Tour Mates Raven Recall Metallica Considered Singer Change

British heavy steel pioneers Raven have been famously the primary band to take Metallica on a nationwide tour again in 1983 — the “Kill ‘Em All for One Tour.”

On the time, Metallica have been nonetheless discovering their ft within the burgeoning US steel scene and shaping their sound, having just lately axed founding member Dave Mustaine for guitarist Kirk Hammett a couple of months prior. Whereas Metallica weren’t trying to kick James Hetfield out of the band, they thought-about having him focus solely on guitar whereas they looked for a brand new lead singer.

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In a brand new interview with Guitar World, founding Raven members John and Mark Gallagher mirrored on that now-legendary tour with Metallica — and revealed some recommendation they gave their younger counterparts that may find yourself being historic.

When requested if that they had any inclination that Metallica would go on to grow to be “superstars” after that tour, Mark Gallagher mirrored on their indecisiveness and insecurity on the time — the rising pains of a younger band that wasn’t even positive it wished to stay with its present vocalist.

“They have been a bit of fractured on the time, saying, ‘We have to get a very good singer,’” Mark mentioned. “That was the entire thing. We have been like, ‘What’s the matter with James Hetfield? He’s doing fairly good.’ They mentioned, ‘That’s simply short-term.’ I feel they have been John Bush [of Armored Saint] to be the singer.”

Mark continued, “However regardless that they have been a younger band, they have been forward of what most bands could be at that time, so far as the time they put into it. It undoubtedly had one thing. It had that onerous edge, which was cool.”

As we all know, Metallica adopted Raven’s recommendation, and James Hetfield went on to grow to be one of the vital iconic steel frontmen of all-time.

Metallica are nonetheless going robust over 40 years since that first tour, with an in depth slate of North American stadium shows on the books this spring. Get tickets here.