Mandatory Metallica! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Am I Evil?

During bassist Jason Newstead's fourteen years with Metallica, fans lucky enough to catch the band in a playful mood during one of their concerts were treated to a special performance of the band's Diamond Head cover "Am I Evil?". Vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich exchanged places, and Newstead switched with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett. Only three instruments were utilized as Lars performed lead vocals but did not play guitar.

Answer: Downey

Situated approximately 13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Downey is also the birthplace of "Wierd Al" Yankovic.

Answer: Seek and Destroy

After firing lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and sending him home on a bus, the remaining members of Metallica immediately auditioned Exodus axeman Kirk Hammett, who arrived in New York City from San Francisco to find his future bandmates still sleeping in the late afternoon.

Answer: Flemming Rasmussen

After the 'success' of their debut LP "Kill 'Em All", co-produced by John Zazula and Paul Curcio, Metallica signed with Elektra Records and enlisted Danish metal wizard Flemming Rasmussen as producer. Rasmussen would oversee the band's next three albums before cutting ties with the band following 1988's "...And Justice For All". Sources close to the band claimed the album's flat production quality, which lacked the requisite bottom-end found in most metal recordings, was the reason for Flemming's dismissal.

This story has never been proven true. In actuality, former bassist Jason Newstead's abscence from the mixing sessions, along with his 'newcomer' status within the band, had more to do with the album's sound than anything Rasmussen may or may not have done.

Answer: None of these

After replacing the deceased Cliff Burton, bassist Jason Newstead's first recording with Metallica was 1987's "The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited" (NOT the same as "Garage Days Revisited", which was the nickname of the band's 1984 "Creeping Death" single).

Answer: Arkansas

"Paradise Lost" was filmed primarily in West Memphis, Arkansas, and told the story of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, known collectively as the 'West Memphis 3'. The teenagers were accused and eventually convicted in the murder of three eight year old boys.

The ritualistic fashion by which the murders were carried out led prosecutors and townspeople to believe it was the work of a Satanist. 'Ringleader' Damien Echols, a Metallica fan, was thought to have considerable interest in Satan and the practice of satanic rituals. By virtue of circumstantial evidence, along with a coerced confession given to police by Misskelley, all three were found guilty.

Answer: H.P. Lovecraft

Author of such acclaimed works as "The Rats in the Walls" and "The Call of Cthulhu" (note the spelling of Cthulhu), wierdo writer H.P. Lovecraft is credited with the birth of 'cosmic horror', stories based on the idea that insanity is the result of humanity's obsession with rational thought, refusing to accept that the universe is inherently alien. Late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton was not shy about his admiration for Lovecraft, and it was Burton who integrated the author's works into Metallica's music.

After Burton's death, Lovecraft's appearances in Metallica's songwriting diminished a great deal.

Answer: The Four Horsemen

Written by Metallica's former lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, "The Mechanix" was also re-recorded by Mustaine's band Megadeth for their debut album "Killing is My Business... and Business is Good".

Answer: Raven

Metallica lablemates Raven released their LP "All For One" in 1983 on the Megaforce lable, the same year as Metallica's debut release "Kill 'Em All". Soon after, the two bands toured together on the aptly named 'Kill 'Em All For One' tour.

Answer: Escape

Some long time Metallica fans are inclined to argue that the band's 1990's commercial success was not a work of conscious effort, due to the fact that the band had tried once before to commercialize itself on purpose and failed. When 1984's "Ride the Lightning" was released, the band was set to push the album's sixth track "Escape" as a ready-for-radio single, but quickly realized how weak the track was. Plans to release the song as a single were scrapped, and the track is recognized as possibly Metallica's worst moment from the Cliff Burton era despite some fans' admiration for the song.