They quickly secured a tour with Ozzy Osbourne, and that stint (plus a top 30 album chart position) saw their fan base and name take a quantum leap. Returning to the same studios in 1985, the group recorded 'Master Of Puppets', mixing in LA with Michael Wagner and releasing in early 1986. Both deals were done by the fall of '84 and their reputation continued to grow worldwide. 'Ride The Lightning' proved that Metallica were not some thrash-in-the-pan one trick pony, the writing and sound illustrating a growth, maturity and intensity which saw them immediately targeted by major management in QPrime, and a major label in Elektra. In 1984 they went to work with producer Flemming Rassmussen in Copenhagen at Sweet Silence Studios on their second album. Metallica's first album, Kill 'Em All, was released in late 1983 and some ferocious touring which saw the band's reputation soar both in the US and Europe. Two phone calls and one flight later, on ApKirk Hammett joined Metallica. Thus a few weeks after arrival, Mustaine was sent packing, roadie Mark Whitakker suggesting Kirk Hammett from Bay Area thrashers Exodus. Dave Mustaine, at that point the band's guitarist, was proving to be more problematic than even these loose young chaps could handle. The band made it to New York in a stolen U-Haul. Zazula quickly recruited Metallica to come out east to play some shows and record an album. In New York, a copy of No Life Til Leather made its way to Jon Zazula's record shop, the aptly named Metal Heaven.

Cliff refused to move to Southern California: it was enough to convince Metallica to relocate to the Bay Area, and Cliff subsequently joined Metallica. They also caught up-and-coming band Trauma, and most importantly their bass player, Cliff Burton. Metallica performed 2 shows in San Francisco and found the crowds friendlier and more honest than LA's 'there to be seen' mob. Eventually recording a fully-fledged demo called No Life Til Leather, Metallica quickly saw the tape whistle around the metal tape-trading underground and become a hot commodity, with San Francisco and New York particularly receptive. The band adopted the moniker Metallica after a suggestion from Bay Area friend Ron Quintana, and they quickly began gigging in the Los Angeles area opening for bands like Saxon. Hetfield's friend and housemate Ron McGovney was eventually talked into taking up bass and Dave Mustaine took lead guitar duties. Lars dutifully pounded the drums, helped with musical arrangements and acted as manager. The two recorded their first track on a cheap recorder with James performing singing duties, rhythm guitar duties and bass guitar duties. The truth is, Lars didn't have a band at that time, but he did that day when James joined him. Who'd have thought it when, on October 28th, 1981, drummer Lars Ulrich made guitar player/singer James Hetfield an offer he couldn't refuse: 'I've got a track saved for my band on Brian Slagel's new Metal Blade label.' The 7th biggest selling act in American history. And the sort of story that would approximately 500 pages to do it true justice. The sort of story that only happens every 30-odd years. The sort of story that illustrates perfect synchronicity between hunger, passion and time. It's the sort of story that scriptwriters would get laughed out of conference rooms for entering.

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