the ‘80s, the band looked out at the world and reported back. The songs screamed like an air-raid siren, the perfect soundtrack for the Cold War Reagan era. But the lyrics on “Death Magnetic” are pedestrian and sometimes silly: Visitations from the Grim Reaper that sound like second-hand “Dungeons & Dragons” fantasy-game knockoffs, crossed with the touchy-feely, more “personal” lyrics that marred “St. Anger.” In the last decade, Metallica has had a few image problems. They had run-ins with Napster and fans who were downloading their music, t... more -
Metallica in Lego
Now I'm not even a Metallica fan but this got me moshing.
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Metallica - The Day That Never Comes
Their single off their new album. The song remindes me so much of "One" though.
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