Metallica, one of the most prominent hold-outs in the move to online digital music sales, finally relented on Tuesday and added its catalog to the iTunes Music Store. Each of the band’s first four albums includes a pair of previously unreleased bonus tracks from a 1989 concert performed in Seattle.
The band said on its official Web site: “Oh, and by the way, the iTunes Music Stores in the U.S. and Canada are the only ones that will be offering Metallica. This is unfortunately due to the fact that our record company overseas doesn’t seem to want to play ball with us on this at the moment. Hopefully this will get sorted out ASAFP, but we didn’t want our fans in North America to have to wait any longer while our overseas record company tries to get their shit together!”
I already own all their early stuff on CD; but, this gives me a good excuse to wander around iTunes for more background music for my home/office.
I have been so turned away from these egomaniacs. When they make music i start to return, when they (I should say Lars) start talking the distance grows. These guys like Pearl Jam thought that they were bigger then the industry. They thought thier fans would stick with them no matter what they did.
Early stuff is good the rest blows like Lars
The heading should read “Heavy Metal Sellouts, join iTunes!”, but I guess they soldout many years ago. I like that the picture here is of their last good album.
This really shows how iTunes has changed the industry. Metallica held out on iTunes because they thought it was a rinky dink online startup with no clout, and it would cut their revenue because of the pay-per-song model. This view was shared by many in the recording industry. But iTunes has transformed itself into a who’s who of music. If you’re not on iTunes, you’re nobody. And Lars’ ego can’t handle being left out of the elite.
Dig the band. Can understand the fan backlash, though.
Who cares? Metallica is not relevant anymore. Just retire and stop the embarrassment guys.
Though I mostly chuckle at egregious comments, guys you should realize that simply saying someone, anyone — “is not relevent” — doesn’t make it so except inside your own tiny world.
Whether you like Metallica, new or old, at all — they’re one of the top 20 musical performers in the US according to the good old RIAA. The dollar $ign is still the prime scorecard for achievement in our society. Critical evaluation is separate.
God is as relevent as Metallica.
Enter Sandman is not relevent? How dare you!
But again, all of their newer stuff stinks.
Oh so *now* its all about the fans. I guess Larz’s gold plated Ferrari needs repair or something.
This is unfortunately due to the fact that our record company overseas doesn’t seem to want to play ball with us on this at the moment.
Who is the master, and who is the puppet? [grin]
David (#2): Yep…sell out…every where they go.
Wasn’t Metalica’s early stuff passed out FREE on cassette tape? And now we gotta pay for it on iTunes? Friggin’ Lars.
What a pathetic joke they are. These are the same guys that encouraged their fans to record their live shows and then to trade ala the Dead to gain a larger fan base. Then they go commercial and the RIAA starts pulling their strings. Ultimate sell out.
To James Hill: Enter Sandman was the beginning of the end IMHO. When you compare the Black Album/CD to Master of Puppets and For Whom the Bell Tolls, Justice, etc era, it becomes obvious of their sell out.
If they ever want to do good music again, they should start by getting drunk and stoned again.
A sober Metallica is quite mediocre and that’s just a kind word
Their music died with Cliff unfortunately. He had that ‘try harder’ attitude.
It’s almost been 20 years since his death.
RIP Cliff Burton
1962-1986