When the first edition of this book was published in 2004, it caused enormous controversy, with author Joel McIver's account of Metallica's rise and fall exposing the multiple myths that had surrounded the band for years. For the first time, a book dared to tell the unvarnished truth about their early life on the San Francisco circuit, their heyday as the world's most uncompromising metal band and the notorious controversies which plagued their later years. Napster, Playboy, Rehab, St Anger and their recent return to form with Death Magnetic are all covered in this updated edition which features brand new interviews on top of the original, still-groundbreaking material. This is the real Metallica story.

Author Biography

Joel McIver is a writer and journalist specialising in rock and metal. One of the editorial team at Record Collector magazine, his work extends from biographies of Slipknot and Queens of the Stone Age - also published by Omnibus Press - as well as articles for various magazines to liner notes for classic albums.