I miss this version of Metallica. RIP Cliff Burton, original bassist of Metallica who died in a tragic buss accident in 1986. This album, and Master of Puppets are my two favorite records. Check out their song Fade to Black.
I saw them in concert about two months before that accident. Snuck a camera in jammed down my pants, they opened for Ozzy, general admission so I separated from my group and went and got an elevated seat up close and told the people next to me (who never heard of them) "Watch this band." Took about a dozen pics, they were super-tight and amazing, and when they were done I turned back to the group and they just said "Holy SHIT!" I said..."Told ya." ;)
Loved the song when I heard it... What I didn't know was the the opening of the song was played w/ bass by the late Cliff Burton... there are video clips of him just shredding on bass and kicking off the intro to the song 'For whom the bell tolls'... A true talent 🤘🤘 Lars Ulrich (drums) and James Hetfield (guitar & vocals) said that the song was inspired by the works of Hemingway...they said they had talked a lot about death... so the themes in 'Ride the lightning' (Metallica's 2nd album in 1984) were about death in the lyrics... nuclear war... execution by electric chair... war battles... suicide... biblical plague... It was highly unusual back then to be writing songs about such morbid topics... and it was also seriously misunderstood (Many accused 'Fade to black' of supposedly promoting suicide, but it helped millions of fans to not take their own lives) But the world of heavy metal was always about the morbid realities of the world. It started w/ Black Sabbath... and Metallica was one of those who ran w/ their own take of the harsh side of life.
@@Aaron-io8vw Cliff studied music. He taught James Hetfield about songwriting arrangements, melodies, harmonies... he was invaluable to Metallica's early records.
The title of the tune refers to a poem that says, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” They do a lot of tunes about young men going off to war and the damage it causes. As a combat veteran I can understand.
Still one of their most popular songs to this day! Cliff on bass was legendary! Still played at their live shows. It’s a must. The 80s were most definitely the best time to be a teen! I have loved this band since around 1984/1985!
@@j.j.4150 Nothing unfortunate about that... that is a great song. Not all songs have to be hard and heavy to be good. That song also has one of the best Hetfield solos in it.
For whom the bell tolls is a poem by John Donne. Donne says that because we are all part of mankind, any person's death is a loss to all of us: “Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” The line also suggests that we all will die: the bell will toll for each one of us.
Only band to play all 7 continents!! Yep, so big they gained special permission to play on the eco fragile Antarctica. That same tour also included the other 6 too. Hopefully you & Crys will react to a video in Antarctica, wicked cool how they did it.
This is my favorite song of all time. It's gotten me through every shitty happening in my life, and helped me find the power to battle on. I have made one expressed wish for when I'm no longer here, and that is that this song is played at my funeral. Love it
I would suggest listening to the polished studio recordings first to appreciate the craftsmanship, then check out the live performances. The solos in particular just aren't the same live.
Disagree with this. Hear me out! With their newer stuff yes. Say from and justice for all on. His voice when he was young was way different. And should be heard this way for the first time at least. I’ve heard and seen them live a few times and it ain’t the same. But when his voice matured and they do the later stuff it’s much better. Although I prefer old Metallica.
I remember your first exposure to Metallica with ‘Master of Puppets’. At the time, you both said it was a bit much (which is understandable). I commented that I’d love to see you guys revisit the song after developing more of a palate for metal. I think that time is here. 🤓🤘🏻
This song played at the Seattle 89 concert was amazing. That whole concert is lit. Every song is played with so much energy and it's their best concert IMO.
This is still one of my favourite Metallica tracks because I was a learner guitarist at the time of release and it was the first track they recorded that was easy enough for me to learn to play. I felt like a rock god in my bedroom..., It was awesome! Fun times.
Na people wear metal shirts even though they've never listened to them just to follow celebrity trends. If the Kardashians wear band shirts the kids also do. Your not cool unless you follow what's in at that moment
Was my 13th bday 1983 sister took me to tower records and said buy what you like... I came back with Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsies and she said that's it? So I went to the Heavy Metal section (maybe 20 cassettes) saw Metallica Ride the lightning and said that sounds hard... 🤔 Went home and blew my mind!
Metallica’s songs are used in so many things nowadays that I am amazed that there hasn’t been a person in the cultured world who hasn’t heard of them. They are the greatest metal band of all time. All other metal bands try their asses off to even be close to them.
Their best album by far, imo. The whole album is fire including the finale instrumental Call of Ktulu...could listen to that all day! They were 22-23 when they made this...just ridiculous.
Did anybody notice Lars was double crashsing with the 14 inch Crash with the 17 heavy crash in the beginning when the drums kicked . I've listened to this millions of times and never heard that...til now....Nice Review.
Another great reaction! Thanks very much! For Whom the Bell Tolls is a song inspired by a novel by Ernest Hemingway of the same name, first published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. The protagonist is a demolition and explosives expert, so he is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia. The novel is the soldier's personal account of the war
the most fire concert they ever did was in San Diego in 1992 , yall should really react to some of theyr live performances from that concert; they were untouchable at this point in time ; if you watch a few clips you can easily understand why its among the top 5 best heavy metal concerts EVER GIVEN
How many time did he say. "Ya no what I'm saying" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Great song still can't believe that the open riff is a bass guitar. Cliff Burton there will NEVER be a bass player like you again. You were and always will be the one true God of the bass guitar. R.I.P
My fav Metallica song in top 3 along with Creeping Death and Master of Puppets. Fun Fact - the bell sound was creating by striking an anvil. Another song with a cool bell sound is AC/DC "Hells Bells".
Great reaction. The entire Ride The Lighning album is thrash metal gold. I still remember hearing it for the first time back in 84 when I was 13. I got to see them live in 86 and 88. If you dare, check out Creeping Death Live in Moscow 1991.
Funny you say That about a metalica shirt. I seen a young girl with an Iron maiden shirt and asked if she liked them? she said she never heard them really. I pointed to her shirt and said I was at that concert LOL.. she replied. you guys got to see all the good bands music today sucks. I told her.. get out there and see some concerts.
If you havent already, check out a video called James Hetfield At Guitar Center. Its only about 15 minutes long but you get to know James' true personality. And a quick back story of the band and how they like to give back to the community. All the guys in Metallica are genuinely decent people who love their fans. I consider them family. Keep Rockin'!
Every Metallica reaction should come from the Seattle 89 concert. There's no better Metallica than that, and it's one of the best concerts on film. You should also check out the opener for this album, Fight Fire With Fire. It's... well, it's 🔥
The beginning of this song is a bass guitar played by the legend himself Mr Cliff Burton once I heard this at the young age 7 Cliff became my hero and I picked up my first bass at 8/9 and it was on late 80s eary 90s ready to become the next Cliff….. I will walk up on you and ask you if your wearing a Metallica shirt what’s your favorite song off the first album 😂
Saw Metallica on this tour, good show, if you would have told us back then they would become as big as Queen, not sure if we (or even the band) would have believed that at the time
You guys really need to check out "Disposable Heroes (with lyrics)" and then check out the Live version in Mexico City. It's my favorite Metallica song. It's the greatest metal song ever IMHO!