Rare Photos From The Early Days Of Metallica
"MURDER IN THE FRONT ROW:" is a new coffee table book with over 400 photos from the early '80s East Bay thrash metal scene that Metallica came from. So much good hair.
Metallica, Metallica Mansion, El Cerrito.
Metallica, the Stone, November 26, 1983.
Metallica’s first sound check with new bassist Cliff Burton, March 5, 1983.
Cliff and James, Keystone Palo Alto, Halloween 1983.
Saxon, the Keystone Palo Alto, March 30, 1982. Final show of the Denim and Leather tour., Graham Oliver set his guitar on fire during the encore of “Machine Gun”.
Slayer mobbing Tom Araya, who is dressed like a follower of Suicidal Tendencies in flannel shirt and headband, Aquatic Park, August 19, 1984. Suicidal played almost completely in the dark that day, with security guards shining flashlights on the bass and guitar.
Exodus, Ruthie’s Inn, 1984.
Legacy backstage at Ruthie’s Inn, shortly before the band became Testament. With its colorful graffiti, this tiny room made an ideal setting for many thrasher group shots.
Possessed, Ruthie’s Inn.
Vio-lence destroying the Omni.
Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield backstage at the Old Waldorf, November 29, 1982, the night Metallica recorded the Metal Up Your Ass live demo tape.
Dave Mustaine and Kerry King in Megadeth, Keystone Palo Alto, April 16, 1984.
James in the kitchen at home with producer Mark Whitaker’s dog, Clive.
Crowd cluster.
Harald Oimeon: "This series of shots with members of Slayer, Exodus, Possessed, and Suicidal Tendencies happened naturally, with a few people getting together for a photo and calling over to their pals. Before I knew it a mob had congregated, and I just started snapping away frantically."
Oderus Urungus of Gwar prepares to stuff Jello Biafra into a meat grinder.
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett at Hammett’s mom’s house in El Sobrante, CA.
All photos courtesy of Bazillion Points Books.