Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 American documentary film about American heavy metal band Metallica. The film follows the band from 2001 to 2003, a turbulent period in the band's history which included the production of their 2003 album St. Anger, frontman James Hetfield entering into rehab for alcoholism and the departure of bassist Jason Newsted as well as the hiring of his replacement Robert Trujillo. The title of the film comes from a song from St. Anger.

Plot

File:13-06-09 RaR Newsted 10.jpg

Bassist Jason Newsted, pictured in 2013. His departure from Metallica, and its after-effects, form part of the narrative of Some Kind of Monster.

File:Robert Trujillo Madrid 2009.jpg

Robert Trujillo performing with Metallica in 2009. The film documents his audition with Metallica and hiring into the band.

In April 2001, heavy metal band Metallica is at a crossroads. Their lawsuit against file sharing service Napster has caused a fan backlash, longtime bassist Jason Newsted has quit the group, and relations between the band members are at an all-time low. They are working with "performance enhancement coach" Phil Towle to deal with their growing tensions. Newsted says that singer and guitarist James Hetfield would not let him pursue his side project, Echobrain, and calls the band's decision to bring in a therapist "really fucking lame and weak".

Metallica begins work on a new studio album, using an empty barracks at the Presidio of San Francisco as a recording studio and drafting Bob Rock, their longtime record producer, to play bass on the recordings. The process is more collaborative than usual; songs are written from scratch in the studio, the members and Rock contributing equally to music and lyrics. "Some Kind of Monster" and "My World" result from these sessions. Six weeks in, Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich have an argument during a recording session and Hetfield storms out. He enters drug rehabilitation to undergo treatment for alcoholism and other addictions, putting the album on hold. Ulrich previews some of the new recordings for his father, who says the new material "doesn't cut it".

After three months without Hetfield, the band's future is in doubt. Ulrich, Rock, and guitarist Kirk Hammett continue their sessions with Towle. Hammett, who has battled his own addictions in the past, retreats to his northern California ranch, hopeful that things will work out. As part of the therapy process, on September 13, 2001 Ulrich meets with Metallica's original lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine, who was fired from the band in 1983. Mustaine says that despite the success of his band Megadeth, he has always felt second best to Metallica and carries a deep resentment toward them. Ulrich, Hammett, and Rock attend an Echobrain concert, after which Ulrich laments his inability to keep his own band together. As Hetfield's absence extends past six months, Metallica gives up their lease at the Presidio.

In April 2002, Hetfield exits rehab and returns to the band, who resume recording at their new studio, "HQ", developing the song "Frantic". As part of his recovery, Hetfield may only work for four hours each day, and he asks that the others not work on, listen to, or even discuss recorded material without him present. Frustrated by these restrictions, Ulrich accuses Hetfield of being too controlling, culminating in an intense band meeting in which Ulrich vents his frustrations. The relationship between the two founding Metallica members becomes further strained while working on "The Unnamed Feeling". Hetfield reflects that his need to control the band stems from a fear of abandonment originating from his childhood. Hammett, who sees himself as a calm counterpoint to his bandmates' warring egos, is upset by their insistence on excluding guitar solos from the album.

The band members bristle against their management's insistence that they record a promo for a radio contest, and their resentment informs the song "Sweet Amber". Their productivity increases, and Ulrich works his feelings about the Napster lawsuit into lyrics for "Shoot Me Again". While deciding which songs will make the album, the members feel that their chemistry has improved. They begin to reject Towle's methods and feel that he has insinuated himself too closely into the band. When they propose curtailing their relationship with him, Towle becomes defensive.

Metallica is chosen to be recognized and perform at the upcoming MTV Icon tribute show, accelerating their search for a new bassist. After auditioning several bassists from other bands, they select Robert Trujillo, whose abilities impress them and whose finger-style playing reminds them of their early bassist, Cliff Burton, who died in a tour bus accident in 1986. They choose St. Anger as the title for their new album, and film the music video for the title track at San Quentin State Prison. As they prepare to go on tour for the first time in three years, Ulrich says they have "proven that you can make aggressive music without negative energy." The film concludes with a montage of Metallica performing "Frantic" to stadium crowds on their summer 2003 tours, and notes that St. Anger debuted at Template:Nowrap in 30 countries.

Background

Documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky had begun a professional relationship with Metallica while making their 1996 film Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, about the West Memphis Three.<ref name="Klosterman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Moved by the story of the West Memphis Three, Metallica, who normally did not allow their music to be used in films, allowed Berlinger and Sinofsky to use their songs in Paradise Lost for free.<ref name="Klosterman"/><ref name="Downey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band and the directors kept in touch, discussing the possibility of working on a larger project together.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Berlinger split from Sinofsky to direct Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000), which was critically panned and made little money.<ref name="Klosterman"/> After this experience, he contacted Sinofsky and Metallica about revisiting their plans for a film.<ref name="Klosterman"/>

The year 2000 had been, in the words of bassist Jason Newsted, "possibly the highest-profile year for Metallica ever."<ref name="Tannenbaum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band had released the live album S&M in late 1999, then played a New Year's Eve show with Ted Nugent, Sevendust, and Kid Rock.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/><ref name="timeline 1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February they won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their cover version of "Whiskey in the Jar" (from their 1998 covers album Garage Inc.).<ref name="timeline 1999"/> The following month, they filed a highly-publicized lawsuit against file sharing service Napster.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/><ref name="timeline 2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May they released the new single "I Disappear" from the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack; they performed the song at the 2000 MTV Movie Awards in June, and its music video was nominated in five categories at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards that September.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/><ref name="timeline 2000"/> Metallica spent June through August on the Summer Sanitarium Tour, playing 20 shows with Korn, Kid Rock, Powerman 5000, and System of a Down.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/> During the tour, singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield was injured in a jet ski accident and had to miss three shows.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/>

The band took a break beginning that fall, which turned into the longest hiatus from touring and recording they had ever taken.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/> In November 2000, the members were interviewed separately for a feature in Playboy, their responses illustrating a growing sense of discontent within the group.<ref name="Klosterman"/><ref name="Tannenbaum"/> Interviewer Rob Tannenbaum wrote that "I've never seen a band so quarrelsome and fractious [...] genuine tension was evident in these interviews—the last ever to be conducted with this Metallica lineup—because they shared one trait: Each talked about his need for solitude. Paradoxically, this is a band of loners, and the conflict between unity and individuality was pretty clear."<ref name="Tannenbaum"/> In particular, Newsted, who needed time off to recover from neck and back injuries sustained from years of onstage headbanging, was upset that Hetfield would not permit him to release an album by his side project, Echobrain.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/><ref name="Wiederhorn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hetfield believed that doing so would "take away from the strength of Metallica", while lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and drummer Lars Ulrich separately opined that Newsted should be able to release the album.<ref name="Tannenbaum"/> Newsted also wanted to play a greater creative role in Metallica, whose direction was dominated by Hetfield and Ulrich, and felt that the band had lost its focus and was spending too much time on matters such as the Napster lawsuit.<ref name="Wiederhorn"/> "We spent more time in fuckin' court last year than we did playing our instruments", he said in 2001.<ref name="Wiederhorn"/>

In an effort to keep the band together, their management company, Q Prime, connected them with "performance enhancement coach" Phil Towle.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Though not a trained psychologist or psychiatrist, Towle, a former Chicago gang counselor, had worked with the St. Louis Rams during the 1999–2000 NFL playoffs (which concluded with the Rams winning Super Bowl XXXIV), and had unsuccessfully tried to keep another of Q Prime's clients, Rage Against the Machine, from breaking up.<ref name="Klosterman"/> After just one session with Towle, Newsted, who had been with Metallica since 1986, quit the group following a 9Template:Frac hour band meeting.<ref name="Klosterman"/><ref name="Tannenbaum"/> Announcing his resignation on January 17, 2001, he cited "private and personal reasons, and the physical damage I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love".<ref name="Basham">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The remaining members stated that they still planned to start work on a new studio album that spring, and would continue with a new bassist.<ref name="Basham"/> In a later interview, Newsted stated his distaste for the idea of Metallica going through group therapy: "Something that's really important to note — and this isn't pointed at anyone — is something I knew long before I met James Hetfield or anyone else: Certain people are made to be opened up and exposed. Certain people are not. I'll leave it at that."<ref name="Klosterman"/>

Production

File:James Hetfield 2004.jpg

James Hetfield in April 2004, three months after the film's premiere.

When Berlinger and Sinofsky began filming Metallica in April 2001, the band was mired in turmoil.<ref name="Klosterman"/><ref name="timeline 2001" >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Still without a bassist, the members were not getting along and were struggling creatively while trying to make a record.<ref name="Klosterman"/> The original scope of the filmmakers' project was to film the band in the recording studio and produce a pair of 60-minute infomercials to be broadcast on late-night television to promote the forthcoming album.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Things became more complicated when, three months into filming, Hetfield abruptly left the recording sessions and checked himself into drug rehabilitation to undergo treatment for alcoholism and other addictions, and the band suspended all activities including work on the album.<ref name="Klosterman"/><ref name="timeline 2001"/> Hetfield remained in rehabilitation until that December, and did not return to the studio until April 2002.<ref name="timeline 2001"/> During this time, the filmmakers continued to follow Hammett and Ulrich, including their sessions with Towle.<ref name="Klosterman"/> "Lars felt the therapy sessions were actually enabled by the presence of the cameras", said Berlinger; "He felt the cameras forced them to be honest."<ref name="Klosterman"/> Ultimately, they filmed Metallica for 715 days.<ref name="Klosterman"/>

When Hetfield returned from rehabilitation, he was uncertain whether filming should continue.<ref name="Should Filming Continue">Template:Cite AV media</ref> Berlinger and Sinofsky showed the band 20 minutes of scenes in progress, which helped convince them to continue with the project.<ref name="Should Filming Continue"/> As filming went on, Metallica's label, Elektra Records, grew concerned over the project's escalating cost and considered turning it into a reality television show.<ref name="Klosterman"/> By that point, the band and filmmakers envisioned the documentary as a theatrical release.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Desiring complete control over it, Metallica bought the rights to the film from Elektra for $4.3 million.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Hetfield and Hammett disliked a scene in which Ulrich and his wife sell pieces from their art collection at a Christie's auction for $13.4 million.<ref name="Klosterman"/> Hetfield called the scene "downright embarrassing" and wanted it removed, but Ulrich insisted on its inclusion, saying that his passion for art was an essential aspect of his personality and that "If you're going to paint a portrait of the people in Metallica, that has to play a role, because that is who I am."<ref name="Klosterman"/>

Reception and legacy

The film holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus that it is a "Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Metallica survives one of their more turbulent periods."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 74 out of 100, based on 32 reviews. A fragment of the summary says "...this documentary provides a fascinating, in-depth portrait of the most successful heavy metal band of all time...".

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave it an "A", writing that it is "one of the most revelatory rock portraits ever made".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Accolades

The film won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Band reactions

Lars Ulrich reflected on the production, saying: “We were at a crossroads. We had been really good at being able to compartmentalize a lot of this stuff. Suppress it with drinking or other extravagances. This was the first time we had to talk to each other, get to know each other and work stuff out. The cameras were there catching all of it.”<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The producers requested Dave Mustaine's approval to include footage of his 2001 meeting with Ulrich. Although Mustaine denied the request, he had earlier signed a release form giving the band and the producers the right to use the footage. Mustaine later claimed that this marked "the final betrayal" and that he has now given up hope of ever fully reconciling with his former bandmates.<ref name="Dave Mustaine Slams METALLICA Over 'Some Kind Of Monster' Movie">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although he received a measure of satisfaction at being included and acknowledged in the film as Metallica's original guitarist, Mustaine felt his interview footage was edited to portray him in a "less than flattering" manner.<ref name="LIFE AFTER 'DETH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Responding to Mustaine's criticism, Ulrich said, "So put these three facts down, he was in our band for a year. He never played on a Metallica record [official release], and it was 22 years ago. It's pretty absurd that it still can be that big a deal."<ref name="Lars Ulrich Slams DAVE MUSTAINE For His 'Pathetic' METALLICA-Bashing ">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mustaine eventually reconciled with Metallica. On June 16, 2010, Megadeth and Metallica played the first of what would end up being several shows with Slayer and Anthrax as the "big four of thrash metal", their first concert being in front of over 80,000 fans in Warsaw, Poland. The night before, the band members had a collective dinner described as "laid-back" and "enjoyable" by Mustaine, which began with Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo hugging Mustaine.

The "Big Four" collective played their last concert on September 14, 2011, in New York City's Yankee Stadium. In February 2016, Mustaine reiterated that he felt open to more concerts and was not opposed to working with Metallica and others again, with only issues of timing and scheduling being in the way.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Metallica re-released the film, including a bonus 25-minute documentary, in 2014 to celebrate its 10th anniversary.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Bass auditionees

• Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails
• Twiggy Ramirez (Jeordie White) of Marilyn Manson and A Perfect Circle
• Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity
• Scott Reeder of Kyuss
• Chris Wyse of The Cult
• Eric Avery of Jane's Addiction

All appear while auditioning for Metallica's vacant bassist position. Robert Trujillo was eventually selected.

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Belgian (Flanders) Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Belgian (Wallonia) Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Finnish Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Irish Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Italian Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
New Zealand Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Norwegian Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Swedish Music DVDs Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Search for Metallica Some Kind of Monster and click Sök.</ref>	1

See also

• Metallica Saved My Life

Further reading

• Template:Cite magazine

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0387412

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• Official DVD trailer