Members Of SLIPKNOT, KORN, GODSMACK, SLAYER Remember First Time They Heard METALLICA

With the "Big Four" — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — taking over Indio, California next Saturday April 23, ARTISTdirect.com editor author Rick Florino spoke to numerous musicians and celebrities about the first time they heard METALLICA and what the band means to them. A couple of excerpts follow below.

Question: When did you first discover METALLICA and what do they mean to you?

Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES): "I first discovered METALLICA when they came out with their first EP. METALLICA has always been one of my favorite heavy metal bands. I think that they are one of the most versatile metal bands that came out in the '80s. They are also one of the most creative. I think that James Hetfield is one of the greatest heavy metal guitarists to ever walk this earth."

Kerry King (SLAYER): "I imagine it was at The Woodstock in Orange County when Dave Mustaine was in the band. I instantly became a fan. I couldn't believe Mustaine was ripping these incredible leads way back then and not even looking at his fingers. I still fucking looking at my fingers [Laughs]. There were no records then it was just seeing them. I think METALLICA might've just been on the 'Metal Massacre' compilation or something."

Jonathan Davis (KORN): "I first heard them on either 'Master Of Puppets' or 'Ride The Lightning'. I was at my buddy's house, and this guy came over and said, 'You've got to hear this shit!' I was 14 years old or something; I can't even remember how old I was [Laughs]. This dude put METALLICA on, and I was like, 'Wow, what the hell is that?' I only listened to them at that moment, and I sort of forgot about it afterwards. I thought it was cool, but I genuinely didn't get into them again until they hit with 'The Black Album.' It was all over MTV at the time. I really got into METALLICA when I got in KORN, though. I love playing 'One'. It was cool to play it for them at the 'MTV Icon' special. They're one of my favorite bands. I look up to them. They've been doing it for so long. That's truly the band I look up to — them and Ozzy Osbourne. We've also toured with METALLICA a bunch; it's fucking awesome!"

Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR): "I actually talk about when I discovered METALLICA in my book — 'The Seven Deadly Sins: Settling The Argument Between Born Bad And Damaged Good'. That's how big it was. [Laughs] I remember hearing 'Master Of Puppets' at a friend's house. That line at the end of 'Damage Inc.' — 'Fuck it all and fucking no regrets' — was the one that every metal head waited for with baited breath. When it came, you'd jump up and scream along to it. It was amazing. METALLICA will always be important to me!"

Sully Erna (GODSMACK): "I first discovered them somewhere around 1982 or 1983. It was the early '80s. I remember that a friend of mine came over with 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Ride The Lightning'. For whatever it was worth, this dude was always way ahead of his time. He knew what new thing was going to hit before it hit. I was still very much into IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST at that moment. That was metal, but it wasn't METALLICA metal. My buddy put on 'Ride The Lightning', and the first song I heard was 'Fight Fire With Fire'. I just said, 'What the fuck is this?!' [Laughs] It so fast, the double bass was flying, and the vocals stood out. I didn't get it at first. However, a week later, I was like, 'This is the greatest band ever to walk the planet!' I couldn't get enough. That was my first METALLICA experience."

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