Metallica

Metallica began on October 28, 1981, when drummer Lars Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield met in LA and agreed to form a band. It would go on to be a legendary heavy metal band and one of the best selling and longest lasting musical acts in history.

After drafting two additional members, bassist Ron McGovney and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, they worked toward the release of their first album. Even before the release of Kill 'em All in 1983, McGovney had left and Mustaine was fired for disruptive behavior (he went on to form Megadeth). The two were replaced and Kill 'em All grew the band's popularity in the metal scene. By 1986, Master of Puppets, their third release and called "the best heavy metal album ever" by some, took them into the limelight. However, that success proved bittersweet when McGovney's replacement, bassist Cliff Burton, was killed in a bus accident in Sweden.

Eventually finding another bassist, Jason Newsted, the band released ...And Justice for All in 1988. It reached No.6 on the Billboard 200, their first in the Top 10, and was also responsible for the band's first Grammy nomination in 1989. Not until 1992 would they win for their next album, the self-titled Metallica -- also known as The Black Album -- which featured tracks such as "Enter Sandman" and "Sad But True".