Metallica

[leftist manson]

guys what do you think
i saw the video of one.
they show a boy asking his father that "what is democracy"
and dad's reply is that "it ahs something to do with young men killing each other"
then they have album titles like and justice for alli think that they are leftists

[Ian]

They're pretty militarist with the don't tread on me crap though.

[atlanticche]

they are definately not leftists, you know with all the money grabing the love money and are greedy buggers they are the reason for napster closing down

also the pole doesnt really work there is only one thing

[truthaddict11]

im hoping to see them this summer if tickets havent sold out

[Hampton]

Fixed the poll, and I voted no, not after all that Napster crap. And the One video is just the Johnny Got His Gun movie clips. Read the book.

[canikickit]

No. Metallica are not leftists.

[Nickademus]

you're talking about a band that has actually sued people for downloading their music off the internet! I THINK NOT!

[Rastafari]

yeah. Not Leftist, and not cool

[Pingu]

i liked there old albums, but now they are mainstream and make music because it sells good, they aren't leftish

[SittingBull47]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2004, 11:23 AM
they are definately not leftists, you know with all the money grabing the love money and are greedy buggers they are the reason for napster closing down

also the pole doesnt really work there is only one thing
exactly. They once sued a Paris Perfume company that used the name "Metallica" for a fragrance. they won too.

[Urban Rubble]

One time i saw Metallica live. Not because I wanted to, but because I had a free ticket and a friend was going. They sat up on stage yelling things like 'Woo, Support the Troops" and other patriotic bullshit. I'm going to go with a no on this one.

They also make shitty music.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

they arent but they "were"

[Marxist in Nebraska]

I nulled my vote. I would not necessarily characterize Metallica as leftist or rightist. They have some progressive tendencies, and some that are not so much.

Ian mentioned their song, "Don't Tread On Me." That song is rather reactionary in its substance. It is blindly worshipping the American Revolution, in a rather nationalistic manner. Also, the line "to secure peace is to prepare for war" included in the song is the same logic used to make excuses for our outrageous Pentagon budget. Using the line accomodates a kind of militarism, to be sure.

At the same time, Metallica has written and recorded a few songs that point out the stupidity of war. The best examples "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Disposable Heroes", and "One." Further, these songs indicate that the grunts are being killed for the interests of officers--a vague kind of class consciousness, recognizing that the high officers and the cannon fodder do not really have common interest.

I do not know about the "Support the Troops" line that Urban Rubble is claiming to have heard. I am not that surprised, though using that line does not necessarily make one a militarist or a right-winger. I know many good anti-war people--pacifists, radicals--who also use that line. "Support Our Troops... Bring Them Home!" was a popular sentiment during the protests last year.

I do remember hearing a story a while back, about prisoners (Afghani or Iraqi, I cannot recall--Hampton, where are you?) being tortured with sound by U.S. soldiers. When Metallica's "Enter Sandman" was revealed to be on the playlist, drummer Lars Ulrich was not happy. He was clearly upset his band's music was being used for torture.

These are just two notable arguments. Overall, Metallica is a mixed bag socially and politically.

[Hampton]

I do remember hearing a story a while back, about prisoners (Afghani or Iraqi, I cannot recall--Hampton, where are you?)

Hahaha.


Not the ones that resulted in the collapse of Saddam Hussein's empire ? the ones in which the band's music was played to extract information from terrified Iraqi prisoners who'd never been exposed to heavy metal.

Speaking to the press in Europe, drummer Lars Ulrich told the World Entertainment News Network that he strongly objects to the use of "Enter Sandman" as a device of coercion. "I feel horrible about this," he said. "No one in Iraq has ever done anything to hurt me, and I don't understand why we have to be implicated in that bullsh--."

[dark fairy]

no

[Pawn Power]

if they where they dident show it

[Hate Is Art]

Metallica, about as progessive as my war mongering anti-everything Granddad.

[Paavo from Hungary]

Hi everybody! My favorite band is the Metallica. I like James's sound. Rob is a very good bass guitarist.

[Funky Monk]

Last year i had the choice between getting stoned or watching Metallica.

Wasnt a hard choice.

[demonio comunista]

no, they arent leftist but I still like their music pretty much. i dont buy their cd's, i dont own a single one. i download :-P and Paavo......... Cliff was a much better bassist than Rob in my opinion.

[DaCuBaN]

They were playing the year I was at the Reading Festival.

I passed. But Grandaddy were good :)

[Kurai Tsuki]

Yes, leftists who hate online piracy. That's a good one :lol:

[robob8706]

I think metallica is funny because after almost every sentence James Hetfield says he end with an 'AH', pay no mind to the distant thund AH! well.....just thought you'd like to know...ALLRIEEEEEEET AHHH!

[refuse_resist]

Cliff was a great bassist. Way better than Jason Newsted and Robert Trujillo.

As far as Metallica being leftist, hell no they aren't.

[Raisa]

I dont think they care about being political one way or the other.