LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JUNE 5, 2019…16 YEARS AGO METALLICA RELEASED THE CD ‘ST. ANGER’
THE BACKSTORY BEHIND THIS ALBUM IS COMPELLING. THE GROUP RENTED SOME OLD ARMY BARRACKS AT THE PRESIDIO AND CONVERTED THE BARRACKS INTO A MAKESHIFT STUDIO IN JANUARY 2001. JUST AS THE BAND WAS MAKING PLANS TO GET STARTED ENTER THE STUDIO AND RECORD THEIR FIRST ALBUM IN 5 YEARS, THE BAND WAS THROWN A HUGE CURVE BALL WITH JASON NEWSTED ANNOUNCING HE WAS LEAVING THE BAND ON JANUARY 17, 2001. THE GROUP WAS FORCED TO POSTPONE RECORDING.
APPREHENSIVE TO IMMEDIATELY START WRITING AND RECORDING WITH A NEW BASSIST, A DECISION WAS THEN MADE TO HAVE PRODUCER BOB ROCK TO FILL IN ON BASS FOR THE RECORDING OF THE PROJECT. THE BAND WOULD THEN FIND ANOTHER BASS PLAYER AFTER THE ALBUM WAS COMPLETED.
INTO THE STUDIO THE BAND GOES, ONLY TO THEN SEE RECORDING COME TO A HALT AGAIN WHEN JAMES HETFIELD ENTERED REHAB. HETFIELD RETURNED TO THE BAND IN APRIL OF 2002, BUT WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO WORK WITH THE BAND FROM NOON – 4 PM. DUE TO HIS PERSONAL PROBLEMS, AND METALLICA’S INTERNAL PROBLEMS, THE BAND WAS FORCED TO HIRE A PERSONAL ENHANCEMENT COACH. THANK GOD WITH ALL THIS GOING ON, THE GROUP COMMISSIONED A FILMMAKER TO RECORD THE DAILY DEVELOPMENTS AND ALL OF THIS IS DOCUMENTED IN THE BAND’S DOCUMENTARY ‘SOME KIND OF MONSTER’
WITH ALL OF THIS CHAOS AROUND THEM, THE ALBUM WAS FINALLY RECORDED FROM MAY 2002-APRIL 2003 AT THE BAND’S NEW STUDIO KNOWN AS “HQ”
HERE’S THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING TITLE TRACK ST. ANGER
