Metallica performing live premiere of Escape from the album "Ride the Lightning" at Orion Music and More festival. First time ever they played "Ride the Lightning" from start-to-finish.
@@Danyel76 That's blasphemy. They just aren't playing it like Cliff intended. Much faster on album. This song has heart. Imagine if they put everything they have into it like when it was recorded.
They hated it because while making RTL they were asked to come up with a "radio friendly" song for the album and Escape was what they came up with. They didn't want to play that slower and catchier style of radio rock on what is otherwise an album full of thrash metal. It's not that it's a bad song, what they came up with when they were asked to at the last minute was pretty good, but it just doesn't fit with the rest of the album. It wouldn't even fit on the Black Album IMO, even though it's a far more radio friendly album than RTL.
He was definitely being a good sport about it at least. And for having never played it live and having written it like 30 years ago or something I'd say they fuckin killed it! 👏👏👏
They asked James in an interview why they never play their song Escape live and he said "The song Escape hasn't gelled with my with my vocal range in a long long time"
Easily the most underrated song on Ride the lightning, it has a late 70s Black Sabbath vibe imo and I’m a huge fan of both of them so this song is fantastic
Interesting fact, this is the first and possibly only time they played escape live. Meaning that if you think it sounds bad, well no shit. The last time they played it was when the album was released.
Samuel Chassot im sure he probably practiced it in his spare time over the years, its one of those songs that the fans really loved despite the fact the band hated it. like frayed ends of sanity.
Seen Metallica like 6 times. I think the biggest 'historic' fact I was at one of their shows to witness was the first ever live playing of U3, in Lincoln. More enjoyed watching them play all their Garage Days Misfits stuff with Danzig and Suicidal Tendencies on stage with them in Chicago though, way back when.
From a recent Revolver interview with Lars: "I love “Escape”! James is just being James. We always jam on that mostly to piss him off. And he’ll start playing along in a different key or something. James told me that he actually heard the live version of Escape from Orion on the radio, and he said it sounded pretty good. So maybe there’s hope for Escape. Maybe it will make an appearance again in the next decade or so" Good to hear James is starting to like the song, hopefully hear it live again
The record label they were with forced them to do it. Which is why many believe this is a song about breaking away from "The Man" or their record label at the time. Oh well. Still a great song haha.
+Thebiggestbeast111 I find it important to emphasize that it was Rushed and Forced by the record label. Why do I find that distinction important? 'Cause Hardwired was "Thrown together" due to the band thinking that the other songs on the new album didn't feel like good opening tracks.
pahaahv the reason they don't like it is because the label they were on at the time it was written forced them to write a song that was "radio friendly" in an age when Metallica didn't give a fuck about album sales and getting air time on mainstream radio... can see where you're coming from though bud it's one of the stand out tracks on ride the lightning for me
The song is alright. Has a good instrumental and the chorus is relatively catchy. But because this wasn't a song that they wanted to write and the record label made them do it they see it as some early form o sellout
No, the reason he doesn't like it is because they were forced to write a "radio friendly" song, which was what they didn't wanna do, they wanted to go against the mainstream.
Aa A now I understand I was always trying figure that out is that why dave mustiane hated the album super collider like he realized that that he screwed making an album like that cause that album was awful anyway haha
I mean when they put this song out kids actually moshed to Metallica. so I can understand why they didn't play it in the clubs. But yeah after ride the lightning they got way to radio friendly.
***** idk for me I'm into faster and in my opinion heavier stuff, after ride the lightning for me I felt like Metallica lost there edge they had. There was anger, pure anger at that in the first two albums. Once the third came out they had everything. Dave Mustaine's writing was missing to, and I definitely think that is what killed for me.
Escape is not only one of the greatest Metallica songs ever, but it's part of one of their greatest albums, and specially a very special song for me, Ride the Lightning album really helped A LOT through the hardest part of my life, and the lyrics on Escape, the beautiful yet aggressive melody, means very much for me, James should be proud for writing that, i don't get why hates it so much lmao.
I liked it. It is writ5in major and not minor like most of their songs. It is unique and quite catchy. I always liked it. After seeing this live video I like the album version better
I like this song. I guess it probably because its in the key of A (I think) which isn’t particularly heavy so it sounds quite light and a fluffy by their standards.
BlackSketchyThing the chorus is “gay”? You must have the depth of appreciation for music of a jar of snot. Anything that isn’t edgy tough guy music sucks, right?
I was there with my best friend of 40 years Ruthie and we had such a great time at Orion NJ 2012. She taught in Philly for 27 years and had a former student see her at Orion; first time she ever saw a student at a concert 😂. She passed away in October 2022 and I miss her but I get to relive concerts we went to and smile. Thanks for sharing. Take care 🙂
Are there any other songs we haven't played 1.frayed ends of sanity( though playing it at Helsinki tomorrow:) 2. House jack built 3. Cure 4.ronnie 5.thorn within 6.attitude 7.bad seed 8. Better than you 9.fixxxer 10.invisible kid 11.my world 12.prince charming 13. Purify 14.shoot me again 15. Slither 16. Where the wild things are
I don't know, Escape was one of my favorite Metallica songs ever, since the moment I started to listen to them about 30 years ago (man time flies fast!) 1) Escape 2) Fade to black 3) Sanitarium - three greatest Metallica songs IMHO. To not play Escape live is very, very stupid decision.
like a bunch of other comments above, it was forced upon them by their label company to make more radio friendly music and they hated that clearly by the video.
Don't get it, they don't like to play this song because it's their first "mainstream" song, but they always play Sandman and Nothing which are their most popular and "mainstream" songs.
+SigmaTV Even if they were "Forced" to write it I don't understand why they just don't embrace it and maybe play it a bit faster or something :) and like James did, add a bunch of "Heys!" -It's not like the song is not in the relm of Metallica
The outro riff of this song is pure perfection. Where james sings " life is for my own to live my own way" wish they incorporated more of that throughout the song.
James: is there any songs that we haven't played that you would like to to play that aren't Escape? Me: well you could play Fixx- James: Escape it is then
This is the first Metallica song I ever heard when I was 5 years old and I've been a die hard fan ever since, I was so happy to hear it played live finally.
sounds good live... oh, and... "lars drumming was way off because i play drums in my moms basement and have three videos on youtube... i know this stuff". you gotta say that in any metallica video. jejeje
@Eddie The Head Fr though. Lars, while he ain't no Vinnie Paul or Scott Travis, is a great drummer and I respect his ability to keep going strong for 37+ years now.
Fell no pain, but my life ain't easy I know I'm my best friend No one cares, but I'm so much stronger I'll fight until the end To escape from the true false world Undamaged destiny Can't get caught in the endless circle Ring of stupidity Out for my own, out to be free One with my mind, they just can't see No need to hear things that they say Life is for my own to live my own way Rape my mind and destroy my feelings Don't tell me what to do I don't care now, 'cause I'm on my side And I can see through you Feed my brain with your so called standards Who says that I ain't right Break away from your common fashion See through your blurry sight Out for my own, out to be free One with my mind, they just can't see No need to hear things that they say Life is for my own to live my own way See they try to bring the hammer down No damn chains can hold me to the ground Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way Life is for my own to live my own way
I dont get it why they dont like this song, it is better than most of the songs after Black Album and also for me as good as the rest from pre-Black Album. Song have great sounding intro and verse riff structure, chorus is really well made vocally and riff as well, I love the slow heavy bridge, solo is really good sounding fast rock blues, here Hammet solos still had some feeling and quality and this one is no exception. Then outro is also really interesting , like much heavier and darker sounding chorus (like "radio friendly chorus we hate so now we will make dark sounding outro chorus"). If only songs after Black Album would stay at least on the level of Escape :-D
Exactly, not to mention the great lyrics, harmonized guitars (which I'm a sucker for) and James' vocal just before the solo in the studio version. And the air raid siren in the end is such an excellent touch.
I think the stuff after the Black Album is good although had they taken the best songs from Load and Reload and made only one album in that three year span especially since both albums have the same tone to it they might as well have. My point being I love everything Metallica has put out because I appreciate their desire to explore and take risks musically that for the most part tends to be amazing quality work. If it takes 8 years to produce quality stuff like Hardwired, after 36 years, I’ll gladly wait another 8 for the next one.
ehh, opinions. the chorus melody sounds cheesy. opening riff is great and well as the pre verse riff, but thats about it. Enter the Sandman, Roam, Holier than thou, of wolf and man and unforgiven are easily better. Fuel, Until it Sleeps, Memory Remains are better than escape.
Really beautiful song. Definitely my 2nd favorite after Fade to Black. Very unique for their early catalog. I wonder how they wrote it considering how different it is from their other songs from the time.
I'd have this in my top 10 favorite Metallica songs. It's strange when a band hates one of their great songs but it happens a lot. Glad they finally played it, and played it well!
Metallica has always had a distinct sound like AC/DC you just know who the band is the moment you here the track its the sound. I don't know how they even remember all these different patterns, drops, timing, and rhythm changes for all these songs. It s a lot to remember for a band. Even if the setlist is rehearsed they have a ton of songs in the collection book after 40 years as a band.
I once tried making a playlist for the Ride The Lightning album that had "Escape" excluded, and the transition between "Trapped Under Ice" and "Creeping Death" actually sounded awesome, and completely natural; I could definitely see that album being structured that way.
I understand why they hate this song; no artist wants to be forced to make something they don't want to make, and they absolutely did not want to make this. That said, I actually think it's just as phenomenal as the rest of Ride the Lightning and this was a fun moment
Because they were forced to write it by their, at the time current label. They didn't wanna write such a radio friendly song. There is more to it as well but I am too lazy to look it up.
To each his own, but in my opinion this is the worst song on Ride. Just sounds like a bad attempt at glam metal, which is the opposite of what Metallica set out to do. They were forced by the label to write this, and you can tell.
Jake Grogan How can you call it glam metal. Escape is a fucking masterpiece even if the chorus is radio friendly and sucky. If they replaced the chorus, it would be one of the best songs on the album.
ripa9 How the hell is Fade To Black a sellout song, I can see maybe the first like minute but the rest is heavy lyrics and it eventually speeds up. This song is the opposite it has light lyrics not dark or heavy and isn't really fast.
