1999-
Metallica continues on their touring for Garage Inc....

1998-
Metallica tours with their two new albums Load and Reload. At the end of their tour, they begin recording new cover songs by such bands as Diamond Head and Black Sabbath for their 9th album (double-album), Garage Inc. The second side of this album consists of old Metallica covers such as Am I Evil? and Last Caress. Metallica also wins best performance for their apearance on Saturday Night Live the year before.

1997-
Lars secretly gets married on January 26th and surprises fans with the news the next day. Metallica begins recording their remaining songs for Reload and release it. To raise their fan approval rating, Metallica plays a free concert in Philadelphia.

1996-
Their 6th album, Load. After this Metalli-comeback, Metallica begins Metallapalooza, a series of concerts with Soundgarden supporting them. They then take a long tour on in Europe before surprising fans at an MTV performance by playing So What and Last Caress when scheduled to play King Nothing.

1995-
Metallica records their songs for their next scheduled album Load but end up with more songs than they need for one album. They decide to put out Load with 14 songs and with the 13 songs they have left, they compile them into their album a year later entitled Reload.

1994-
Metallica suffers with record deal problems while writing new songs for their next album. Not much of a big year here.

1993-
Metallica continues on their touring for the black album. They release a home video of the recording of this album; the video is entitled A Year and a Half In the Life of Metallica. Metallica has sold 20 million copies of their new album and are clearly at the peak of their career. Stage accident enflicts burns on James' arms and legs, he goes to the hospital. He returns to concert to sing with James Marshall on rhythm guitar.

1992-
Metallica plays in the Freddie Mercury Concert for Life in his memory and to help raise money to fight AIDS. Metallica then tours with Guns 'N' Roses for a year. Enter Sandman wins best video for the MTV Music Video Awards.

1991-
Productions for Metallica, Metallica's first album with Bob Rock producing, are finished and it is released. It leaps right to the top of the charts right away. Enter Sandman is the first Metallica song to be played in the top 40 on the radio. Metallica begins touring for the first time in almost 3 years.

1990-
Metallica meets up with Bob Rock (feeling the need to get some new blood into their production team) and begins writing their most popular album Metallica. This is Metallica's first sign of maturing and they begin to write more detailed music.

1989-
Metallica vacations for a year except for performing One on telecast after receiving their first Grammy nomination for Best Heavy Metal Album for ...and Justice for All.

1988-
After 5 months of production, Metallica puts out their 5th album, ...and Justice for All in May. They play with Van Halen in the Monsters of Rock tour. Metallica sells more merchandise than any other band on the tour. Metallica then goes on their first headline tour ever and get inspired to make their first video for their hit song One which they debut on MTV.

1987-
Almost fully recovered from Cliff's death (to find out more about Cliff, check out his page), Metallica puts out their 4th album, Jason's first with the band, Garage Days Re-Revisited. Later that year, in memory of Cliff, they release their first video, Cliff 'Em All. Cliff 'Em All consists of live bootleg recordings of some of Metallica's shows with Cliff from 1983 to 1986.

1986-
Finishing productions of Master of Puppets, they decide not to put out a video. Despite this, it soars to the top of the charts and is certified gold. Metallica then tours with Ozzy Osbourne. This is their biggest tour ever. Later that year, while on the road, Cliff is tragically killed in a freak tour bus accident in Scandinavia. Metallica discontinues their tour to grieve for their lost friend. After trying as hard as they could to get over his death, they hook up with a young bassist, Jason Newsted, and continue their Master of Puppets Tour.

1985-
Metallica begins writing their 3rd album, Master of Puppets. Not quite ready for the studio, Metallica struggles with their writings and admits that some of their songs were written the day they were recorded. During their recording sessions, Metallica shares a stage with Megadeth for the first time since Mustaine's departure from the band.

1984-
After one album with Megaforce Records, Metallica signs with Elektra Records who promises them creative freedom. Metallica writes and records their second album Ride the Lightning. After releases of Ride the Lightning, Metallica signs a seven year deal with Elektra.

1983-
After Metallica's first real big-time show, James, Lars and Cliff decide that Dave parties too much and they fire him. Enter Kirk Hammet. He is initiated into Metallica and they record their debut album Kill 'Em All. Metallica tours Europe opening for Venom.

1982-
Their first demo, No Life 'till Leather is recorded and their popularity begins to rise. Metallica plays their first gig opening for Saxon (James sings with no guitar). They later drop McGovney and hook up with local bassist Cliff Burton. Metallica then records their second demo which includes Whiplash and No Remorse.

1981-
James and Lars hook up through a Los Angeles newspaper and decide to start a band. They hook up with James' friend Ron McGovney. He plays bass for them. After jamming for a while, Metallica records demos with guitarist Lloyd Grant. Their first song Hit the Lights is included on a compilation of Metal Massacre 1. Dave Mustaine enters the band and Metallica has it's first band lineup.