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Metallica Recruit 'Predators' Director For Mysterious 3D Film Project

Posted 3/8/12 12:00 pm EST by in Metallica, Movies

Metallica

By Zachary Swickey

Metal juggernauts Metallica have been quietly planning a mysterious 3D feature film project and now the group has found the director for the task: Hungarian filmmaker Nimród Antal.

Described as a “marriage of narrative and concert,” the film will include all five Metallica band members with Antal aiming for a summer 2013 release. The group has been hush of any more details, but considering their ’04 documentary “Some Kind of Monster,” which showcased the members in group therapy – it’s bound to be interesting.

Antal, while born in Los Angeles, headed back to his heritage in Hungary in 1991 – attending film school there and completing his award-winning debut film “Kontroll” in 1997. In 2005, Antal moved back to California and has been working in Hollywood ever since. His directing credits include ‘07’s “Vacancy” with Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale. His most recent effort, “Predators,” was a (financially successful) reboot of the Schwarzenegger classic that starred Adrian Brody.

However, it was Antal’s debut that generated interest from Metallica. “I’ve been a fan of Nimród’s since his first Hungarian film, ‘Kontroll,’ showed up at Cannes in 2004 and blew everybody away,” said drummer Lars Ulrich. “I’ve watched with excitement his career in Hollywood blossom over the last few years. Within five minutes of meeting him I was addicted to his enthusiasm, his take on the creative process and his 'thinking outside of the box' personality. Let's get on with it!"

There’s no telling what Metallica has up their sleeves. After releasing a candid documentary and a scrapped video game project in 2003, the group seems up for anything.

Antal will begin shooting the untitled Metallica 3D film in August.

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Metallica May Release Next Album Without A Label

Posted 3/2/12 1:30 pm EST by in Metallica

Metallica

By Zachary Swickey

It takes a behemoth band to handle life without a music label – I’m looking at you Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails – but if anyone is up to the challenge it’s Metallica, so it's no surprise that Lars Ulrich is now hinting that may be the direction they are headed for the distribution of their next effort.

In a new interview with Spin Magazine, the notorious drummer confirmed that their recording contract with Warner Bros. had expired with the release of their last effort, ‘08’s Death Magnetic. Ulrich claims the iconic band is pondering different strategies for the release of their eventual tenth studio album.

“We’re free and clear of our record contract. The world’s our oyster. We can basically do whatever we want. And we’re going to start figuring that out,” Ulrich told Spin.

“We’re writing music and going to be recording very soon. At some point we're going to want to share that with people that are interested in listening to it," he added. "So we gotta figure out ways we want to do that, from giving it away in cereal boxes to getting people to do handstands for it. We could come up with something wacky."

However, Ulrich was quick to point out they wouldn’t be doing so for the novelty of the idea. "This whole thing about who can come up with the coolest [release strategy] so it can be written about on 12 different blogs for six hours – mean sure, that's all pretty cool and hip," he admitted. "But at the same time you have to remember we have a very global audience. We have fans in India and the U.A.E. and Russia. In a lot of these places there are still more conventional ways of getting music to people."

Metallica will be boasting the headline slot at this summer's Download Festival as well as many other large European shows – performing their most popular effort, The Black Album, in its entirety.

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Details About Mysterious Metallica/Lou Reed Collabo Surface

Posted 8/22/11 2:30 pm EST by in collaborations, Metallica

Metallica

By Zachary Swickey

Slowly but surely details continue to emerge about Metallica’s much-anticipated joint effort with former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed. Updating their new joint website this morning, the San Fran thrashers have revealed Lulu as the name of the effort. The group appears to be going by “Lou Reed & Metallica” rather than adopting a joint moniker (so far), which is all the rage these days with The Throne.

Due on November 1, it also appears that the effort will be a concept album as explained via the posting:

’Lulu’ was inspired by German expressionist writer Frank Wededkind’s plays ‘Earth Spirit’ and ‘Pandora’s Box,’ which tell the story of a young abused dancer’s life and relationships and are now collectively known as the ‘Lulu Plays.’ Since their publications in the early 1900’s, the plays have been the inspiration for a silent film, an opera, and countless other creative endeavors.

Apparently, Mr. Reed had initially begun work on a theatrical production in Berlin based on said “Lulu Plays,” but after meeting Metallica at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts held in New York in 2009, the effort segued into a joint venture between the two music powerhouses. Read More...

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Which Rock Bands Of Today Will Be The Classic Rock Bands Of Tomorrow?

Posted 8/8/11 10:00 am EST by in Foo-Fighters, kings of leon, Metallica, red-hot-chili-peppers

By Zachary Swickey

The classic rock sounds of The Eagles and Steely Dan are what I grew up on. Other than the occasional Enya or Kenny G album (help me!), my dad was constantly playing me songs from his youth. I recall him putting on “Be True to Your School” by the Beach Boys and commenting that his parents must’ve loved that. I even argued that Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett’s solo in “Fade to Black” was the greatest of all time … until my father proved me wrong by playing Eric Clapton’s guest guitar-work on the Stephen Stills solo tune “Come Back Home,” which remains my favorite solo to this day.

This had me wondering, in 40 year’s time what music from today will be considered classic rock? Here are five rock acts that I think won’t be leaving the radio anytime soon.

Red Hot Chili Peppers
There are few rock outfits that people have as much admiration for as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their spastic funk jams are the perfect happy-go-lucky music for road trips. (Do you think we’ll still have those in the future?) The band dates back to the ‘80s yet remains as relevant as ever today. Songs like “Scar Tissue” and “Under the Bridge” have become automatic sing-a-longs, and even less popular hits like “Zephyr Song” have a great timelessness to them. I anticipate my future children knowing every word to “Can’t Stop” like I do.

Kings of Leon
If the Kings of Leon don’t disband and keep churning out the radio hits we love, then you can count on them still being on the airwaves in 40 years. With the exception of their recent tour cancellation, the guys are masters of the road. If they aren’t in the studio, then they are usually on tour somewhere in the world, which helps them stay in the spotlight. My prediction is “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” will be sung at karaoke bars and danced to by strippers for many more years to come. (Personally, I’d dance to “Crawl.”)

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Metallica Return To The '80s With $6 Tickets To Anniversary Shows

Posted 7/28/11 1:00 pm EST by in anniversary, Metallica

Metallica

By Zachary Swickey

Heavy metal juggernauts Metallica have revealed they will celebrate 30 years of thrashing mayhem with a week-long residency at San Fransisco’s historic Fillmore Auditorium. Yes, a band that formerly went by the nickname “Alcoholica” not only survived the ‘80s and ‘90s, but today the group is as relevant as ever.

Of course, that’s something worth celebrating, so Metallica is truly giving back to the fans with the intimate residency that is going down December 5, 7, 9, and 10. The ticket prices are heading back to the ‘80s too, with single tickets priced at only $6 each or a four-pack for the clever price of $19.81 (to spell out it – the year the group was conceived). Making things more special, Metallica promises rare songs, varied set lists, and surprise guests (here’s hoping for Lou Reed). There is a catch, though – in an attempt to give back to the fans (rather than the scalpers), tickets are only available through a reservation system that is exclusively available to members of Metallica’s fan club.

If you’re not a So-Cal resident, Metallica also have another stateside “Big 4” show (with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax) lined up for September 14 at Yankee Stadium after finally bringing the special metal bill to the West Coast earlier this year. Read More...

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Metallica And Lou Reed Team Up For Awesome-Sounding Album

Posted 6/16/11 3:00 pm EST by in collaborations, Metallica

Metallica

By Zachary Swickey

Two legendary forces of music – mega-selling metal band Metallica and The Velvet Underground’s enigmatic frontman Lou Reed – have quietly congregated at Metallica’s San Francisco studio to record a collaborative album. Rumors have been swirling for a while, and Metallica finally put them to rest with a statement confirming the effort on their website.

“A few months ago our own Kirk Hammet hinted at a new Metallica project that’s ‘not really 100 percent a Metallica record.’ While Kirk jumped the gun a little, we are more than proud to announce that we have just completed recording a full length album that is a collaboration with none other than the legendary Lou Reed.”

Currently untitled, the record will consist of 10 songs created by Reed with Metallica fulfilling arrangement duties. “I knew it from the first day we played together: ‘Oh, man, this is perfection, right in front of me.’” Reed told Rolling Stone. “They’re bringing Metallica, with all that power, and because they’re pretty sophisticated, wherever I go, they’re still with me.

Metallica giddily share Reed’s enthusiasm for the project: “I don’t think we’ve ever felt this free. There’s nothing that’s totally outside of the boundary for us.” Read More...

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Metallica: A Look Back At The Rock Hall Inductees In 1986

Posted 1/14/09 6:08 pm EST by in Metallica

By Rya Backer

Metalheads of the world, rejoice! Today is the day that one of the greatest metal bands of all time — and certainly the greatest to arise in the past 25 years — has finally gotten its due. Bay Area legends Metallica are headlining the new class of Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

The band's first full-length — Kill 'Em All, released on then-tiny indie Megaforce Records in 1983 — came out just over 25 years ago, which means they've been inducted in the first year of their eligibility. There, they'll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of such sonic standards as Jimi Hendrix, Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Madonna and (er) Michael Jackson.

MTV has long kept close tabs on the band, and I just screened a fair amount of their interview footage throughout the '80s, particularly 1986, when bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a tour-bus accident. In one interview, drummer Lars Ulrich makes fun of bands that wear eyeliner (I wonder if 23-year-old Lars ever thought he'd make a video like the one for "Until It Sleeps"); in another, the band talks about the hazing process for then-new bassist Jason Newsted, which the band discussed ad nauseum in their therapeutic flick, "Some Kind of Monster." The guys also humbly discussed their newfound success.

We sat down with them around the time they first cracked the Top 30 and earned a gold record in 1986 with their classic Master of Puppets. Reaching such heights on the charts was a coup for the quartet, as they crawled out of the American metal metal underground without a fancy image, major radio support or a music video to play on, er, MTV.

Despite that success, guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett remained calm while discussing their new status. And Ulrich discussed the future of Metallica during a phone interview with a radio DJ in Babylon, Long Island — in the somehow-perfect setting of a wood-paneled room covered with posters of assorted metal bands. Enjoy!


Metallica's Lars Ulrich Discusses Band's 'Guitar Hero' Future

Posted 8/6/08 10:49 am EST by in Metallica, Video Games

Metallica's Lars UlrichWe know "Guitar Hero: Metallica" is coming. "Guitar Hero" publisher Activision announced the game in a financial filing (odd, we know) a couple of months ago.

That didn't stop Metallica co-founder Lars Ulrich from getting a bit secretive about it when one of our MTV News reporters asked him about it recently.

Read the rest of this post on our Multiplayer blog ...

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Metallica: So Happy Together

Posted 8/6/08 7:52 am EST by in Metallica, New Music Update

Last week, when we sent our cameras to the set of Metallica's forthcoming video for their track "The Day That Never Comes," we were greeted by a band that seemed genuinely happy — not the same contentious group we saw in 2004's "Some Kind of Monster."

And the difference, it seems, is bassist Robert Trujillo.


Not only does Trujillo sometimes play referee between frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, he also pitches in with his own ideas, coming through in the clutch when the band gets stuck during the songwriting and recording process. Hetfield praised Rob's skills when we asked him what it was like working with the band's newest member on Death Magnetic, which hits stores September 12.

"If someone had said 10, 15 years ago that this dude was going to be in my band, I would have said no way," Hetfield said. "In the studio — and no offense towards Jason — but Rob has already contributed more to this record than [Jason Newsted] did in 14 years. A lot of it did have to do with our fear of losing some kind of control, no doubt about that. But Rob has slipped in somehow easier."

Perhaps the real difference for Metallica isn't Trujillo's presence but the former bassist's absence. Check out the full story here.

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Metallica Plan To Release Death Magnetic In Time For Friday Kegger

Posted 8/5/08 11:43 am EST by in Metallica

Metallica's James Hetfield Rob TrujilloHere's the thing about being Metallica: You kind of get to play by your own rules. And if people don't like it, well, kill 'em all, right? So, in keeping with their disdain for doing things the way everyone else does — which extends to recording hundreds of guitar riffs for just a few seconds of actual shredding — the band announced that its new album, Death Magnetic, will come out on Friday, September 12, busting the traditional Tuesday new release tradition (which we suspect they think is for girly-men anyway).

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