Metallica's first concert took place on March 14, 1982, at the Radio City club in Anaheim, California, and marked the band's live debut.
At the time, the lineup consisted of James Hetfield on vocals, Dave Mustaine on guitar, Ron McGovney on bass, and Lars Ulrich on drums, although James did not yet play rhythm guitar live and was solely responsible for singing.
The show was small and intimate, with between 75 and 200 people in attendance, mostly school friends and acquaintances, and they charged about $15 per ticket. They played mainly covers of bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, such as Diamond Head, Blitzkrieg, and Savage, along with a few original songs like “Hit the Lights” and “Jump in the Fire.”
During the first song, Dave Mustaine broke a string and took a while to change it, which left James feeling quite uncomfortable and nervous as he stood alone in front of the audience without a guitar.
After the concert, the band was a bit disappointed with how things had gone, but that modest show at a Los Angeles club was the starting point for everything that would follow. The live birth of one of the greatest bands in the history of metal 🤘🏻
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In Memoriam (1/3): Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with @BlackSabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024, @OzzyOsbourne was rock’s beloved Prince of Darkness. His instantly recognizable voice was urgent, raw, and sincere, and his notorious stage presence was...
I just can’t believe it! My dear dear friend Ozzy has passed away only weeks after our show at Villa Park.
It’s just such heartbreaking news that I can’t really find the words, there won’t ever be another like him. Geezer, Bill and myself have lost our brother.
My thoughts go out to Sharon and all the Osbourne family. Rest in peace Oz. Tony