METALLICA TATTOOS

A-Z of Metallica Terms and Names

This page gives the info behind certain names or phrases used in this website and hopefully makes understanding various different areas of the site easier. There are references to people and places and band related words such as Scary guy!! but I'm sure everyone knows who the Scary Guy is!!

Alcoholica

A nickname for Metallica, given to them somewhere in Europe in 1985, because of their love of drinking. A fan was spotted wearing a T-shirt he had made of the cover of Kill 'Em All, only instead of a hammer and blood, the T-shirt showed a bottle spilling Vodka. The band members liked it so much, they adopted it for their own use.

Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica is a Finnish band that released their Metallica tribute album in May '96. They are a quartet that consists of four guys playing cellos. The songs on this album where chosen because they could be arranged for the cellos, so songs with fast guitar solos weren't selected. They even did a video for Enter Sandman!

Believe

This is the first name which Metallica had in mind for the "Cure" song, because of the repeating 'I Do Believe' - part.

Blitzer

When Lars and Jayms tried to find a suitable name for the band, all they could come up with at first was "Blitzer", "Grinder" and "Red Vette", but as you probably know, they ended up with "Metallica".

Blood and Semen III

The image on the cover of Load is a photograph called "Blood and Semen III" by Anrdes Serrano. It was done by mixing bovine blood and the artist's own semen between two sheets of plexiglass. Kirk discovered the photo while looking through a collection of the artist's work at a bookstore.

Chophouse

The Chophouse is Jason's home studio where he is creating the most part of his projects beside Metallica.

Cliff 'Em All

"Cliff 'Em All" was a video release in '88 which included much of the band's private footage of their three years with Cliff Burton. Metallica had made no promos for it because the aim of the video was to show Cliff and the band as they really were. The song "Orion" was a very emotional moment for the band, because it was the music they had chosen for Cliffs funeral. But it also included a lot of fun stuff, when Cliff is indulging to his beloved madness.

Devils Dance

A track meant to be on the Load album, that was pulled out in the last minute. The song was performed live a few times prior to that album. Devils Dance appeared on the Re-Load album.

Die Krupps

This is a German band that released a nine song tribute album. Their interpretation of the songs is considerably different than that of the originals. There is some guitar, but mostly keyboards, electronic drums and a strong accent from the vocalist.

Doris

Doris is Lady Justice's nickname (the statue with the scales on the "...And Justice For All" album).

The Dungeon

The Dungeon is the name of Lars's home studio. It is the place where several new ideas of the band had their origin.

Ecstasy of Gold

Metallica's intro tape on their shows. Ecstasy of Gold is composed by Ennio Morricone, and is from the Clint Eastwood flick "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly."

Flotsam & Jetsam

This is the name of the band where Jason played before he joined Metallica.

F.O.B.D.

This stands for the demo tape of 'Until it sleeps' (read: 'Fell on black days').

Hatred Aside

It's a Sepultura song from the album "Against", but Jason Newsted took part in writing the lyrics, he also played the baritone guitar and took part in the bawling vocals (!).

Influences

- James Hetfield: Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Ted Nugent

- Lars Ulrich: Diamond Head, Motorhead, Deep Purple

- Kirk Hammett: Jimi Hendrix, UFO, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Joe Satriani

- Jason Newsted: Kiss, Rush, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent

Johnny Got His Gun

The movie clips on One are from the film "Johnny Got His Gun", which was adapted from the book by Dalton Trumbo, who also directed the movie.

Ktulu

From the song The Call Of Ktulu. Ktulu comes from the mind of author H.P. Lovecraft. He writes fascinatingly twisted and disturbed books and Metallica was influenced a bit by him after Cliff Burton had introduced his writings to the rest of the band. Ktulu is contained within a book that H.P. Lovecraft wrote. They are great books that explore the macabre to it's fullest.

The logo

James is responsible for the original design, the Load design and the St. Anger design.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation is an organization that attempts to make the dreams of seriously ill youngsters come true. Metallica actively support and assist as often as possible.

Megaforce Records

The first record label who signed Metallica. Kill 'em all was first released on this label

The 'Memorie Remains' - dialogue

Marianne Faithfull chose a few of her favorite movie one-liners to add to the feel of the song. One of the movies is Marilyn Monroe's "The Misfits". The line "Say yes. At least say hello." is from that movie.

Metal Massacre I

A compilation album including bands like Ratt, Bitch, Malice etc. The Metallica song Hit The Lights appeared on this album, which was the first vinyl release featuring the four M's.

Metal Militia

Metallicas first official fan club.

Mechanix

Dave Mustaine wrote a few tunes with Lars and Jayms while he was a member of the band. Mechanix is one of these, which later was changed a bit and given a new name, The Four Horsemen. The original version can be heard on some old demos, as well as on the first Megadeth album.

Metal Up Yer Ass

Lars came up with his own concept for the first LP title and artwork. The title was "Metal Up Yer Ass" and its artwork featured an arm holding a machete coming out of a toilet bowl ! But after further discussion he coined the title "Kill 'Em All" and the hammer covered in fresh blood as its artwork.

Mouldy

This stands for the name of 'Hero of the day' before it was renamed.

The Name Metallica

Lars stole the name Metallica from "Mr. Metal" of San Francisco, Ron Quintana. He was getting ready to launch a metal fanzine and had a few names. He asked his friend Lars for help, and after hearing the name "Metallica," Lars quickly suggested a different name and kept "Metallica" for himself!

No Life `Til Leather

This is the name of the demo Metallica recorded in July '82. This demo-tape was never officially released, but copies were made and spread like a bushfire. It included the tracks: Hit the Lights, Mechanix (The Four Horsemen), Motorbreath, Seek & Destroy, Metal Militia, Jump In The Fire and Phantom Lord ( which were later released on "Kill 'Em All", as you know)

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is a documentary aired on HBO about 3 accused teenagers, Damien Echols (18), Jason Baldwin (16), and Jessie Misskelly (17), who alledgedly murdered 3-8 year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. Alledgedly they were devil worshippers and Damien liked to listen to Metallica. The film makers used Metallica songs in both Paradise Lost and the new Paradise Lost 2: Revelations.

Piss and Blood

It is the image on ReLoad's cover which is also done by Andres Serrano.

Q-Prime

The band's management company. Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch are two of the guys employed here, and they work with Metallica.

Recycler

Lars had placed an ad in a newspaper called The Recycler, saying he was looking for people to jam with. James answered the ad, but was unimpressed with Lars' playing, partly due to the fact that Lars' cymbals fell over every time he hit them! Shortly thereafter, Lars went to England to follow his favorite band, Diamond Head on tour, and after returning to the States, got a spot on Brian Slagel's "Metal Massacre" album. Using this as bait, he talked James into recording a song for the album, and the rest is history.

Scary Guy

Jaymz came up with the Scary Guy logo, which first saw the light of day on the 3 track limited edition CD-single Live At Wembley. You will also find the skull design on the "Live, shit..." box, as well as on T-shirts and merchandise. James has had different Scary Guy designs over the years.

Scrap Metal

At the 1987 Aardshok Festival in Zwolle, Holland, a group of Metallica roadies under the name SCRAP METAL opened the nine hour festival, that Metallica headlined, playing a set of covers!

The Snake

The "Snake" that you can see on the cover of the Black Album is from the Culpepper Minutemen flag, from which the motto "Don't Tread On Me" also originates. The flag is actually from the Revolutionary War. There are a couple of different versions of it. There is a yellow one, a white one, and one with red and white stripes, which was the first American Flag! The white one reads at the top "The Culpepper Minutemen", and the yellow one just has the snake and "Don't Tread On Me" at the bottom.

Snake Pit

The Snake Pit was a large pit in the middle of Metallica's diamond-shaped "Wherever I May Roam" stage, set aside so a few lucky fans could stand right in the middle of the action on stage. It is also an online meeting place for Metallica fans on AOL.

The Ten Commandments

The lyrics for Creeping Death are about the tale of the plagues bestowed upon the Egyptians, inspired by the second half of the movie "The Ten Commandments."

Pushead

The artist behind some Metallica covers like "One" and "Harvester of sorrow" as well as merchandise and t-shirts

Q-Prime

Metallica's management. Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch aren't just employees of Q-Prime, they are the founders and heads of Q-Prime. Q-Prime is one of the most successful management businesses in the world. It's clients include: Metallica, Def Leppard, Hole, Queensyrche, Vercua Salt and others.

Tommy's Joint

Tommy's Joint is a Hofbrau (meat, potatos and BEER!!!) located in San Francisco and was a hangout of Metallica's; it is also the place where Jason was asked to join the band!